What do you know about Japan? The “Land of the Rising Sun” is famous for a number of things like anime, cherry blossoms, sushi, automobiles, electronics, bullet trains, kimonos, Mt. Fuji, and more. It’s important to learn more about Japan because it’s a major trading partner of the United States as well as one of its closest Asian allies. Expand your knowledge of this fascinating country by checking out the following information.
Nature and Climate
Japan has a total land area of 378,000 square kilometers. Up to three quarters of the land is mountainous while the remaining area is made up of basins and plains. Surrounded by sea, Japan enjoys warm and cold currents, which is essential in supporting the various species of fish in the country. The country has four distinct seasons, namely, spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Some of the possible natural disasters in Japan are earthquakes, typhoons, and volcanic eruptions.
Regions of Japan
The population of Japan is roughly 128 million. The country has 47 prefectures which are divided into nine regions, namely, Chubu, Chugoku, Hokkaido, Kanto, Kinki, Kyushu, Okinawa, Shikoku, and Tohoku. Spread out over a chain of islands spanning 3,000 kilometers from the northernmost region of Hokkaido to the southernmost region of Okinawa, the regions have their unique customs and food. The capital of Japan is Tokyo with a population of 30 million.
Politics and the Constitution
Since 1947, Japan’s legal founding document has been the Constitution of Japan. It provides the framework for the government’s parliamentary system, guaranteeing a number of basic rights. Under the terms of the constitution, the Emperor of Japan only occupies a ceremonial role, with no sovereign powers. Japan is a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy. The head of the government is the chief of the executive branch, the Prime Minister. The National Diet, the House of Councillors, and the House of Representatives make up the legislative branch. Japan’s judicial branch is independent.
Daily Life
After World War II, lifestyles in Japan underwent dramatic changes when a large portion of people from the rural areas moved to the cities to make a living. As the cities expanded in population and size, space became scarce, resulting in high population density. This caused people to move to the suburbs where they have to commute to work in jam packed trains. In the past, Japanese families used to live in a family house with three generations under the same roof, but modern families now seldom live with the grandparents.
History
Japan has a long history. It can be traced back to 10,000 BC in the Jomon period when the people survived on fishing, gathering, and hunting. The first Japanese unified state was formed in the fourth century during the Kofun period, and a centralized government in the present city of Nara during the Nara period in the eighth century. Other prominent periods are the Kamakura period, the Azuchi-Momoyama period, the Edo period, the Meiji period, and the present Heisei period.
Tradition and Culture
Due to its long history, Japan is rich in tradition and culture. From traditional music to traditional dance to kabuki to tea ceremony to haiku, Japan certainly has a lot of offer. It’s quite amazing that some of these traditions and cultures have survived from ancient Japan up to the ultra modern times. Nowadays, Japanese women still dress up in kimonos and practice the old arts.
Economy and Industry
Despite its relatively small land and population size, Japan is ranked as the second largest economy in the world, after the United States. In a study in 2006, GDP (gross domestic product) per hour worked of Japanese workers was ranked 18th in the world. After World War II, Japan went on an economic rampage which is known as the “Japanese post-war economic miracle”. Japan is a major producer of automobiles, computers, semi-conductors, iron, consumer electronics, and steel.
International Relations
Since World War II, Japan’s diplomatic policy has been in line with the goals of the United States. At the height of the Cold War, Japan opposed Soviet presence in East Asia. After the Cold War and the Gulf War, Japan actively took part in U.N. peacekeeping operations. Generally, Japan enjoys good international relations with many countries around the world.
Schools
Japanese kids go to elementary school for six years before they enter junior school for three years. After that, they have to attend high school for three years before they can go to the university which usually requires another four years. In Japan, elementary and junior school is compulsory. To be accepted at high schools or universities, the students have to take exams.
Students Outside the Classroom
Due to the intense pressures of education in Japanese society, students tend to treasure their time outside the classroom a great deal. Residing in one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, many Japanese kids have joined the Internet revolution and it’s not uncommon to see Japanese kids playing their electronic games in their free time. They also develop a deep fascination with anime, origami, gashapon, manga, and music. When the opportunity arises, students also like to engage in sports activities.
Sports
The Japanese are almost fanatical about sports. The more popular sports are judo, karate-do, soccer, baseball, sumo, swimming, and tennis, but they actually play all types of sports. In 1964, the Summer Olympics was held in Tokyo. The Winter Olympics was held in Sapporo and Nagano in 1972 and 1998 respectively. In 2002, Japan and South Korea jointly hosted the FIFA World Cup.