Expert 1:1 Care

Online Individual Therapy Across Japan.

Individual therapy in Japan often means either a long wait for a public-system intake or an out-of-pocket search through a small pool of English-speaking private clinics clustered in central Tokyo. Grouport offers a direct alternative: online one-on-one therapy in Japan with a licensed clinician, 45 minute weekly sessions over HIPAA-compliant video, at $103 per session (billed at $448 per month). New clients complete a short intake, match with a therapist right away, and can hold their first session this week from anywhere between Sapporo and Naha, without navigating the domestic referral queue or paying premium foreign-clinic rates.

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Mental Health Access in Japan by the Numbers.

Understanding the landscape of mental health care access and the challenges
residents face.

Mental Illness Prevalence

12.5% of Japanese adults live with a mental health condition each year, reflecting the ongoing need for accessible therapy options.

Wait Time

2 weeks the average wait to secure a first mental health appointment in Japan's public system, an interval during which symptoms often deepen.

Median Household Income

$21,282 median household income in Japan, shaping what households can allocate to private mental health care.

Percentage Who Need Therapy

77.7% of Japanese adults with a mental health condition do not receive formal specialist treatment.

Provider Shortage

92% of Japan's mental health workforce falls short of what is needed to fully meet population demand for specialist care.

Mental Health Providers per 100k Residents

3.76 per 100,000 mental health workers in Japan, a density that shapes availability, wait times, and access across the country.

Read together, Japan's numbers describe a specific set of conditions that individual online therapy is well suited to answer. A workforce density of 3.76 clinicians per 100,000 residents keeps public-system panels full, and roughly 77 percent of adults with a mental health condition never reach formal specialist care. The two-week average wait for a first appointment lengthens further inside the small pool of English-speaking private clinics, and per-session out-of-pocket costs at those clinics regularly land above what a working household can sustain over a full course of care. Grouport's model puts a licensed one-on-one clinician on video within days, priced well below the global $150 to $250 per session average, so the workforce shortage and the cost barrier both stop being reasons to defer care.

UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGE

Why the Western Pacific Region Matters for Japan.

The Problem

WHO classifies Japan within its Western Pacific Region, a grouping that spans 37 countries from Mongolia to Fiji and averages markedly lower psychiatrist density than Europe or the Americas. Within that regional context Japan's 3.76 workers per 100,000 ranks it among the tighter supplies for a high-income economy, and cultural factors compound the shortage: stigma around mental illness suppresses help-seeking, corporate schedules discourage weekday appointments, and English-language services concentrate almost entirely within a few square kilometers of central Tokyo.

The Impact

Consider what the access gap costs a bilingual account manager in Osaka trying to address rising anxiety before it disrupts a fiscal-quarter deadline. A local clinic referral may sit for two weeks before the first intake, then another two before a psychologist opens a recurring slot, and even then the appointment often lands in the middle of a workday requiring formal leave. If the clinician speaks only Japanese, working through nuanced emotional material in a second language adds its own weight. If the search shifts to a private English-speaking clinic in central Tokyo, rates climb into the 15,000 to 25,000 yen per session range and availability shrinks further. Grouport removes each of those frictions in one move: a licensed English-speaking therapist, an evening video slot this week, and a fixed USD subscription with no per-session surprises.

The Solution

Japan's specialist workforce sits at 3.76 mental health workers per 100,000 residents, and much of that capacity is absorbed by inpatient psychiatry rather than sustained one-on-one talk therapy. Grouport's individual therapy format sidesteps that structural bottleneck. Each client works privately with a single licensed clinician over 45 minute weekly sessions, building continuity week over week with the same therapist rather than competing for scarce local slots. The work is tailored to one person's history, goals, and pace, and every session is delivered in English by a fully credentialed clinician. That combination is difficult to secure inside Japan even at premium private-clinic rates, and Grouport delivers it as a predictable monthly subscription instead of an unpredictable per-session invoice.

92% of Japan's mental health workforce falls short of what is needed to fully meet population demand for specialist care.

