In 1987, Japan had the highest economy in the world, surpassing even the United States. Just 41 years before, Japan was dealing with the aftermath of World War II when two atomic bombs had been dropped on them, most of their shipping fleet was sunk and their major cities were ravaged. Just a little more than 10 years earlier. Japan was suffering from an oil embargo from the Middle East. Japan has almost no natural resources. Almost all its energy resources come from other countries, and the vast majority from the Middle East. But in the eighties, it was Japan who led in exports; it was Japan in the nineties who foreign countries were jealous of for not importing enough of their goods. To understand how this modern economic miracle occurred, it's necessary to take apart the Japanese system of doing business.

Workers

The illiteracy rate in Japan is practically zero. About 95% of Japanese get an education beyond compulsory basic learning. A huge part of the Japanese population is working. So just in that, Japan has an edge. Japan has tons of workers (relative to its population) and they're educated. Plus the Japanese are known for having a knack for taking things apart and improving on them, such as their version of the train, a French creation. The Japanese have a Bullet Train, which runs on magnetic levitation.

Workers in Japan have job stability. Managers are expected to keep their employees even during a slump. Being in a company in Japan is like being in a family. Companies nurture the relationship between worker and boss and even poorer companies provide free recreational activities for their employees and some even offer free housing. Mandatory retirement takes place at mid fifties to early sixties. Even then, the company will take care of their worker.

Japanese Exports

Sixty percent of the work force is employed in schools, hospitals, banks, restaurants and the government.

Factories employ about twenty-three percent of all workers. Japan makes about 11 million automobiles per year and is also a world leader in the manufacture of electronic goods. Japan is also the second biggest trade partner with the United States.

Though there is very little land good for farming in hilly Japan, Japan produces more than half of the food needed by its people. Japan cultivated thirteen million tons of rice in 1996 and sugar beets and potatoes are also big exports in Japan. Japan is also one of the worlds' top fishing countries with the largest fishing fleet in the world.

Japan is also known for its green tea. Green tea is becoming increasingly popular today due to the new health benefits discovered from drinking it. Japan is also a big exporter of silk, always in demand.

The Secret?

Perhaps the secret to Japan's enormous economic success is the closeness between the government, management and labor. No matter what quarrels they may have between them, whenever the slightest threat from outside forces arises, they put those behind them and team up. They also are like a family. This nationalism and patriotism must have been a strong contributor to the economic rise.

Money

The basic unit of currency in Japan is the Yen. Currently, one yen is equal to 0.00920217 US dollars and one US dollar is equal to 108.67 Yen. An interesting fact is that Japanese banknotes have a system like Braille on them for the benefit of the blind.