Similarly, both Japan and Thailand were severely hit by the Asian financial crisis, which began on the Thai stock exchange. Many banks and business went bankrupt and the Thai Baht devalued by 40%. Both countries required foreign aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Thailand received a rescue package of US$14 billion. The rescue packages granted the countries time to initiate reforms and turn their economies around.

Unlike Japan, Thailand is not a group of islands, it is however a larger country with a land area of 511 770km2. Thailand's extends 2500km from North

Both countries have many large rivers systems but they are vastly different. Thailand's rivers are deep, wide and slow moving; the rivers are like this because Thailand is a relatively flat country. The rivers enable many industries, such as the timber industry, to use the rivers to transport logs down stream for milling. While on the contrary, Japanese rivers are far too shallow, narrow and fast-flowing to be used for any purpose expect for hydro-electricity schemes. Rivers play an important role in Thai life. Many markets and sales take place in small boats along the river systems. Thailand's major rivers are the Chao Phraya, Mekong, Chi and Mun. Japans major rivers are the Shinano, Ishikari and Tenryu. Likewise both Japan and Thailand have many lakes scattered though-out the countries. Many lakes in Japan have been formed in the craters of 'extinct' volcanoes.

The two countries have populations which, are structured very differently. Japan has an aging population where 16% are over the age of 65. While only 5% of Thai people are over the 65-year age bracket. This may be contributed to many factors one of which is, by western standards Thailand has a poor health care system that fails to look after the sick and elderly. Japan has an ageing population because less than one female child is born per women of childbearing age. This could be caused by Japanese women choosing to concentrate on their careers rather than having a family. The two countries also have different age structures in other areas. 15% of Japan's population is between the ages of 0 and 14 compared to Thailand where 29% of the population are between 0 and 14. Likewise both Japan and Thailand have a similar percentage of the population between 15 and 64 years of age. In Thailand 66% are in the 15 - 64 year age bracket and 69% of the Japanese population are of a similar age.

50 30I to 210 and 1250km from East 970 3I to 1030 3I. The most southern land extends down the Malayan peninsula and borders with Malaysia. The country also borders with Burma, Laos and Cambodia as well as the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Thailand.

There are many volcano located on the Japanese islands, of which 60 are still active. There are over 1500 earthquakes reported each year, most cause little or no damage but some can be disastrous. In contrast, there are no active volcanoes in Thailand and only minor earthquakes occur. Japan experiences seismic activity such as volcanoes and earthquakes because it is located on the edge of large tectonic plates which are regularly moving. These plates are what cause Japan to have such an elevated landform. Thailand only experiences earthquakes because it is located on an area of folding and not the edge of tectonic plates. Edges of the tectonic plates run throughout Asia and have become known as 'the Pacific Ring of Fire'.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Japan Thailand, Japan Thailand's, Thailand Japan, June October, Mt Mokochu, Kyushu Shikoku, Likewise Christianity, East Thailand, Thailand's GNP, Japan's GNP, japan thailand, thailand's population, thailand japan, japanese people, tectonic plates, japan's population, life expectancy, growth rate, edge tectonic plates, raw materials, japan's economy, services technology industries, north 50 30i, 3i 1030 3i, 970 3i 1030,
Approximate Word count = 2710
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)