Distilled from the huge Encyclopedia of Japan and updated in every field it covers,The Japan Book is a pocket almanac: a compilation of brief, useful information on every facet of the country.

Until its present worldwide publication, this book was used by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a general introduction given to foreign visitors. Now, anyone-whether a businessperson needing facts-at-one's-fingertips for a quick visit, a diplomat taking up a new post, a tourist wanting basic information without too much detail, or simply the curious reader not knowing much about Japan-can take advantage of this handy manual.

Among the subjects covered are: geography, history, government and diplomacy, economy, society, culture, sports and lifestyle. It also contains hundreds of color photos, and comes equipped with maps and charts.

The Japan Book is a shortcut to a wealth of useful facts and figures.