Interesting and unusual facts about Japan and the Japanese. Creepy facts about ancient Japan

Find out why the Japanese wash in the same bathtub and what is the most dirty word in their language

Japan is, without exaggeration, a unique country. Nanotechnology here is surprisingly combined with ancient traditions; some customs operate on a par with laws. We decided to collect 30 of the most interesting facts about Japan and share them with you.

1. The Japanese have great respect for those who can speak at least two phrases in their language. They believe that it is impossible to learn it.
2. The strongest curse words in Japanese are “fool” and “idiot”.
3. In Japanese, "fool" is "baka" (literally stupid person). And a foreigner is like a “gaijin” (literally, a stranger). "Baka-gaijin" in Japanese colloquial means American.
4. The Japanese talk about food all the time, and when they eat, they discuss how much they like the food. Having dinner without saying oishii (delicious) several times is very impolite.
5. In Japan they eat dolphins. They are used to make soup, cook kushiyaki (Japanese kebab), and even eat them raw. Dolphin has quite tasty meat, with a distinct taste, and is completely different from fish.
6. Probably, proper nutrition can explain the fact that here you very rarely see an overweight Japanese woman.
7. Japan has the slowest McDonald's in the world.
8. Tipping is strictly not accepted in Japan. It is believed that as long as the client pays the prescribed price for the service, he remains on an equal footing with the seller.
9. People in Japan are very honest. If you lost your wallet on the subway, there is a 90% chance that it will be returned to the lost and found office.

1. There is no looting during earthquakes in Japan. Why - see point 9.
2. Japanese police are the most honest in the world; they do not take bribes. Except that sometimes for minor violations you can talk them out of letting them go by pretending to be a “baka”.
3. If you are caught for something serious, they have the right to keep you in a pre-trial detention center for 30 days without allowing a lawyer.
4. Tokyo is the safest metropolis in the world. Tokyo is so safe that children as young as six can use public transport on their own.
5. Japan has a specific attitude towards pornography. Previously, almost every Japanese hotel had a strawberry channel.
6. Every grocery store has a hentai shelf on the press rack. Large bookstores have entire floors dedicated to pornography.
7. The age of consent in Japan is 13 years old. This means that from a certain age, consensual sex is not considered rape.
8. Tokyo's Shinjuku-Ni-Cheme district has the largest concentration of gay bars in the world.
9. The Japanese and alcohol are poorly compatible concepts. Most of them, even after one glass of strong alcohol, begin to blush terribly. But there are exceptions - any Ukrainian will be drunk.
10. The Japanese are very shy, not used to expressing their feelings. For many, it is a real feat to say: “I love you.”

1. A third of weddings in the country are the result of matchmaking and viewing parties organized by parents.
2. In Japanese families, it is an absolutely normal situation when a brother and sister don’t talk at all, and don’t even know each other’s mobile phone numbers.
3. The Japanese are very clean people, but no matter how many members there are in the family, everyone takes a bath without changing the water. True, before this everyone takes a shower.
4. The Japanese almost never invite guests home. The invitation to “come by sometime” in most cases should be taken solely as a polite turn of phrase.
5. The Japanese are crazy workaholics. They can easily work 15-18 hours a day without a lunch break.
6. Arriving to work on time is considered bad manners in Japan. You need to be there at least half an hour earlier.
7. There is even a word in Japanese called "karoshi", which literally translates to "death from overwork". On average, ten thousand people die every year with this diagnosis.
8. The Japanese have very low pensions. The maximum social benefit for poor old people is about $300. Every Japanese person is expected to take care of their own old age.
9. In the northern cities of Japan, all sidewalks are heated, so there is never ice here.
10. In Japan, you can see vases with umbrellas on the streets. If it starts to rain, you can take any, and then, when the rain stops, put it in the nearest vase.
11. You won't see trash cans on Japanese streets. The Japanese take all the garbage home, and then sort it into four types: glass, burnt, recyclable and non-burnt waste.

Interesting facts about Japan actually make everyone think, even the most sophisticated and experienced travelers. This state is very different from the corners of the globe that are familiar to us.

