FOREIGN LANGUAGES PRELIM

Japan

An island country in East Asia located in the northwest Pacific Ocean, bordered by the Sea of Japan to the west and extending from the Sea of Okhotsk to the East China Sea and Taiwan.

Archipelago of Japan

Comprises 6,852 islands covering 377,975 km²; four main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.

Capital of Japan

Tokyo, the largest city; other major cities include Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Kobe, and Kyoto.

Population of Japan (2024)

123,753,041, making it the 11th most populous country; highly urbanized and densely populated.

Ring of Fire

Geological zone where Japan lies, making it prone to earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic activity.

Uninhabitable Land in Japan

Approximately 67% is mountainous and unsuitable for settlement; habitable zones are mainly coastal.

Reclaimed Land in Japan

About 0.5% of total area as of 2014.

Active Volcanoes in Japan

111 active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes and tsunamis occur several times each century.

Climate of Hokkaido

Humid continental climate with long, cold winters and warm to cool summers; heavy snow in winter.

Winter in Japan (Fuyu)

December to February; temperatures from -1°C to 7°C; snow common in many regions.

Spring in Japan (Haru)

Late March to May; temperatures from 4°C to 18°C; famous for cherry blossom (sakura) viewing.

Summer in Japan (Natsu)

June to mid-September; temperatures from 21°C to 32°C; hot, humid, and known for summer festivals (natsu matsuri).

Autumn in Japan (Aki)

Mid-November to early December; vivid red, orange, and yellow foliage (kōyō).

Government of Japan

Unitary state and constitutional monarchy; Emperor has ceremonial role; executive power held by Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Current Emperor of Japan

Naruhito, 126th emperor, ascended in 2019; lineage traced to legendary Emperor Jimmu.

Empress of Japan

Masako, consort of Emperor Naruhito; educated at Harvard and Oxford; former diplomat.

Prime Minister of Japan (2024)

Shigeru Ishiba, President of the Liberal Democratic Party; in office since 2024.

National Diet

Japan’s bicameral parliament; composed of House of Representatives and House of Councillors; selects the Prime Minister.

Judiciary of Japan

Independent under the Constitution; Supreme Court judges subject to periodic public review.

Economy of Japan

Third largest by nominal GDP; fourth largest by PPP; unemployment rate 2.6% (2024).

Agriculture in Japan

Only 11.5% of land is arable; uses terracing; self-sufficiency rate ~50% (2018); sector is aging and protected.

Industry in Japan

Major producer of motor vehicles, machine tools, steel, ships; home to Toyota, the world’s largest car company.

Tourism in Japan

31.9 million international tourists in 2019; ranked 4th globally in tourism competitiveness (2017).

Transportation in Japan

175 airports; major ports include Keihin and Hanshin; advanced rail and road networks.

Energy in Japan (2017)

39% petroleum, 25% coal, 23% natural gas, 3.5% hydropower, 1.5% nuclear.

Major Religions in Japan

Shinto (69%), Buddhism (33%), Christianity and others (8%); many identify with no religion.

Shinto

Indigenous religion of Japan; worship of kami (spirits) in nature and ancestors; symbolized by torii gates.

Buddhism in Japan

Predominantly Mahayana; belief in cycle of suffering and rebirth; coexistence with Shinto practices.

Education System in Japan

Elementary (1–6), Junior High (7–9), Senior High (10–12), College (Associate/Bachelor).

Health Care in Japan

Universal health care system for citizens and long-term residents; provided by national and local governments.

Staple Foods of Japan

Rice, noodles (udon, soba), fish, seafood; sushi and sashimi served with soy sauce and wasabi.

Popular Drinks in Japan

O-cha (green tea) and sake (rice wine).

National Sport of Japan

Sumo wrestling; also popular are baseball, judo, and kendo.

Japanese Cultural Values

Close family ties, group belonging, discipline, and social harmony.

Bowing in Japan (Ojigi)

Traditional etiquette for greetings, thanks, apologies, and respect; can be standing (ritsurei) or kneeling (zarei).

Situations for Bowing

Greeting, farewell, meetings, gratitude, apology, congratulations, requests, worship, sympathy, appreciation, ceremonies.

Bowing vs Shaking Hands

Handshakes are rare and significant; sometimes both are used in cross-cultural settings.

Manga

Japanese comics covering diverse genres; printed mostly in black and white; popular worldwide.

Anime

Japanese animation with global influence; often adapted from manga.

Famous Manga Titles

AstroBoy, Doraemon, Bleach, Death Note.

Top-Selling Manga (Jan 2024)

Jujutsu Kaisen (1.85M copies), Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (842K copies).

Currency of Japan

Yen (¥).

Official Language of Japan

Japanese (Nihongo).