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 | Japan is a country unique in almost every way. The food, customs, scenery and people are different to anything you will find almost anywhere else in the world. The seasons bring snow in the Winter, beautiful colours in the Autumn, the wonderful greens of Summer and the stunning cherry blossom in Spring
| Quick Facts National Name
Japan
Capital City
Tokyo
Primary Language
Japanese
Other Languages
-
Population
127,433,494 (2007 est)
10th Largest in the World
Monetary Unit
Yen ¥
Ethnicity/Race
Japanese 99%
Korean, Chinese, Brazillian, Filipino (2004)
Religion
Shinto 84%
Buddhism
Land Area
377,873 km²
Climate
Winter min -2°C
Summer max +30°C
Sports
Sumo, Baseball, Soccer, Golf, Martial Arts
Public Holidays
New Year’s Day - Jan 1
Coming of Age Day - Jan
Nat Found. Day - Feb 11
Vernal Equinox - March
Showa Day - Apr 29
Constitution Memorial
Day - May 3
Greenery Day - May 4
Children’s Day - May 5
Marine Day - July
Respect for Aged
Day - Sept
Autumnal Equinox - Sept
Sports Day - Oct
Culture Day - Nov 3
Labour Thanksgiving
Day - Nov
Birthday of the
Emperor - Dec 23
International Calling Code
+81
| History | The first signs of civilization on the Japanese archipelago appeared around 10,000 BC with a culture, characterized by a Mesolithic to Neolithic semi-sedentary hunter-gatherer lifestyle of pit dwelling and a rudimentary form of agriculture. Decorated clay vessels from this period, often with plaited patterns, are some of the oldest surviving examples of pottery in the world. The Yayoi period, starting around the third century BC, introduced new practices, such as wet-rice farming, iron and bronze-making and a new style of pottery, brought by migrants from China or Korea. With the development of Yayoi culture, a predominantly agricultural society emerged in Japan.
The characters that make up Japan's name mean "sun-origin", which is why Japan is sometimes identified as the "Land of the Rising Sun". | Geography |  Japan Formerly Nippon is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of China, Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea in the south. Japan comprises over three thousand islands, the largest of which are Honshū, Hokkaidō, Kyūshū and Shikoku, together accounting for 97% of land area.
Located at the northeastern edge of the Asian monsoon climate belt, Japan received a lot of rain. The weather is under the dual influence of the Siberian weather system and the patterns of the southern Pacific; it is affected by the Japan Current (Kuroshio), a warm stream that flows from the southern Pacific along much of Japan's Pacific coast, producing a milder and more temperate climate than is found at comparable latitudes elsewhere. Northern Japan is affected by the Kuril Current (Oyashio), a cold stream flowing along the eastern coasts of Hokkaido and northern Honshu. Throughout the year, there is fairly high humidity, with average rainfall ranging by area from 100 cm to over 250 cm (39–98 in). Autumn weather is usually clear and bright. Winters tend to be warmer than in similar latitudes except in the north and west, where snowfalls are frequent and heavy. Spring is usually pleasant, and the summer hot and humid. There is a rainy season that moves from south to north during June and July. Average temperature ranges from 17°C (63°F) in the southern portions to 9°C (48°F) in the extreme north. Hokkaido has long and severe winters with extensive snow, while the remainder of the country enjoys milder weather down to the southern regions, which are almost subtropical. The typhoon season runs from May through October. | Demographics | About 70% to 80% of the country is forested, mountainous, and unsuitable for agricultural, industrial, or residential use. This is due to the generally steep elevations, climate and risk of landslides caused by earthquakes, soft ground and heavy rain. This has resulted in an extremely high population density in the habitable zones that are mainly located in coastal areas. Japan is the thirtieth most densely populated country in the world.
Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, at the juncture of three tectonic plates, gives Japan frequent low-intensity tremors and occasional volcanic activity.
Japan's population is estimated at around 127.4 million. For the most part, Japanese society is linguistically and culturally homogeneous with only small populations of foreign workers, Zainichi Koreans, Japanese Chinese, Japanese Brazilians and others. Japan also has indigenous minority groups such as the Ainu and Ryūkyūans, as well as social minority groups like the burakumin. Japan has one of the highest life expectancy rates in the world, at 81.25 years of age as of 2006. However, the Japanese population is rapidly aging, the effect of a post-war baby boom followed by a decrease in births in the latter part of the twentieth century. In 2004, about 19.5% of the population was over the age of 65. Around 84% of Japanese people profess to believe both Shinto (the indigenous religion of Japan) and Buddhism. Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism from China have significantly influenced Japanese beliefs and mythology.
| Education | Primary, secondary schools and universities were introduced into Japan in 1872 as a result of the Meiji Restoration. Since 1947, compulsory education in Japan consists of elementary school and middle school, which lasts for nine years (from age 6 to age 15). Almost all children continue their education at a three-year senior high school.