Having landed in Tokyo, from the first minutes you understand that fate has thrown you almost onto another planet. What exactly does it feel like? Yes, in almost everything. In culture, traditions, rules, laws, even in the landscapes opening from the windows of a hotel room.

However, not only interesting facts about Japan will be presented in this article. The reader will receive a lot of useful information about different spheres of life of ordinary residents of this country, get to know them in absentia in order to definitely want to visit the amazing Land of the Rising Sun in the future.

Section 1. General information

It is not for nothing that modern Japan is considered the birthplace of the sun. This is where a new day begins. Today, this amazing country combines modern nanotechnology and centuries-old traditions.

Skyscrapers of megalopolises peacefully coexist with ancient temples and sacred gates of spirits, luxury hotels with traditional Japanese ryokans, and expensive SPA salons with national

Such an unusual state, as a rule, attracts tourists with its unique atmosphere and architecture.

A map of Japan shows that everything here is located at a fairly modest distance from each other. For example, children can visit all the best amusement parks in one visit: Disneyland, DisneySea, Mainland Osarizawa, etc.

By the way, it is worth paying attention to the fact that prices in the Land of the Rising Sun are off the charts, and there is no concept of tourist seasonality. Therefore, Japan is more loved by businessmen and wealthy tourists. Although there are a huge number of attractions here.

The capital of the country is Tokyo. The largest cities, in addition to the capital, include Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, Nagoya. The largest seaside resort is located on the Okinawa archipelago.

Section 2. Traditions at home

Still, Japan is amazing and unique. Interesting things can open up here almost immediately, as they say, at the doorstep.

For example, when receiving an invitation, you should take into account the following information:

• It is customary to walk indoors without shoes; they are left in front of the entrance to the house. In the toilet rooms there are always special slippers that you can change into.
• When visiting, it is permissible to sit only in the seats offered by the hosts. Traditionally, the Japanese sit on the tatami on their knees with their legs crossed. But now these rules are not so strict. Sitting with your legs crossed or stretched out is considered bad manners. You cannot step on or step over anything in the house.
• When going on a visit, you should take sweets or strong drinks with you. (Hashi) are intended for eating only. They should not be waved or pointed at anyone. It is also inappropriate to stick them into food, as it is associated with death.
• At the end of the meal, it is customary to take the remaining food with you.

Section 3. Japanese gestures

Interesting facts about Japan, of course, do not end with the traditions of the house. Let's talk about facial expressions and gestures. This language among the local population is very peculiar and unusual for other people. To avoid misunderstandings when communicating, you should know some of them:

• nodding your head does not at all mean the interlocutor’s agreement - this is how the Japanese show that they listen carefully and understand;
• the "V" shaped gesture is used when taking photographs;
• the thumb near the nose means “I”, and crossing the arms over the chest means “I’m thinking”;
• index fingers placed on the head in the form of horns indicate dissatisfaction;
• a figure of three fingers is considered an indecent sign; the usual “come here” gesture, but performed with both hands, will also be perceived poorly;
• A fist pressed to the head with an open palm means “stupid” in the Japanese, and waving the palm in front of the face expresses disagreement with something.

Section 4. Bows and behavior in society

Young and old Japanese tend to be shy and less sociable in public places, so it’s best to ask middle-aged people if you have any questions.

Smoking areas are not available everywhere; there are no trash cans on the street. The best solution is to buy a pocket ashtray.

Visitors (o-keksan) of restaurants, shops and other establishments are treated with respect and adhere to the rule “the customer is always right.”

In Japan, there is no ritual of shaking hands; bows are used instead. At the same time, return bows should be made with the same frequency and respect shown by the other party. Sometimes just a bow of the head is enough.

Section 5. Japan: facts from women's lives

1. On Valentine's Day in Japan, girls give gifts to show their affection for a guy.
2. The Japanese subway has special cars for women, which are attached to the train every morning. During rush hour, women can easily reach their destination.
3. Men are always served first. For example, in stores the man is greeted first, in restaurants they are the first to place an order.

