Welcome to Japanese.com where you can learn all about the Pacific island nation known as the Land of the Rising Sun. Most people think of Japan as one island, but Japan is actually an archipelago composed of over 6,000 individual islands. The four largest islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku are home to over 127 million people and Tokyo is sometimes cited as the largest urban area in the world, with over 30 million residents.
The Japanese people call their nation Nippon and you’ll find the name on everything from money to postage stamps and governmental branches. The name refers to the eastward position of the islands relative to China, where references to Japan first appeared in Chinese texts back in the 1st century AD. Early Japan saw the emergence of a ruling class of samurai warriors, and by the early 20th century increasing expansionism and militarization culminated in World War II. Japan adopted a liberal democratic constitution in 1947 and joined the United Nations in 1956. Shortly thereafter, Japanese manufacturing helped the nation became the second-largest economy in the world. In the 21st century, Japan has become one of the most technologically advanced societies on the planet.
Japan’s long early period of isolation from the outside world has allowed the island nation to evolve into a unique contemporary hybrid culture that combines influences from Asia, Europe and North America. Today, Japanese culture reflects a modern society with strong bonds to its rich history. That combination of old and new has made tourism a big part of the economy and has also helped attract millions of tourists to Japan from all over the world every year. Boasting modern and efficient transportation networks along with world-class hotels and restaurants, Japan has managed to become one of the top 25 ranked tourism destinations in the world today. Some of Japan’s top tourist destinations now include 14 different World Heritage Sites, beaches, ski resorts, ancient castles and historic monuments. Food is also one of Japan’s attractions and rice has been an important part of the diet in Japan for centuries. Rice remains an important ingredient in numerous dishes today. Noodles were introduced from China and evolved into an integral part of many traditional dishes. Hundreds of different fish and other seafood are used in Japanese cuisine, but beef has only been popular since the second half of the 19th century.
The reasons people are attracted to the Land of the Rising Sun are many. For some it might be the mystery and the history. For other it might be the land, food or culture. One thing is certain though, Japan is one of the most intriguing places in the world a person could visit.
