Land of the Rising Sun

The capital city of Japan is Tokyo, while the official language is Japanese. The main religions of Japan are Shinto and Buddhism. In Japan, the head of the state is the Emperor, while the chief of the government is the Prime Minister. Population is about 127,960,000 people.

Imperial Seal

GeographyJapan is an island country

located in East Asia. Situated in the Pacific Ocean.

Japan constitutes of more than 3000 islands.

More than 70 percent of the country comprises of mountains and hills.

Around 10 percent of world’s active volcanoes are located in Japan.

The culture of Japan has evolved greatly over millennia, which combines influences from Asia, Europe and North America.

PaintingPainting has been an art

in Japan for a very long time: the brush is a traditional writing tool.

Chinese papermaking was introduced to Japan around the 7th century.

Native Japanese painting techniques are still in use today, as well as techniques adopted from continental Asia and from the West.

SculptureTraditional Japanese sculptures mainly

consisted of Buddhist images.Wood has traditionally been used as the chief

material in Japan, along with the traditional Japanese architectures.

Bronze and other metals are also used. Other materials, such as stone and pottery, have had extremely important roles in the plebeian beliefs.

The oldest sculpture in Japan is a wooden statue of Amitabha at the Zenko-ji temple.

IkebanaIkebana is the Japanese art of flower

arrangement. It has gained widespread international fame for its focus on harmony, color use, rhythm, and elegantly simple design. It is an art centered greatly on expressing the seasons, and is meant to act as a symbol to something greater than the flower itself. Traditionally, when third party marriages were more prominent and practiced in Japan, many Japanese women entering into a marriage learned to take up the art of Ikebana to be a more appealing and well-rounded lady. Today Ikebana is widely practiced in Japan, as well as around the world.

Performing artsThe four traditional theatres from Japan are

noh, kyogen, kabuki and bunraku. One of the most famous theater kabuki. a form of traditional Japanese drama with highly stylized song, mime, and dance, now performed only by male actors, using exaggerated gestures and body movements to express emotions, and including historical plays, domestic dramas, and dance pieces.

ArchitectureJapanese architecture has as long history as

any other aspect of Japanese culture. Examples of traditional architecture are seen

at Temples, Shinto shrines and castles in Kyoto, and Nara. Some of these buildings are constructed with traditional gardens.

Garden architecture is as important as building architecture and very much influenced by the same historical and religious background.

Traditional clothingTraditional Japanese clothing

distinguishes Japan from all other countries around the world. The Japanese word kimono means "something one wears" and they are the traditional garments of Japan. Originally, the word kimono was used for all types of clothing, but eventually, it came to refer specifically to the full-length garment also known as the naga-gi, meaning "long-wear", that is still worn today on special occasions by women, men, and children.

Also, there is a special kimono for girls, called Furisode. javascript:;When a young Japanese woman turns 20 years old, she is recognized as an adult. She has the right to vote, is responsible for any crimes and is allowed to smoke and drink (officially). Many parents buy the Furisode for their daughters to celebrate this significant point in a young woman's life.

CuisineThrough a long culinary past, the Japanese

have developed sophisticated and refined cuisine. In recent years, Japanese food has become fashionable and popular in the U.S., Europe and many other areas. Dishes such as sushi, tempura, and teriyaki are some of the foods that are commonly known. The healthy Japanese diet is often believed to be related to the longevity of Japanese people.

sushi

fresh raw meat

Many people aren't aware of some of the quirky and interesting facts about Japan. There are a whole variety of strange and fun and cool facts. Here they are:

Raw horse meat is a popular food in JapanFor many Japanese couples Christmas is

celebrated like Valentine's Day in the western world.

Religion does not play a big role in the lives of most Japanese and many do not understand the difference between Shintoism and Buddhism.

Japan's literacy rate is almost 100%.Sumo is Japan's national sport, although

baseball is also very popular.

When you use the restroom in some one's home, you may need to put on special bathroom slippers so as not to contaminate the rest of the home.

There are around 1,500 earthquakes every year in Japan.

In Japan it is not uncommon to eat rice at every meal, including breakfast.

Average life expectancy in Japan is one of the highest in the world. Japanese people live an average of 4 years longer than Americans.

Some farmers grow square watermelons in Japan.