Section 6. Social life

Many interesting facts about Japan directly or indirectly indicate that it is in fact an unusual country, different from other powers:

• despite the penchant for voyeurism, rape rates are minimal in Japan;
• there is the most tolerant attitude towards smoking here - you can smoke everywhere (except airports and train stations);
• The Japanese's favorite topic is food. At the table they praise the food, and during dinner they say the word “oishii” (delicious) several times;
• prisoners do not have the right to vote in elections;
• the Japanese are afraid to travel around the world; They consider the USA the most dangerous country;
• Public transport in Japan is expensive, the cheapest metro ticket costs 140 yen (50 rubles);
• the country has low pensions and no pension insurance (you need to take care of your old age in advance);
• the streets are clean and there are no trash cans, but only bottle boxes;
• The Japanese constitution prohibits the country from having an army and taking part in wars.

Section 7. Improvement of the city

Not everyone knows that the capital of Japan is considered the safest city in the world; even children of six years old can travel independently on public transport.

The lack of trash cans on the streets is due to the fact that all waste is sorted and further processed. A specific day is allocated for the removal of each type of waste. Violation may result in a fine.

In snowy areas, the streets are heated, and because of this there is no ice and snowdrifts. The same thing will likely await travelers if they go on an excursion to the mountains of Japan. But at the same time, there is no central heating in the houses, and all residents heat themselves.

Section 8. Features of the Japanese language

Japan is distinguished by its exceptional written language:

• Japanese writing consists of three types of writing: Kanji (hieroglyphs), Hiragana (syllable alphabet) and Katakana (syllable system for writing words of non-Japanese origin);
• many hieroglyphs include up to 4 syllables, but there are exceptions: for example, the hieroglyph 砉 includes 13 syllables and is read as “hanetokawatogahanareruoto”;
• all months have a serial number; September (九月 kugatsu) means "ninth month";
• there are practically no personal pronouns in the language, and words used in this capacity have additional meaning;
• The Japanese language has a polite speech system consisting of several types of politeness (colloquial, respectful, polite and modest); men communicate in a conversational manner, and women in a respectful manner;
• in Japanese speech there is a word 過労死 (Karoshi - “death by overwork”); Thousands of people die from sudden death every year in Japan;
• Before Japan was discovered by the West, the Japanese used a single word to describe romantic attraction, 恋 (koi), meaning “an irresistible attraction to the unattainable.”

Section 9. Strange and unusual facts about Japan

1. In Japan, all rulers are descendants of the first who founded the Japanese Empire in 711 BC.
2. Almost 99% of Japan's population is ethnic. Post-war Japan in 1945 had significantly more guests from near and far abroad, then it was only 68%.
3. Mount Fuji belongs to Hongyu Sengen Temple. Ownership rights are confirmed by a deed of 1609 signed by the Shogun.
4. In Japan, dolphin meat is eaten. However, such dishes are practically not ordered by tourists from other countries.
5. Traditional snowmen are made from two snow globes.
6. The Japanese are big car lovers.

Since the country was first mentioned in ancient Chinese chronicles, few places in the world can match Japan's colorful and interesting history. And while many people have heard about the stories of how the Mongol invasion was thwarted by a powerful tsunami or how Japan was cut off from the rest of the world for a long time during the Edo dictatorship, there are still many other little-known strange and wonderful stories from Japanese history.

10. Eating meat was illegal in Japan.

The Japanese government, which came to power in the mid-7th century, banned meat consumption. The taboo on it lasted almost 1200 years! Possibly inspired by Buddhist teachings that are against killing, in 675 AD. Emperor Tenmu issued a decree prohibiting, on pain of death, the eating of beef, monkey meat and other domestic animals.
Initially, the law covered the period from April to September, but later new laws and religious practices contributed to the complete taboo of meat as food, especially beef. Contact with Christian missionaries influenced Japan, and eating meat became common again as early as the 16th century. And although a new ban was imposed in 1687, some Japanese continued to eat meat.
By 1872, the Japanese authorities officially lifted the ban, and the emperor himself again became a meat eater. Although the abolition of the taboo was not greeted with ardent enthusiasm, especially by the monks, the ancient ban on meat soon disappeared from the lives of ordinary Japanese.

