2. Culture of Japan
Japan has a fascinating and multifaceted culture; on the one hand it is steeped
in the deepest of traditions dating back thousands of years; on the other it is a
society in a continual state of rapid flux, with continually shifting fads and
fashions and technological development that constantly pushes back the
boundaries of the possible. This is part of what makes it such a fascinating
country to visit. If you are looking for something different you are sure to find it
here!
3. People
Japan is famous for its
supposed homogeny, but
Japan's population is much
more diverse than you
might think.
Religion
Multiple religions
coexist in a country
where people are born
Shinto, get married
Christian and die
Buddhist.
Social conventions
Let us demystify
Japan's complex
social conventions,
from bowing to
chopstick
etiquette.
4. Sports
Learn about Japan's
traditional sports,
from martial arts
like karate and
kendo to the
spiritual ritual that
is sumo.
Food
Japan is a foodie's
paradise, with some of
the finest and most
varied cuisine in the
world
Drink
With sake, whiskey,
beer, green tea and a
multitude of soft drinks
- Japan has something
for every palate
5. Manga & anime
Discover the
growing global
phenomenon of
Japanese manga
(comics) and
anime (animation).
Geisha
Enter the
mysterious and
beguiling world of
the geisha, Japan's
highly skilled
traditional
entertainers
6. Language
The national language is Japanese, which is the primary spoken language across the country. Old
Japanese, or "Kanbun", originated from China and the earliest Japanese text, the "Kojiki," was
written in the early 8th century and was written primarily in ancient Chinese characters. Modern
Japanese developed during the Edo period, between 1603 and 1868.
Modern Japanese consists of three alphabets:
Kanji (logographic Chinese characters)
Hiragana (a phonetic Japanese alphabet)
Katakana (a phonetic alphabet used for foreign words)
The development and widespread use of Katakana is illustrative of Japan's recent adoption of
Western cultures, ideas and words