Answer: countries

AnswerCrossword Clue
COUNTRIESGermany and Japan
COUNTRIESBenelux (with a dangling modifier)
COUNTRIESLands.
COUNTRIESSovereign lands ... or what are hidden in the answers to the six starred clues
countriesCOUNTRY, the territory of a nation
countriesA region associated with a particular person, esp. a writer, or with a particular work
countriesDistricts and small settlements outside large towns, cities, or the capital
countriesThe land of a person's birth or citizenship
countriesAn area or region with regard to its physical features
countriesA nation with its own government, occupying a particular territory
countriesThe people of a nation