9. Kabuki theater was created by a woman who loved men's clothing.

Kabuki, one of the most iconic expressions of Japanese culture, is a vibrant form of dance theater in which female and male roles are performed only by men. However, at the very beginning, Kabuki was associated with the completely opposite sex. All roles were played only by women.
The founder of the theater was Izumo no Okuni, a priestess who became famous for performing dances and skits in men's clothing. Okuni's sensual and energetic performances became very popular, and other courtesans adopted her style in performances by entire female troupes. This “female Kabuki” became so popular that dancers were even invited to daimyo (feudal lords) to perform private shows in their castles. And while most viewers were just enjoying this new art form, the government was not as pleased with what was happening.
In 1629, following a raid on Kabuki performances in Kyoto, women were banned from performing on stage. Male actors replaced them, and Kabuki as we know it today has remained an immortalized form of male acting.

8. The surrender of the Japanese army during World War II might not have happened.

On August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's unconditional surrender to the Allied Forces on the international Jewel Voice Broadcast. The recording was not broadcast live, but was recorded the evening before. Moreover, it was not conducted from the imperial palace.
On the same night that Emperor Hirohito recorded his speech, a group of Japanese soldiers who refused to surrender initiated a coup d'etat. Major Kenji Hatanaka, the leader of the riot, and his henchmen occupied the imperial palace for several hours. Hatanaka wanted to disrupt the Jewel Voice Broadcast. And although his soldiers meticulously searched the entire palace, the emperor was not found.
Miraculously, despite searches of everyone who left the palace, the recording was transferred outside in a laundry basket. But even then Hatanaka was not ready to give up. He left the palace and went to the nearest radio station on his bicycle.
Khatanka wanted to go live, but for technical reasons this did not happen. The amazed leader of the uprising returned to the palace, where he shot himself.

7. Samurai sometimes tested their swords by attacking random passers-by

In medieval Japan, it was considered inglorious and shameful if a samurai sword could not cut through the body of an enemy in one blow. It was extremely important for the samurai to know the quality of his weapon, and each new sword had to be tested before the start of the battle.
Samurai usually practiced cutting on the bodies of criminals and corpses. But there was another method called tsujigiri (killing at the crossroads), according to which warriors went out to crossroads at night and killed any random passerby.
Such tsujigiri were a rare occurrence. But over time, they still became such a big problem that the authorities had to ban this action in 1602. According to a report from the Edo period (1603–1868) describing the early years of that era, people were killed daily at the same specific intersection in modern Tokyo.

6. Japanese soldiers once cut off their noses and ears as war trophies.

During the reign of legendary leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Japan invaded Korea twice from 1592 to 1598. Although Japan eventually withdrew its troops from foreign territory, its raids were very brutal and claimed almost a million Korean lives.
Japanese warriors often cut off the heads of defeated enemies as war trophies, but transporting them to their homeland turned out to be difficult, and the aggressors began to cut off ears and noses, because it was much more convenient.
At home in Japan, entire monuments were erected in honor of these terrible trophies, which were nicknamed “ear tombs” and “nose tombs.” One such monument in Kyoto, Mimitsuka, yielded tens of thousands of trophies. Another monument in Okayama contained 20,000 noses, which were returned to Korea in 1992.

5. The father of all kamikazes committed seppuku (suicide) to atone for the death of the killed pilots

In October 1944, Vice Admiral Takihiro Onishi believed that the only way for Japan to win World War II was to launch the infamous Operation Kamikaze, in which Japanese pilots attacked enemy aircraft of the Combined Forces, shooting them down with their own fighters and sacrificing their lives. Onishi hoped that the shock of such attacks would force the US to surrender the war. He was so desperate that he was ready to sacrifice 20 million Japanese lives for the sake of victory.
Upon hearing Emperor Hirohito's announcement of surrender in August 1945, Onishi was distraught at the thought that he had sacrificed thousands of kamikaze pilots for nothing. He decided that suicide was the only way out, and committed seppuku (suicide by cutting open the abdomen) on August 16, 1945. In his suicide note, the vice admiral asked for forgiveness from the “grieving families” and implored the younger generation to fight for peace on Earth.

