Jack Goldstein - 101 Amazing Facts About Japan

Title Page

101 AMAZING FACTS ABOUT JAPAN

Jack Goldstein

Publisher Information

Published in 2013 by

Andrews UK Limited

www.andrewsuk.com

The right of Jack Goldstein to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1998

Copyright 2013 Jack Goldstein

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Any person who does so may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Disclaimer: All facts presented in this title were gained from common and reputable sources in print and on the internet. If any detail within this title is found to be incorrect, the author will be happy to publish a corrected version.

Introduction

In this amazing eBook you can find more than one hundred facts about the country of Japan. Separated into sections such as its geography, its landmarks, famous Japanese figures from history and many more you will find some fascinating information inside!

Whether you are planning on visiting Japan, working on a geography project or just want to know more about this beautiful country, this is an excellent addition to your bookshelf. Find the information you need, fast!

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Key Facts and Figures

1. Japan is the tenth most populated country in the world.
2. The country is actually an archipelago made up of 6852 islands.
3. Four of the islands (Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku) make up 97% of Japans land area, which is around 146,000 square miles.
4. The formal name for Japan in the countrys own language is Nippon, which can be translated as Land of the Rising Sun .
5. Japan boasts the third largest economy in the world.
6. The capital of Japan is Tokyo.
7. Japan is a constitutional monarchy, with the prime minister and the government holding the true political power, and an emperor as more of a ceremonial figurehead.
8. It has a population of around 126 million.
9. The currency used in Japan is the Yen.
10. It has a GDP of around 500 trillion Yen - at the time of writing that is just over 5 trillion dollars.

Japan

Japan is Famous For...

1. High-technology Industries - from smartphones to gadgets, Japan is one of the worlds leaders in computer technology
2. Sushi - vinegared rice dishes often combined with ingredients such as raw fish or other seafood
3. Karate - martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands, part of modern-day Japan
4. Samurai - Japanese military nobility from the middle-ages through to the 19 th century
5. Ninjas - covert agents in feudal Japan who specialised in spying, sabotage and assassination.
6. Anime and Manga - comics and animation which have an exaggerated features style
7. The Kimono - traditional Japanese full-length robes
8. Godzilla - pop culture icon that first appeared in Ishiro Hondas 1954 film
9. Bento Boxes - the original packed lunch, an art form in itself
10. Kawaii - the concept of cuteness in Japanese culture - such as Hello Kitty.

Sushi

General Facts

1. Japan has been inhabited for over 30,000 years.
2. The country as we know it today can trace its history back to 660 BC, including the lineage of the countrys emperors - this incredibly rich history is celebrated every year on the 11 th of February, known as National Foundation Day.
3. Japan has four different writing systems, called Romaji, Katakana, Hiragana, and Kanji.
4. Japan has one of the worlds highest literacy rates - less than one per cent of people in the country cannot read and write.
5. The national sport of Japan is Sumo wrestling.
6. ...however baseball is also very popular - the country was heavily influenced by American troops after the end of the second world war.
7. In Japan, a raised floor indicates where you should take off your shoes.
8. Japan is the only country in the world - at the time of writing - to have had atomic weapons used against it. To end world war two in the Pacific, the Americans dropped one nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, and one on Nagasaki. The world has vowed to remember these terrible instances, and one must hope it never happens again.
9. Japanese Haiku poetry consists of three lines - the first and third with five syllables, the second with seven. It is amazing how much you can fit into such a small poem!
10. It is traditional to bow in Japan when you greet someone. A small nod of the head is informal, whereas a long and low bow is more formal and signifies respect.

Sumo Wrestling

Landmarks to Visit

1. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial - a haunting tribute to those who lost their lives when an atomic bomb was dropped on the city by the USA.
2. Tokyos Imperial Palace - the home of the emperor of Japan. Remember to book your tour in advance!
3. Mount Fuji - probably the worlds most recognisable - and picturesque - volcanos.
4. Tokyos Fish Market - if youre a fan of seafood you must visit this - the largest open air fish market selling a range of food that will satisfy any gourmet.
5. Todaiji Temple - the worlds largest wooden building, also home to the worlds largest
6. Tokyo Disneyland - Although one cant count it as a true part of Japanese culture, it is the third most visited theme park in the world!
7. The Golden Pavilion Temple - A shoguns home built in 1397 with the top two floors covered in golf leaf. In accordance with his will, it became a temple after he died.
8. Tokyo Sky Tree - the tallest free-standing tower in the world; take in the incredible view from the 450m high top observation deck.
9. Kyotos Gion District - the best place to see real Geishas.
10. Himeji Castle - considered the best example of Japanese castle architecture.

The Golden Pavilion Temple

Geography

1. Japans climate is quite temperate, with winters averaging around 5 degrees centigrade, and summers around 25 degrees.
2. The islands of Japan are home to a wonderfully diverse range of plants and animals, and a number of national parks have been set up to ensure their survival.
3. The three main rivers in Japan are the Shinano, Tone and Ishikari.
4. The three largest lakes in Japan are Lakes Biwa, Kasumigaura and Saroma.
5. A huge amount of the territory of Japan - in fact nearly three quarters of it - is made up of forests and mountains. Therefore the population is concentrated in certain areas; because of this, its cities tend to have extremely high population densities.
6. There are an incredible 108 active volcanos in Japan.
7. The country is also home to a significant number of strong earthquakes each century. In 2011, a quake of 9.0 magnitude - the strongest ever recorded in Japan - triggered a devastating tsunami which killed more than ten thousand people and destroyed over one hundred thousand buildings.