Three access frictions specific to Japan loosen the moment care moves online and one-on-one. First, the intake queue: instead of the two weeks typical of a public outpatient panel, or the four to eight weeks quoted by many English-speaking private clinics in central Tokyo, matching with a Grouport therapist happens within days. Second, the geography: with 92.2 percent of Japan's 124 million residents concentrated in urban prefectures, the country's licensed clinicians cluster in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka, leaving Hokkaido, Tohoku, Shikoku, and the Ryukyu islands thinly covered. A stable internet connection erases that gap. Third, the time-zone alignment: Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) with no daylight saving means evening slots in Tokyo, Yokohama, or Kobe map cleanly to a full clinician bench in the United States, so working professionals can book sessions after their normal workday.

Access and Availability of Care in Japan.

Japan's formal mental health landscape is layered but uneven. Universal statutory health insurance covers psychiatric consultations with a 30 percent patient coinsurance, and inpatient psychiatric capacity is among the highest in the OECD. Outpatient talk therapy delivered by clinical psychologists, however, sits largely outside the insurance rails and is concentrated in a small number of urban clinics. Employer-provided EAP counseling exists at large multinationals but typically caps at a few sessions per issue. University and NGO clinics fill a narrow slice of need. What is missing across all of these is a reliable weekly one-on-one English-language option that a working adult can start right away and sustain for months. Grouport fills exactly that gap with licensed clinicians, HIPAA-compliant video, immediate matching, and predictable monthly pricing in USD.

Geographic Barriers

Japan spans over 6,800 islands across four main landmasses, and specialist availability follows population density with painful precision. Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka, and Aichi prefectures absorb the majority of psychiatry and psychology graduates each year, while Shimane, Kochi, Aomori, and much of Hokkaido operate with a fraction of the per-capita capacity. Even inside the Kanto megalopolis, English-speaking licensed clinicians cluster into a handful of neighborhoods around central Tokyo, meaning a resident of Chiba or Saitama can face a 60 to 90 minute commute each way for a single session. Grouport's national online reach neutralizes both the interregional and intraregional gaps. A licensed therapist appears on screen from a farmhouse in Yamagata, an apartment in Meguro, or a base residence in Okinawa with identical quality and identical USD pricing.

Extended Wait Times

Domestic outpatient mental health intake in Japan typically runs about two weeks in the public system, and premium English-speaking private clinics in Tokyo commonly quote four to eight weeks for a first appointment. Corporate mental leave (kyushoku) approval extends the practical delay further, since most employers require a physician's note before formal treatment begins. Instead of waiting two weeks or two months for that first conversation, Japan clients can be in their first Grouport session within days of completing the short intake. For someone in an acute stress episode, that difference in speed is often the difference between staying functionally engaged at work and stepping away entirely. Immediate access is not a marketing phrase here, it is how the service is built.

Systemic Challenges

Several structural features of Japan's system push against sustained talk therapy. The Certified Public Psychologist (Koninshinrishi) credential was only established in 2017, and psychology sessions still fall largely outside statutory insurance reimbursement, which nudges the domestic care model toward brief medication-focused psychiatric appointments rather than 45 minute conversational therapy. Insurance-covered psychiatry visits often run 5 to 10 minutes, and anything longer shifts into private-pay territory that can reach 15,000 yen per hour in central Tokyo. Cultural factors weigh in as well: employer awareness of psychiatric treatment can carry professional consequences in certain workplaces, and stigma around visible help-seeking persists. Grouport works around each of these by delivering full 45 minute weekly sessions with a licensed clinician, priced in USD as a predictable subscription, entirely privately from the client's own device.

Urban-Rural Divide

With 92.2 percent of Japan's population living in urban areas, specialist capacity concentrates where the people are and thins dramatically outside the major metros. A working parent in Iwate, Akita, or Miyazaki often finds the nearest licensed talk therapist an hour or more of rail travel away, and English-language options collapse to near zero outside Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka. Coastal fishing villages in Wakayama, mountain hamlets in Nagano, and the remote outer Ryukyu islands see the sharpest gaps. Online one-on-one therapy dissolves that divide. Because sessions are private and video-based, a client in a farmhouse in Yamagata connects to the same licensed clinician for the same $103 as a client in a Ginza high-rise. The infrastructure requirement is a stable internet connection, which reaches essentially every populated corner of Japan.