4The First Japanese Christian Convert Was A Murderer On The Run

In 1546, 35-year-old samurai Anjiro was on the run from the law. Wanted for killing a man during a fight, he hid in the Kagoshima trading port to avoid punishment. There he met the Portuguese, who took pity on Anjiro and sent him to Malacca.
While on their ship, Anjiro learned Portuguese and was baptized with the name Paulo De Santa Fe, becoming the first Japanese Christian. He also met the famous missionary Francisco Xavier, a Jesuit priest who sailed with Anjiro on the same ship to evangelize Japan in the summer of 1549. The mission turned out to be a failure, and the friends went their separate ways. The Portuguese priest tried to continue his work in China.
And although the evangelization of Japan was not as successful as Francis would have liked, he was canonized and declared the patron saint of Christian missionaries. Anjiro, who supposedly died as a pirate, was forgotten.

3. The Portuguese Slave Trade Led to the Abolition of Slavery in Japan

Soon after the Western world's first contact with Japan in the 1540s, the Portuguese began actively purchasing Japanese slaves. Slaves sold to the Portuguese by other Japanese were sent to Portugal and other parts of Asia. The slave trade eventually grew so large that even Portuguese slaves in Macau became masters for the unfortunate Japanese slaves.
Jesuit missionaries were unhappy with this state of affairs. In 1571, they persuaded the King of Portugal to stop enslaving the Japanese, although the Portuguese colonists resisted and ignored the new ban.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Japanese commander-in-chief and leader, was furious about the slave trade. And although at the same time Hideyoshi was not embarrassed by the slave trade of the Koreans he captured during the raids of the 1590s, the Japanese leader openly spoke out against the trade in Japanese slaves.
In 1587, he imposed a ban, outlawing the slave trade, although the sale of Japanese slaves continued for some time after that.

2. About 200 Japanese high school girls became nurses during the Battle of Okinawa

In April 1945, the Combined Forces began their invasion of Okinawa. The three-month bloodbath claimed the lives of 200 thousand people, 94 thousand of whom were Okinawa civilians. Among the civilians killed was the Himeyuri Student Unit, a group of 200 schoolgirls aged 15 to 19 who were forced by the Japanese to serve as nurses during the battle.
At first, girls from Himeyuri worked in a military hospital. But they were then moved to dugouts and trenches as the bombardment of the island intensified. They fed wounded Japanese soldiers, participated in amputations and buried the bodies of the dead. Even though the Americans were clearly winning, the girls were forbidden to give up. Instead, they were instructed to commit suicide by detonating hand grenades.
Some girls committed suicide, others died in battle. In one incident, known as the "Dugout of the Virgins", 51 schoolgirls were killed by gunfire in the cave in which they were hiding. After the war, a monument and museum were built here in honor of the Himeyuri girls.

1. Japan Had Its Own Nuclear Weapons Program During World War II

In August 1945, the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki shocked Japan and the world, but one Japanese scientist was not as surprised as the rest. Nuclear physicist Yoshio Nishina had been worried about the possibility of such attacks since 1939. Nishina was the head of Japan's first nuclear program, which began research in April 1941.
By 1943, a committee headed by Nishina concluded that the creation of nuclear weapons was possible, but too difficult even for the United States. The Japanese continued their research in another program called the F-Go Project, led by physicist Bunsaku Arakatsu.
And although the Arakatsu program was not a success, who knows what story World War II would have followed if the Japanese had been the first to create atomic weapons? According to writer Robert K. Wilcox, Japan had all the knowledge to create an atomic bomb, but lacked the resources. In May 1945, the US Navy intercepted a German submarine that was supposed to deliver 540 kg of uranium oxide to Tokyo.

Japan is an amazing country. Many expats who have lived here for decades still cannot understand the Japanese soul, their amazing hard work and sincere love for the Russian Cheburashka. In this article we have collected the most interesting facts about Japan.

1. It is difficult for independent travelers from Russia to get to Japan. To get a visa, you need an invitation from the host party or buy a tour.

2. Population of Japan- 126 million people (for comparison, 146 million live in Russia). Most of the apartments here are very cramped, and our dachas here are considered real luxury.

3. In restaurants where locals dine, instead of a menu plastic food mockups. You choose the dish you like and after a while they bring you the real thing.

4. In Japan, it is not customary to change jobs. A young specialist chooses a company to work for until retirement. Dismissal is considered a great shame. As a rule, it doesn’t come to this: you are simply demoted.

