Japan is an island country about the size of California with diverse landscapes ranging from snowy mountains to sunny beaches. The capital and largest city is Tokyo, home to over 12 million people. Shinto and Buddhism are the main religions in Japan, though many do not identify with a particular faith. Traditional arts like paintings, pottery and sculptures remain influential alongside modern manga comics. Cherry blossoms, Mount Fuji and koi fish are iconic cultural symbols of natural beauty.

1. ~Japan~ Land Of The Rising Sun

2. Japan Japan is a series of islands about the size of California. The country is very diverse, it has snowy mountaintops in Hokkaido, bustling metropolises in Tokyo and sunny beaches in Okinawa. Japan has been a country since about 12,000 B.C., so it has a lot of interesting history as well.

3. Tokyo Tokyo city is the capital of Japan. It is one of the largest cities in the world with a population of about 12 million in the official metropolitan area alone. Not surprisingly it is also very crowded, with5,847 people per square kilometer. There are many fun places to go in Tokyo, like Ueno Park, Tokyo Tower, the Tokyo Dome or even Disneyland. Just wandering around randomly is fun too, you might stumble across a place you like.

4. Flag The Flag of Japan was adopted on January 26 th , 1870. It is usually a red disc on a white background, though the design has some variations. The red disc represents the sun, and indeed, the flag’s two most commonly used names Nisshoki and Hinomaru both mean ‘circle of the sun’. The white stands for honesty and purity.

5. Emperor The current emperor of Japan, or Mikado , is Emperor Akihito. The Emperor is a symbol of the State and the unity of the people, and the Head of both the Shinto religion and the State, but honestly, he doesn’t do much. His duties are mostly to receive foreign dignitaries, award Japanese citizens with decorations, convene the diet, and, when the time comes, appoint the Prime Minister (as selected by the Diet.)

6. Kimono The National Dress of Japan is the kimono. Kimonos come with many different colors and patterns, and are usually worn on sn special occasions.

7. National Parks There are 29 national parks in Japan, each of them different. The largest national park, Daisetsuzan, is also home to the Soukyo Gorge.

8. Sports Sumo and martial arts are traditional in Japan, however Western sports such as baseball are also very popular. Figure skating is popular too, and the board game Go , though board games aren’t really a sport.

9. Religions Japan grants full religious freedom, but Shinto and Buddhism are the two main religions. However, about 70% of the Japanese do not, in fact, claim a religion.

10. Manga Manga is a lot like American comics, except that the way you read it is opposite, and the drawings have a distinct style. People young and old read manga, and since there are many, many different varieties, you are almost guaranteed to find something you will like. It is a huge ($3.6 million) market in Japan, and has rapidly spread to other countries.

11. Food Japan has a large variety of dishes and regional specialties, known for their emphasis on the quality, presentation, and careful seasoning of the food. Dishes include Ramen, Soba, Sushi and Tempura.

12. Music Japanese music has a wide array of performers in styles both traditional and modern. Traditionally the styles are easily recognized, with no distinct beat. The Japanese music market is the largest in the world.

13. Art Ancient pottery, sculpture in wood and bronze, ink paintings on silk or paper and, recently, manga are the main medias of Japanese art.

14. Mt. Fuji Mt. Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan and a national symbol. It is often seen in paintings and pictures, and many people, both sightseers and and hikers alike, come to revel in its beauty. It stands at 12,389 ft. tall.

15. Cherry Blossoms Every spring in Japan, the sakura (cherry) trees start to blossom. The Japanese pay close attention to this, even the Japanese Meteorological Agency follows the sakura zensen , or cherry-blossom front. Festivals are thrown to celebrate the beautiful flowers and hundreds flock to shrines, parks and temples to hold flower-viewing parties. The cherry blossom is thought to be the unofficial national flower of Japan

16. Koi Fish Koi, or Nishikigoi , are actually a variety of carp that are usually kept for dec orative purposes. In Japan, they are symbols of love or friendship.

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