What is the relationship between the US and Japan? -

Does the US essentially control Japan, or does Japan function as a completely independent country? If you can give a link, then please give one....

Japan functions as an independent economy and their internal politics are quite insulated from our own (at least, far more than our close economic ties would suggest). In terms of foreign relations, Japan is largely in line with the U.S. and they do not participate in world affairs much outside of business/trade, so it does not leave much room for any friction between the two countries. Militarily, Japan may as well be a protectorate of the United States.

JAPAN IS NO BODY S PUPPET. IT HAS THE 2ND LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD AND IT S OWN MILITARY IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE SELF SUFFICIENT. SINCE THE END OF WW II, THE US HAS BEEN A PROTECTORATE OF JAPAN, MILITARILY THAT IS. HOWEVER, EVER SINCE NORTH KOREA STARTED SENDING ROCKETS OVER THE SEA OF JAPAN, THE JAPANESE DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO BE SELF RELIANT AND CAPABLE OF DEFENDING ITSELF. IT HAS BEEN REBUILDING IT S ARMED FORCES EVER SINCE. JAPAN, ALONG WITH SOUTH KOREA AND TAIWAN ARE THE US S BIGGEST ALLIES IN ASIA. tHIS IS A PRETTY GOOD NUCLEASE OF FRIENDS TO HAVE IN YET ANOTHER VOLATILE PART OF THE WORLD.

They used to be a couple but now they are just friends.

Japan is independent to a point but their history is sooo much better than ours. Save the whales!!! ;))