Facts About Japan
Nicknamed’ the land of the rising sun,’ Japan is a small Asian country with a crimson sun at the center of its flag. The country’s cultures and civilization were among the world’s oldest. Through its powerful heritage and value system, Japan has influenced the world and continues to do so even today. We have compiled some interesting and amazing facts about Japan.
Name And Foundation Facts About Japan
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The Japanese refer to their country as “Nihon,” meaning the “Land of the Rising Sun.”
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The Portuguese introduced the name Japan to the rest of the world. The Portuguese traders visiting Southeast Asia heard of a place called Japun from local people, which is Japan’s name in the Malay language. The name of Malay itself was derived from the Chinese name Zeppen.
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Europeans of the 16th century spelled Japan as Giapan, which was eventually changed to the spelling that we now know.
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A book is written in 1577, in which the country was called Giapen, gives the first mention of the country in the English language.
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Emperor Jimmu is considered to be Japan’s first ruler. On February 11, 660 BC, he ascended the throne. This day is now celebrated as the National Foundation Day and is a national holiday.
Geography Facts About Japan
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Japan is made up of over 6,000 islands, making Japan an archipelago, a term used by an island group.
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Japan lies at the intersection of the earth’s four tectonic plates. As these tectonic plates shift regularly, it makes the country vulnerable to earthquakes.
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Although not all of them have devastating results, the island country receives more than 1,000 earthquakes in a year. Almost every day, mild tremors are felt.
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For the political overview, Japan is divided into eight regions. There are a total of 47 prefectures throughout the country (administrative divisions).
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Mount Fuji is Japan’s highest mountain, 3,776.24 meters high. It’s a dormant volcano, but there’s still a risk of eruption, scientists say, although quite low.
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Japan has 110 active volcanoes!
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The word Tsunami comes from Japanese, meaning ‘ harbor wave. ‘ Being in an earthquake-prone area, Japan has a long history of tsunami experience.
Culture And People
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Japanese bow rather than handshaking. There are three unique ways in which a person can be bowed. They are called Eshaku, Keirei, and Saikeirei, each with a purpose and appropriate social opportunities. The angle you bend your torso is also unique in each bow!
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Shinto is Japan’s primary religion followed by 80% of the population. It is a religion of complex rituals with multiple differences to it. Buddhism and Christianity are other religions with important adherents in Japan.
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Japan is renowned for its nearly 1,500-year-old Sumo wrestling. Sumo is the Japanese national sport.
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After Sumo, baseball is Japan’s second most common sport and the most common spectator sport. In 1872, an American named Horace Wilson brought baseball in Japan, working as an English teacher in Tokyo.
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Four is an unfortunate Japanese number. You may discover buildings that may not have a marked fourth floor or a numbered row of houses where numbers are jumping from three to five. This is because the number four pronunciation is very comparable to the term ‘ death ‘ pronunciation.
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An alternative pronunciation for number four will be used by Japanese traders and businessmen who can not go without number four.
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Black cats in Japan are regarded as charms of excellent luck. It’s a nice omen to have your way crossed by a black cat in Japan.
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Ohaguro is a tradition of teeth blacking, particularly by females. Teeth are painted with plant-based and iron-based inks. The teeth are gone out of the way and there is a little occurrence in contemporary Japan.
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Onsen is a Japanese hot spring bath with a large outdoor or indoor water pool where you can bathe and relax. Onsen could be a public one owned and accessible to the public by a municipality, or a private one owned by a hotel or resort.
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Did you that you are not permitted to tattoo an Onsen? Japanese tattoos are viewed as a sign of the Yakuza leaders, the Japanese mafia. Owners of Onsen prohibit tattoos from blending with the mafia. Several bath houses allow tattoos if, for example, the individual is a foreigner, a tourist.
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A dog’s call is not ‘ bow-wow ‘ but ‘ wan-wan, ‘ according to the Japanese.
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Akita is a Japanese-born dog breed. Hachiko was a popular Akita dog who was waiting for his master who died unexpectedly at work at a railway station for nine years. A Hachiko statue stands outside Tokyo’s railway station today.
Food
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Noodles are component of the Japanese’s staple diet. The Ramen noodles we all understand today came from Japan. The Japanese Momofuku Ando was the inventor of instant noodles and founder of the famous Top Ramen instant noodle brand.
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It’s okay to slurp noodles in Japan. It’s even considered rude not to slurp noodles! Not slurping your noodles can be seen as a sign that you don’t like or appreciate the food you’ve been serving.
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Japanese people love their tea. The Japanese tea ceremony involves the elaborate preparation of matcha, finely powdered green tea. Even the Japanese have green tea-flavored ice creams.
Japan is a fascinating country full of places and people of interest. We know that modern Japan today is one of the world’s most developed nations. Most Japanese people, despite their progress, continue to follow the age-old customs observed by their ancestors for centuries.
Also Read: 30 Interesting Facts About The Great Wall Of China