For Japan clients, Grouport delivers what the domestic system rarely combines: a licensed clinician, weekly one-on-one sessions in English, an immediate start, and transparent USD subscription pricing that supports a full arc of care rather than a rushed handful of visits. There is no waiting list, no rail journey to a Tokyo clinic, no reliance on employer approval, and no per-session invoicing that fluctuates with the yen-dollar rate. A short intake matches each new client with a therapist whose training and specialty align with what they want to work on, and sessions begin the same week from anywhere in the country. That combination has made Grouport a durable option for expats, returnees, bilingual professionals, and Japanese residents who value the privacy and consistency of a one-on-one format.

Cost and Value for Clients in Japan.

Japan residents get immediate access to Individual Therapy at $103 per session on average (billed at $448 per month), 50 to 60 percent below the global average of $150 to $250 per session for licensed one-on-one care. Every-other-week clients pay $224 per month. The pricing is fixed in USD as a predictable monthly subscription rather than an unpredictable per-session invoice, and it also undercuts the standard rates charged by premium English-speaking private clinics in central Tokyo, Osaka, and Yokohama, where individual sessions commonly run 15,000 to 25,000 yen per hour.

Affordability and Income

Japan's median household income sits around 4.4 million yen (roughly $29,000 to $30,000 depending on the exchange rate), which leaves most families little room for open-ended per-session therapy invoices at premium urban clinic rates. Grouport's transparent USD subscription changes that math. Weekly one-on-one sessions cost $448 per month with the same licensed therapist across a full course of care, and the every-other-week option at $224 per month keeps ongoing support even more sustainable. Because the price is fixed, households can plan mental health care into the monthly budget the same way they plan rent, transit, or a mobile plan. That predictability, combined with pricing well below the global $150 to $250 per session average, keeps the door open for consistent weekly care rather than a rushed handful of visits followed by an unaffordable renewal.

Hidden Cost and Barriers

In-person mental health care in Japan carries several costs that rarely appear on a clinic invoice. A round-trip commute from Chiba or Saitama into central Tokyo for a single session easily runs 60 to 90 minutes each way and 800 to 1,500 yen in train fare. Regional patients traveling to metropolitan specialists face shinkansen fares that can exceed 20,000 yen per round trip. Weekday-only clinic hours often force clients into paid or unpaid leave from work. Per-session invoices billed in yen create budgeting uncertainty when the exchange rate moves. Cash-only surprises still happen at smaller domestic practices. Finding a licensed English-speaking clinician with actual open availability requires hours of phone calls and email follow-ups. Grouport removes each of those overheads. A session begins when a client opens their laptop, at a fixed monthly USD rate they can cancel anytime.

Immediate Availability

Immediate availability is itself an economic value in Japan. Instead of waiting two weeks for a public-system intake, or four to eight weeks for a first appointment at a Tokyo English-speaking private clinic, Grouport clients complete a short intake and match with a licensed therapist within days, then hold their first 45 minute one-on-one session the same week. For a working professional in Kanagawa managing an acute stress episode, or a parent in Fukuoka arranging support before a demanding school term, that speed converts directly into staying functionally engaged at home and at work. For Japan clients ready to start now, a licensed Grouport therapist is available this week.

How it Works

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Personalized match

We’ll get in touch with you to get brief context to make sure we match you with the therapist that best fits your needs & schedule. (Typically match in 24-72 hours)

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Meet weekly with a licensed mental health professional for 45-minute video sessions. With consistent online therapy services, you can start seeing meaningful results.

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Mental Health Conditions We Treat in

Japan

Beyond individual therapy, Grouport offers licensed therapists who specialize across the full spectrum of mental health needs and evidence-based approaches. Whatever you're looking for, we have a therapist for your needs.

Meaningful Results

Check out how our online therapy services have helped our members see life-changing results

Stephanie

“Grouport is time flexible and affordable and if it didn’t exist, I don’t know where I would go. I had looked into other places before Grouport and there really wasn’t any option like it.”

Michael

“I highly recommend this to anyone who is struggling with anxiety or depression. The therapists are top notch and have made me feel really comfortable and my anxiety has improved tremendously in only a few sessions!”

Isabel

"I joined Grouport to work on myself and to heal. I’m learning so much at every session! The change I see not only in myself but in my fellow group members is abundantly encouraging and profoundly fulfilling. Group therapy with Grouport is a powerful healing tool."

