Japan

Japan

Japan consists of a great string of islands in a 
northeast-southwest arc that stretches for
approximately 1,500 miles (2,400 km) through 
the western North Pacific Ocean. 
Nearly the entire land area is taken up by the 
country’s four main islands; from north to south:
these are Hokkaido (Hokkaidō), Honshu (Honshū), Shikoku, and Kyushu (Kyūshū). Honshu
is the largest of the four, followed in size by Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku.

The Japanese landscape is rugged, with more 
than four-fifths of the land surface consisting of mountains. 
There are many active and dormant volcanoes, 
including Mount Fuji (Fuji-san), which, at an elevation 
of 12,388 feet (3,776 metres), is Japan’s highest mountain.

Japan has a large and, to a great extent, ethnically homogeneous population, which is heavily concentrated in the low-lying areas along the Pacific coast of Honshu. Japanese is the language
spoken in Japan. In this city one can find various sects of Buddhism, Christianity, and some ancient
shamanistic practices, as well as a number of “new religions” that have emerged since the 19th century. Not one of the religions is dominant, and each is affected by the others. Thus, it is typical for one person or family to believein several Shintō gods and at the same time belong to a Buddhist sect. 

Japanese Mythology Gods

Since harmony is very important in Japan, there are many customs, traditions and etiquette rules  to create social bonding between people. Some of the interesting traditions that surprise foreigners are: 
 Taking off shoes when entering someone’s house 
 Wearing a mask when sick
 Not shaking hands and not hugging when meeting with loved ones
 Bowing 45 degrees to show respect
 Making the slurping sound when eating noodles
 Symbolically washing hands when entering a shrine
 Wearing slippers when using the restroom
 Decorate one’s house with dolls for the annual “girls day” and decorate the house with the
           samurai figure for the annual “boys day”
 Throwing beans at people who dressed as demons during the “setsubun” festival 
 Eating a special meal called “osechi” during the new year’s day
 Bathing in the evening rather than in the morning
Participating in the firework festivals or bon odori festivals during the summer by wearing a yukata.

If you look at the Japanese calendar, you would notice that there is a major cultural celebration almost every month. Japanese people like celebrating seasonal changes to show their appreciation of new beginnings. The three most important celebrations in Japan are:
The new year’s day. Japanese people visit a shrine after the midnight on Dec 31 to make a wish.
Cherry blossom celebrations in April. It is a custom to have a picnic under the cherry trees.
The Obon Holiday in August. Japanese people visit their hometown to commemorate the spirits of those who passed away.

Traditionally, Japanese people wear a one-piece garment called kimono which emerged during the Heian Period (794-1185). Kimono is made out of silk and each motif has a meaning. Cranes represent longevity; pine-trees represent the new year; the Chrysanthemum flower represents the imperial family. The summer kimono is called “yukata” and the wedding kimono is called “uchikake.” Kimonos usually have long sleeves for wind to pass through and cool down the body. While children wear kimono with bright colors and flower designs, the elderly wear simple kimonos with simple motifs. Nowadays, Japanese people wear Western clothes at work and school but prefer kimono for social occasions and ceremonies.

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