Final answer:
Japan relies heavily on international trade due to its limited resources, which forms the cornerstone of its economic growth and sustenance in the global market.
Step-by-step explanation:
Because Japan is an island nation with limited natural resources, it relies on international trade to fuel its economy. Japan's post-World War II economic rise was significantly propelled by U.S. aid and access to American consumer markets, allowing it to transition from a producer of inexpensive goods to a leader in high-technology innovation. Japan's need to import resources for its economic sustenance and production is also compounded by its focus on high-income industries, as well as the challenges it faces with an aging population, labor shortages, and a negative population growth pattern.