5. Come to work(as well as leaving it on time) is considered bad manners. You need to be there at least half an hour before the start of the working day. Therefore, foreign employees cannot work in local companies for a long time.

6. Death from overwork- this is not a turn of phrase, but a diagnosis with which 15 thousand people die every year.

7. In Japanese almost no obscene language. The effect is achieved from the volume and intonation of the spoken word.

8. Levels of politeness(keigo) is a feature of the Japanese language. There are conversational, respectful (a dialogue between a wife and her husband), polite (a conversation between a cashier in a supermarket and a customer) and very polite (for example, an address from a subordinate to a boss). Schools have special courses on keigo. Sometimes this reaches the point of absurdity; service workers believe that the longer the phrase, the more polite it sounds, so buying a bun at McDonald's can turn into a fifteen-minute dialogue with the cashier.

9. Japan ranks first place in terms of the number of surplus labor. For example, there are people who hold road signs. A traffic controller must be assigned to a working traffic light. Four traffic controllers (!) will help the driver enter a parking space. There are also special people who look for smokers on city streets and tell them about the dangers of this habit, or employees who make sure that subway passengers do not accidentally step onto an escalator that is being repaired.

10. Medical mask among the Japanese it has become almost an element of the national costume. It is worn by everyone: from motorcycle taxi drivers, salesmen at kiosks, to office clerks and fashion students. The point is not the city dust, but the fact that the Japanese are very afraid of catching a cold. In Japan, it is not customary to go on sick leave; according to statistics, office workers do not go to work due to illness for only two (!) days a year.

11. Tokyo is the safest metropolis in the world. Cars are rarely locked here, bicycles are not fastened when left overnight, you can forget your purse on the subway, and then someone will take it to the lost and found office. Nobody steals here, so the Japanese rarely take care of their things. For the same reason, they find themselves in unpleasant situations while abroad.

12. In Japan you can't just buy a car. To obtain special permission to purchase it, you need to prove that you have a place to store it.

13. There are no garbage cans in the country. There are only bins along food vending machines and street cafes. All waste needs to be sorted, for example, there is a container for paper, glass, organic waste, plastic bottles and a separate one for paper labels from these bottles. There is even a special container for those who are confused about which type of garbage you throw out.

14. You can't just throw away the TV. You need to buy a special sticker, stick it on the TV and put it in the place where the garbage men will take out the garbage. Without it, the TV will stand forever.

15. In no other country in the world is there such a mass phenomenon as hikikomori (they are sometimes called hikki) are people who have given up social life. They do not work, sit at home in an isolated room, live at the expense of their parents or receive unemployment benefits. 7% of men in Japan are hikikomori.

16. Japanese restrooms turned into a real meme. In what other country can you find a toilet with a heated seat and colored lighting, the color of which can be adjusted in different ways?

17. It is very difficult for a foreigner to understand local addresses. The house number is its cadastral number, so finding the right place is extremely difficult. If a Japanese invites you to visit, he will send you a clear driving directions or meet you at the nearest metro station.

18. Japanese street fashion- a topic for a separate post. We may be shocked by the sheer amount of clothing and its absurdity that the Japanese like to wear. In fact, there are a lot of different styles here. After living in Japan for some time, you begin to see your aesthetics in it.

Often called the “Land of the Rising Sun”. The Japanese themselves call their country “Nippon” or “Nihon”, which means “Origin of the Sun”.

Geography of Japan
Japan, located in Asia, is the immediate neighbor of China, Russia and Korea. The country consists of many islands, the main and most famous of which are four islands - Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku.

Honshu is the largest island, with an area of ​​230,500 sq. km. Almost 80% of the total Japanese population lives on its territory. The highest mountain in Japan is located here - Mount Fuji (3,776 m). Although this volcano has been dormant since 1708, geologists classify it as active. Tokyo is located on the Kanto Plain. The Kanto Plain is Japan's largest lowland, stretching from the Japanese Alps to the Pacific Ocean.

Hokkaido, located in the very north of the country, is the second largest of the four largest islands, with an area of ​​83,400 square meters. km. Hokkaido consists mainly of mountains and forests, so it is home to only 5% of Japan's total population. The economy here depends almost entirely on fishing, forestry and dairy farming. The largest city and administrative center of Hokkaido is the city of Sapporo.