Most public and private schools require students to take courses in both Japanese and English.
Japanese children have traditionally been taught that being part of a group is more important than individuality and that poor behaviour in public will reflect badly on the family and society in general. They are taught to obey authority. They must also learn the complicated rules of formal behaviour that characterize Japanese society. These rules are based on traditions of honour, loyalty and the importance of saving face. Although the influence of Western culture is beginning to erode these ideas, they are still strong in many parts of Japan.
| Politics/Government | Japan is a constitutional monarchy where the power of the Emperor is very limited. As a ceremonial figurehead, he is defined by the constitution as "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people". Power is held chiefly by the Prime Minister of JapanDiet, while sovereignty is vested in the Japanese people. The emperor effectively acts as the head of state on diplomatic occasions. The Prime Minister of Japan is the head of government. The position is appointed by the Emperor of JapanDiet from among its members and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office. Emperor - HIM Emperor Akihito
Prime Minister - Shinzo Abe (LDP)
Close government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation have helped Japan become the second largest economy in the world, after the United States, at around US$4.5 trillion in terms of nominal GDP and third after the United States and China in terms of purchasing power parity. | Customs/Culture | Japanese culture has evolved greatly over the years, from the country's original Jōmon culture to its contemporary culture, which combines influences from Asia, Europe and North America. Traditional Japanese arts include crafts (ikebana, origami, ukiyo-e, dolls, lacquerware, pottery), performances (bunraku, dance, kabuki, noh, rakugo), traditions (games, tea ceremony, budō, architecture, gardens, swords) and cuisine.
Japanese customs are an intricate and confusing web. Just figuring out how to properly dispose of your trash in a fast food place can be a challenge. Manners in Japan will also frequently not follow what intuitively seems correct to you. Making slurping sounds while eating noodles - totally acceptable and common. Passing food from chopstick to chopstick? A big no-no and don’t leave your chopsticks in your rice stuck straight up because it’s a sign of death, You’ll also find that the customs and the degree to which they are adhered to vary from family to family, based on age, and location.
Japanese music is eclectic, having borrowed instruments, scales and styles from neighboring cultures. Many instruments, such as the koto, were introduced in the ninth and tenth centuries. Post-war Japan has been heavily influenced by American and European modern music, which has led to the evolution of popular band music called J-Pop.Karaoke is the most widely practiced cultural activity. A November 1993 survey by the Cultural Affairs Agency found that more Japanese had sung karaoke that year than had participated in traditional cultural pursuits such as flower arranging or tea ceremony.
Traditionally, sumo is considered Japan's national sport and is one of its most popular sport spectated within Japan. Martial arts such as judo, karate and kendō are also widely practiced and enjoyed by spectators in the country.
Some aspects of Japanese customs may seem strange to other cultures. For instance bathing in Japan is different from bathing in western countries. In Japan, it is customary to wash before getting into the bathtub. The tub is for soaking and relazing, not for washing. The water stays clean so that other family members can soak in the same water afterwareds. | Food | The cuisine of Japan is a feast for both the stomach and the eyes with such a diversity of items on the menu. There literally is like nothing in the rest of the world. The Japanese diet consists primarily of rice and seafood. Many items are used in Japanese cooking that are not seen in other cultures ie. jellyfish, seaweed, kelp, sharksfin. Japanese cuisine is certainly different but well worth trying.
| Fashion/Dress |  Though western style clothing is common in Japan today, some traditional items are still in common use. The kimono and the geta are still often used in the home. Geta are a style of traditional Japanese footwear. They have a flat wood sole, a "V" style toe thong, and are raised up on two wood strips. In Japanese the strips are called "Ha" which is the Japanese word for tooth or teeth. | Family Life | The Japanese view the family as a source of stability and strength and believe that an individual cannot reach his or her full potential in the outside world without the support of the family. The decline in the birth rate since the Second World War has resulted in smaller families. However, elderly relatives may live with their children, as Japanese tradition requires children to take care of their parents in their old age.
Although many Japanese people live in modern apartments and houses, some still live in traditional houses. These houses are set back from the street. The entrance to the house leads through a gate into a garden and then through a sliding door into an area where family members and guests take off their outdoor shoes. The interior of the house is divided up by sliding screens made of wood and rice paper, which can be moved to adjust the room size. People sleep on futons, thick cotton mats placed on the floor. In the morning they are folded up and put away to save space. About three-quarters of Japanese families live in urban areas, where housing is extremely expensive. | |
