Japan exhibits its stability as a nation by having the longest unbroken imperial line in the world. Some 90 percent of Japanese regard themselves as middle class, and the country has a literacy rate of almost 100 percent. The Japanese economy is strongest in consumer electronics, automobiles, and pharmaceuticals. The economy is weaker in agricultural products and alternative energy sources. Because Japan is weak in natural resources, it has relied heavily and successfully on global trade to support its economy.
Japanese executives possess great sophistication and savvy in the international arena.
In Japan, government officials and bureaucrats often have more prestige, influence and power than their counterparts in Western countries. Japanese fiscal year ends on March 31.