Sheldon

“I was feeling very down at the end of 2020 and I was ready to do something drastic that I know I'd likely regret. The group definitely helped show me that there are people who feel the same way as I do.”

Nancy

“The therapy from Grouport is high quality and convenient. I am becoming much more self aware and am liking myself more. My relationships at work are better and I’m much happier.”

Emily

“I like the connection you can make with total strangers and the confidentiality it comes with.”

Olivia

“My weekly group helps me get through the week. Best experience ever!”

Danielle

"Grouport can help you with your issues. Their therapists are well trained to work with you on your issues. I felt my anxiety greatly improve after only a few sessions. I highly recommend it!"

Glenn

"Grouport's approach to DBT is a real strength. This approach provides tools and methods for working with difficult emotions and getting a handle on them. It has given me hope where other approaches have failed."

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Meet Our Therapists

Our therapists represent a wide range of clinical specialties & diverse backgrounds. They all undergo the most stringent credentialing process. Grouport therapists are caring, expert mental health professionals with years of experience helping people get the tools they need to see long-lasting change.

Every Grouport clinician holds an active clinical license, graduate-level training from an accredited program, and years of clinical practice with adult populations. The bench includes licensed psychologists, licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs), licensed professional counselors (LPCs), PsyDs, and PhDs. Sessions are conducted in English, and clinicians bring cultural competence with globally mobile clients, including expats, returnees, and Japanese professionals who prefer to work in their second language. Matching happens right away after intake so a client's therapist is chosen for fit with what they want to address, not simply the next open slot. All sessions are HIPAA-compliant and fully confidential.

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Affordable Individual Therapy & Care Options in Japan.

Group, individual, couples, family, IOP, and teen therapy — all online, all therapist-led. Mix and match care options to fit your needs — and get discounted pricing when you bundle.

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Individual Therapy

$112/session
billed at $448/month

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Group Therapy

$35/session
billed at $140/month

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Partnership

Couples Therapy

$123/session
billed at $492/month

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Family Therapy

$160/session
billed at $640/month

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IOP Therapy

$337/week
billed at $1,348/month

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Teen Therapy

$112/session
billed at $448/month

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Common Questions from Clients in Japan.

How long does it take to get matched with a licensed therapist?

For group sessions, most clients select their group directly upon signing up so they are matched right away. For private therapy sessions, like individual therapy or couples therapy etc. most clients are matched with a licensed therapist within 24- 72 hours of signing up. This quick turnaround is one of Grouport's key advantages over traditional in person therapy, where wait times average 8-12 weeks nationally. A dedicated care coordinator will get in touch with you upon signup to get you situated with the care that fits your schedule and goals. Once matched, you'll receive access to your sessions either through our member portal or through weekly session links that are emailed to your inbox 24-hrs before each session. You can typically schedule your first session within the same week upon signing up allowing you to start therapy right away rather than waiting months.

Do you accept insurance?

We don't currently accept insurance directly. Grouport provides affordable care without pre-approvals or referrals. If you have out-of-network benefits, you may be able to submit for reimbursement depending on your plan. We can provide receipts upon request that you can submit for out of network reimbursement.

Can I get reimbursed by my insurance for online therapy?

Many Grouport clients successfully get reimbursed through their out-of-network mental health benefits. Upon request, we can provide a detailed superbill that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Reimbursement rates typically range from 50-80% depending on your specific plan. To determine your out of network reimbursement coverage, call or email your insurance company and ask: "What are my out-of-network mental health benefits?" and "What percentage do you reimburse for out-of-network therapy (for the specific service you’re interested in)?"

Can children or teens participate in individual therapy?

Grouport offers teen specific individual sessions for teens ages 13-19. Teen individual sessions work similarly to adult individual sessions but are adapted developmentally for adolescence. Children's individual sessions for children under 13 years old are usually designed very differently since they are more activity based,which is more age appropriate. Grouport only focuses on teens and adults for individual therapy.

Can I do online individual therapy if I'm very introverted?

Yes, introverts often do really well in individual therapy once they get past initial discomfort. You don't have to be the loudest person to benefit and what often happens is that introverts open up overtime. Quiet observation is totally valid and a skilled group therapist makes space for different communication styles. The therapist works with your natural communication style while encouraging growth promoting challenges. Groups benefit from diverse personalities such as introverts who provide balance and thoughtfulness to session.

