Japan: Religion, Culture, History, Tourism

The Basics

Japan is an island nation located in East Asia – it has about 3,000 islands!
There are about 128 million people who
live in Japan, and it has the second highest GDP in the world
Technically, there are no official languages, but Japanese dialects are most commonly spoken

Occupation of Japan began in 30,000 BC
It wasn’t until around the 8^th century when a strong Japanese nation state emerged
In the Medieval Period, the Samurai emerged as a powerful warrior
In the 16^th century, Jesuit missionaries reached Japan and established a relationship between Japan and the West
The early 20^th century saw the expansion and militarization of Japan
During WWI, Japan was on the side of the allies, enabling it to expand its influence and territories
During WWII (1941), Japan famously attacked Pearl Harbor in the USA (Hawaii), forcing the States to enter the war
In 1945, the USA dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, forcing the Japanese to surrender
In 1956, Japan was granted membership in the United Nations

The main religion in Japan is Buddhism
“The teaching of Buddha that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire, that suffering ceases when desire ceases, and that enlightenment obtained through right conduct, wisdom, and meditation releases one from desire, suffering, and rebirth.”

The Japanese are famous for their artwork, particularly paintings and sculptures
Gardens in Japan have the same importance/status as a work of art
The Japanese wear kimonos, which means “something one wears”. A popular figure that has emerged from this is the Geisha – a female entertainer who wears this traditional dress
Judo is a popular martial art that developed out of Japan
Anime and Manga are two popular forms of entertainment that also developed out of Japan
The Japanese Tea Ceremony, popular in Japan, is when green tea is served ceremonially to others
Here are a few more important customs:
-Bowing
-Eating all the food on your plate
-Obento (boxed meals) are very important
-Chopsticks!
-Take your shoes off in a home and wear
slippers
-Instead of saying goodbye, say something about
A wish to meet again

70-80% of the country is forested, mountainous, and unsuitable for agriculture
Japan is prone to earthquakes and tsunamis, because of its proximity to the Pacific Ring of Fire
The climate is temperate, but does vary north to south
May to July is the rainy season in Japan
Japan is home to many environmentally-friendly technologies, especially hybrid cars
Japan was the host of the Kyoto Protocol (named after a Japanese city)

Tokyo

Tokyo is home to the government and royal family
The metropolitan area has 35 million people – the largest in the world!
The architecture is mostly modern because the city suffered extensive damage during WWII
Tokyo is considered one of the financial centres of the world
Public transportation is fast, clean, and efficient – but very busy!

Hiroshima

Japan receives around 8 million visitors a year
Attractions include the city of Tokyo and Mount Fuji; avid skiers also embark on Japan because of its numerous resorts
Tokyo Disneyland is a popular attraction for children!
Extensive rail networks and domestic flights allows speedy transport around the country
For more info, visit the Japan National