Japan has an efficient transport system linking the major cities and the separate islands. Transport within the cities is also very effective with speedy commuter trains and underground systems. The major cities are linked by the famous bullet train or shinkansen - probably the world's fastest regular train services. This transport infrastructure, with a well-educated and hardworking labour force, excellent communications and a commitment to high technology and investment has made Japan one of the world's leading industrialized countries. Agriculture and fisheries play a relatively minor role in the economy.
Japan produces only about half the food required by the population.
However the fish catch, which includes squid, pilchard, tuna, mackerel, salmon and whales, is significant and Japan is one of the world's major fishing nations, taking about fifteen percent of the world's total catch. Agricultural produce includes rice, vegetables, sugar beet, sweet potatoes, apples and citrus fruits. Japanese farmers have always worked hard to extract the maximum from their small amount of arable land and computerized greenhouses and other modern techniques are used to ensure the best possible crops. Japan has little in way of exploitable mineral resources with only coal being mined on any significant scale. There is however some extraction of limestone, oil, natural gas, iron ore , copper, lead, manganese, zinc, gold and silver.