Japan

 

Hi everyone, this week we are looking at Japan, known as the Land of the Rising Sun, it is a country with a mixture of cultural heritage as well as advanced technology and has some unique traditions.

Japan isn’t just one island but has as many as 4,000 small islands and 4 main islands, which are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku.  It stretches approximately 2,400klm’s or 1,500 miles.

It is a mountainous place with about 80% of the land covered in mountains, including Mount Fuji.

Mount Fuji is not only Japan’s highest mountain; it has been a sacred site for the Shinto religion since the seventh century. The cool thing is that Princess Konohanasakuya is the Kami (divine person) of Mount Fuji in the Shinto religion. The cherry blossom is her symbol.

It is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire which makes it prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and it has around 1,000 earthquakes each year. Most of these earthquakes are minor and unnoticeable, but large and destructive earthquakes do occur from time to time.

The capital is Tokyo and is considered the largest city in the world, with around 374 million people living there.

It is one of the most technologically advanced counties and is well known for its innovations in robotics.

They give a great deal of attention to education and is one of the most literate in the world. A distinctive awareness of natural beauty and interest in shape and balance are obvious.

The country is 98.5% Japanese and yes this may seem absurd, but the modern world is becoming increasingly multicultural. However, this is not the case in Japan. That is largely due to stringent visa requirements and a cultural mindset keeping its distinctive and ancient culture steeped in old traditions.

I expect when you think of Japan, you’re probably thinking of the country’s numerous cities or its main islands. You may be Surprised that 67% is covered in forest. It is not uncommon to see signs on forest trails warning to look out for black bears.

Ok that will do for this week.