In 1945, as Allied forces fought their way closer to an invasion of Japan, atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, bringing the war in the Pacific to a rapid end. Today Japan is one of the world's major economic powers. The Japanese economy is based on success in advanced manufacturing techniques. In the last twenty years the focus has shifted from motor vehicles and shipbuilding to lighter, higher value industries such as electronics. The services and finance sectors have also been growing rapidly.
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.