Japan's top income tax rate is 50%, the average tax rate 20%, and the top corporate tax rate 37%. The capital gains tax is 37.5%, the enterprise tax 6-12.6%. In addition, there are prefectural, municipal, and inhabitant taxes as well as a 5% consumption tax and a social insurance tax of 17.6% paid by both the employee and employer.

About 125 million people live in the island country of 378,000 km² (146,000 mi²). GDP is $4.5 trillion, of which the Japanese government consumes about 9.8%. The inflation rate is less than 1%.

In 1990 car sales reached over 5 million. In 1998, new registrations totaled 4.1 million, production 8.4 million. Today's total passenger car fleet is 49 million.

Passenger Car Production, by Manufacturer (thousands of units)

Manufacturer 1998 2002 Toyota 2900 2900 Nissan 1600 1600 Honda 1000 900 Mitsubishi 840 1000 Mazda 670 730 Suzuki 650 690 Daihatsu 350 340 Fuji 350 390 Isuzu 21 26 Total 8381 8576

Country profiles were provided by Raymond Champagne