The southernmost island of Kyushu is Japan's third largest island, covering an area of ​​approximately 36,632 square kilometers. km. About 11% of the Japanese population lives here.

Shikoku is the smallest of the four islands.

Japan is the 60th largest in the world, slightly larger than Germany, and almost 9 times the size of the Netherlands.

History of Japan
The Japanese monarchy is the oldest existing continuous hereditary monarchy in the world.

The national flag of Japan is called "Hinomaru". It shows a red circle on a white background. This red circle symbolizes the rising sun. The main Japanese goddess is considered to be the Sun Goddess - Amaterasu Omikami. It is no coincidence that the Japanese name of the country “Nippon” means “Origin of the Sun”.

The Japanese national anthem "Kimigayo" literally means "The Emperor's Reign". The words of the hymn are taken from a poem (5 lines, 31 syllables) written in the tenth century. The music of the anthem was written in 1880 by the imperial court musician Hiromori Hayashi and later harmonized in the Gregorian style.

Life expectancy in Japan is considered one of the highest in the world. Only a few countries, such as Hong Kong, Singapore, San Marino, Andorra and Macau, are slightly ahead of Japan in terms of average life expectancy. On average, a Japanese person lives 4 years longer than an American.

Interesting facts about Japan
Japan is extremely prone to earthquakes, with an average of 1,500 earthquakes occurring annually.

There are about 200 volcanoes in Japan.

Most Japanese eat rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The vandalism rate in Japan is one of the lowest in the world.

In Japanese cities, there are vending machines on almost every corner where you can buy everyday goods.

Fruits in Japan are terribly expensive. Here you can pay $2 for a single apple or peach.

The Japanese love to make pizza with mayonnaise and grains.

Haiku is a genre of Japanese poetry consisting of only 3 lines.

Kendo, which literally means “way of the sword,” is the oldest form of Japanese martial art.

Origami is the ancient Japanese art of folding paper figures.

Sushi (a popular dish around the world) is a Japanese delicacy made from rice and marinated fish wrapped in seaweed.

The Japanese always take off their shoes before entering the house. This is done primarily to keep the tatami (mats) on which they sit while eating clean.

The Japanese eat food with chopsticks called hashi.

The Japanese buy meat, fish and vegetables every day because they prefer fresh, unpreserved foods. That is why medium and small-sized refrigerators are in greatest demand in Japan.

Rice is the main food here and is served with almost every meal.

Miso soup is a favorite dish at any time of the day; it can be prepared for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The main ingredient of this dish is soybean paste dissolved in seaweed broth.

A traditional Japanese breakfast is steamed rice with natto (fermented soybeans).

Tea is served at almost every meal.

Many women wear platform shoes with a height of 10-15 cm.

Slippers are worn in the house, but not boots.

Slippers are always removed when sitting on the tatami to eat.

Noh (noh), an ancient and very popular genre of Japanese theatrical art, can last up to eight hours.

Smoking is allowed almost everywhere in Japan, except on local trains. Long-distance trains have special smoking areas.

When washing, the Japanese do not sit in the bath to lather their bodies. They lather up outside the bath and then rinse before plunging into the hot water to refresh and relax.

When cooking, the Japanese use large quantities of fish, beef, pork, chicken and a variety of seafood. Most of their dishes add moderate amounts of spices and various soy sauces.

Japan- a country with left-hand traffic, and the steering wheel of the car is on the right.

In Japanese villages there is no need to send invitations to weddings or funerals. Events like these are considered social events, so the entire village helps in cooking and preparing the necessary details for the event.

When eating, the chopstick should never be inserted vertically into the food. In the past, food was offered to the dead in this way.

Do you like to slurp while eating, but don’t allow yourself to do it socially (with family, friends, colleagues, guests, etc.)? Then Japan is made just for you. Here it is customary to smack your lips while eating liquid food, such as soup. If you do not do this, it is assumed that you do not like the food, and the owner may even be offended.

And finally, the Japanese are extremely polite people. If you need something, they will stop what they are doing and try to help.

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