What if my schedule changes and I can't attend anymore?

If your schedule changes temporarily, that’s totally normal and missing a couple of sessions here and there like 2-3 sessions is acceptable as long as there's commitment to return. If missing session is happening a lot due to your scheduling changes, talk to a care coordinator about switching to a different group time that works better for your schedule and they’ll be sure to assist. This is precisely why we allow to switch individual sessions at any time as we know scheduling changes do happen. Or pause and return later when it's convenient for you. Life changes and schedules shift, so it's important that you find a group that works for you and your schedule.

Can individual therapy address trauma?

Absolutely, we have specific individual sessions geared to Trauma & PTSD. So for trauma we would recommend a trauma group. We also find that Dialectical Behavior Therapy “DBT” individual sessions are often also helpful for trauma & PTSD. The shared experience among trauma survivors is healing and realizing you're not alone in what happened or how it affected you is essential for progress. Trauma individual sessions are usually structured carefully so that you can process trauma effectively, and they can include specific trauma techniques like EMDR or rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Can therapy help with social anxiety?

Social anxiety, fear of social situations, worry about judgment, avoidance of social interaction is common to experience. Cultural norms affect what situations trigger anxiety, but the core condition is the same. Therapy uses evidence-based approaches to treat social anxiety regardless of cultural context.

What if I'm dealing with aging or mortality anxiety?

Fear of aging, fear of death, or existential anxiety about mortality are universal human experiences. Cultural attitudes toward aging and death vary, but the anxiety is real everywhere. Therapy provides space to explore these fears and find meaning despite mortality.

What's the cheapest way to do therapy?

Online Group therapy is the most affordable. After that? Using HSA/FSA for tax savings. Doing sessions less frequently, like every other week instead of weekly. If you need more intensive care, Grouport always provides discounts when doing more than one thing per week which reduces the cost significantly. Online platforms like Grouport are generally more affordable than in-person private practice.

How does Grouport Individual Therapy compare to using Japan's statutory health insurance for psychotherapy?

Japan's statutory health insurance covers outpatient psychiatry, but talk therapy delivered by Certified Public Psychologists typically sits outside reimbursement and is concentrated in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka. Finding an English-fluent licensed clinician can mean waits of around 2 weeks at private clinics, plus premium out-of-pocket rates. Grouport offers one-on-one weekly video sessions with a licensed clinician for $103 per session or $448 per month, in English, over HIPAA-compliant video. After a brief intake you match right away and start immediately, from anywhere in Japan.

Is Grouport Individual Therapy a good fit for university students and young professionals in Tokyo or Osaka?

Yes. University students, early-career professionals, returnees (kikokushijo), and English-teaching residents across Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka often prefer therapy in English, and in-person options are limited and costly. Grouport pairs you one-on-one with a licensed clinician, a psychologist, LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, LPC, PsyD, or PhD, for 45 to 50 minute weekly video sessions at $103 each, or $224 per month for every-other-week at $52 per session. Evening slots on Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) align with morning U.S. West Coast availability, and you can start right away.

Where Grouport Reaches Across Japan.

Regions

Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa regions are all served identically. Because 92.2% of the population is urban, most clients log in from Kanto and Kansai, but rural prefectures see no service difference.

Cities

Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Kobe, Kawasaki, Kyoto, Saitama, Hiroshima, Sendai, Chiba, Kitakyushu, Sakai, Niigata, Hamamatsu, Kumamoto, Sagamihara, and Okayama all connect at the same session quality and same $103 price.

Zip Codes

100-0001, 100-8111, 150-0011, 150-0043, 160-0022, 170-0013, 104-0031, 105-0011, 231-0005, 220-0011, 532-0011, 541-0056, 600-8009, 604-8005, 060-0001, 062-0007, 810-0001, 812-0018, 980-0011, 460-0002

If you have an address in Japan, Grouport can serve you regardless of your zip code.

Online Individual Therapy Available Worldwide

Grouport offers online individual therapy available globally for people in 200+ countries. Find a licensed therapist that fits your needs for weekly one-on-one sessions.

Afghanistan Aland Islands Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Colombia Comoros Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curacao Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d'Ivoire Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Republic of the Congo Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe
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