Japan
Chapter 1: Introduction to Japan and Nihongo
Topic 1: Japan: General Facts
Names
Japan,日本, Nippon, Nihon, aka the Land of the Rising Sun
Population
The current population of Japan is 123,404,078 as of Sunday, January 12, 2025, based on
Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data. People
Japanese people (日本人, Nihonjin) are an East Asian ethnic group native to the Japanese
archipelago. Japanese people constitute about 97% of the population of the country of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 126 million people are of Japanese descent, making them one of the
largest ethnic groups. Location
Japan is an archipelago, or string of islands, on
the eastern edge of Asia. There are four main islands:
Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. There are
also nearly 4,000 smaller islands! Japan's nearest
mainland neighbors are the Siberian region of Russia in
the north and Korea and China farther south. Almost four-fifths of Japan is covered with
mountains. The Japanese Alps run down the center of
the largest island, Honshu. The highest peak is Mount
Fuji, a cone-shaped volcano considered sacred by
many Japanese. Because of its location, Japan can be a
dangerous place. Three of the tectonic plates that form
Earth's crust meet nearby and often move against each other, causing earthquakes. More than a
thousand earthquakes hit Japan every year. Japan also has about 200 volcanoes, 60 of which are
active. Nature
The Japanese people have a deep affection for the beauty of the landscape. The ancient
Shinto religion says natural features like mountains, waterfalls, and forests have their own spirits,
like souls. Most of Japan is covered by countryside. But with more than 100 million people living in
such a small place, wildlife has suffered. Pollution is now tightly controlled, but road building and other human activities have harmed
natural habitats. About 136 species in Japan are listed as endangered. The warm Tsushima Current flows from the south into the Sea of Japan, where it meets a
colder current from the north. The mixing of waters makes the seas around Japan very rich
in fish and other sea life. Government and Economy
Japan is the only country in the world with a reigning emperor. In
Japan, the political system is a parliamentary democracy. This means that
the government is elected by the people through a parliamentary system and
the head of the government is the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is the
practical leader, responsible for running the government
The Emperor in Japan, on the other hand, serves as a symbolic figurehead. This means that the Emperor's role is largely ceremonial and symbolic, with
limited or no involvement in the day-to-day affairs of the government. The
Emperor's duties are more traditional and cultural, representing the continuity
and unity of the nation. World War II devastated Japan's economy but the Japanese people's
hard work and clever innovation turned it around, making it the fourth largest
economy in the world. Japan's high-tech industry makes some of the most
popular electronic products in the world.
Topic 2: National Symbols
The National Flag
Japan’s national flag is probably the simplest and most distinguishable flag around the world. A bright red circle in the middle of a white rectangle. The red circle in the flag represents a shining
bright sun. This is attributed to Jimmu, the country’s first emperor, who claimed that the sun was his
ally in battle and thus used it as a symbol. Many leaders followed suit, and it’s often seen in various
designs on war flags throughout Japan’s history. However, the present-day design of the Japanese flag we know of has only been formally
adopted on August 13 1999, despite having been used for at least a century prior. The national flag
of Japan called Hinomaru is respected and valued by its people for its simplicity and deep
symbolism.
The National Anthem
The national anthem of Japan, “Kimi Ga Yo 君が代”, was only officially recognized by the
government as Japan’s national anthem in 1999. However, the song itself has a long history before
that. The national anthem translates to “His Imperial Reign”, referring to the emperor of Japan. The
lyrics are said to come from a poem in the 10th century, and the melody itself was composed by
Hiromori Hayashi.
In 1888, it was already recognized as the official anthem of Japan; however the song’s
usage during World War 2 was controversial and still remains so today as some claim that it glorifies
the war days. However, Japan was allowed to keep the song and it was officially reinstated as
Japan’s national anthem in 1999. With only 5 phrases, it is also the shortest national
anthem (although it used to be much longer). You will hear it at national sports events as well as at
school events and such. The National Sport
The national sport in Japan is considered to be sumo wrestling. It originated in ancient
times as a performance to entertain the Shinto deities. It not only started in Japan, but you can only
be considered a professional in its home country as it’s not practiced on a professional level in any
other place in the world.
Being a professional sumo wrestler in Japan means devoting your life to the sport. Why?
Because the daily activities of a sumo wrestler are highly supervised, from the way they dress and
how much they eat. National Flowers
Chrysanthemum
This beautiful flower is recognized as the official national flower of Japan as well as
the Imperial Emblem of Japan. The Imperial Emblem of Japan is a golden chrysanthemum with 16
petals. It is one of the national seals of the country and is used by the Emperor and the members of
the Imperial family. Aside from this, the Chrysanthemum Seal is also featured on the Japanese
passport, as well as at shrines. Today, there are over 300 kinds of chrysanthemum all over the country. Every September,
there's a Chrysanthemum Festival held at shrines and temples, where you can see hundreds of
them in one spot. Small ones have been a favorite decorative element in Japanese cuisine, so don’t
be surprised if you see it on your tray during a sushi dinner or traditional kaiseki meal. Cherry Blossom
Technically, sakura are the unofficial national flower. Many tourists, both local and
international, travel all over Japan just to experience its cherry blossom season in various locations. One of the draws is that they only bloom for a short time frame, making each day precious and
fleeting. So you have to calculate the timing carefully for your visit! Cherry blossom trees are also commonly featured in anime, Japanese dramas and films. Due to its undeniable popularity, the
cherry blossom has become an unofficial national flower of Japan. Food in Japanese Culture
The staple food in Japan is rice, not bread. In the past, the tax was collected as rice and
samurais’ salary was paid in rice. Japanese
people believe rice is healthier than wheat
which has more carbs and is more difficult to
digest. Up until the 19th century, the
Japanese rarely ate meat because of
Buddhism which bans eating animals. For the
same reason, they also did not consume
dairy, that is why some Japanese tend to be
lactose intolerant. Fresh sushi is the most
popular food throughout Japan even though
it used to be the cheap fast-food for workers
in the 1800’s. Nowadays, a typical Japanese
breakfast consists of fried fish and miso soup
while a typical lunch is ramen noodles or rice
bowl with deep fried meat. https://www.justonecookbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/What-is-Washoku-4.jpg
Clothing in Japanese Culture
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.
Arts in Japanese Culture
Japanese arts can be traced back to the indigenous populations who roamed the main
island thousands of years ago. The pottery vessels made by the “Jomon” 12,000 years ago
are considered as the oldest in the world. Later, the Japanese arts were influenced by Buddhism
and Chinese culture. The earliest forms of Buddhist statues and monochrome paintings at temples
show resemblance to the Chinese arts. However, many unique forms of art, such as ikebana, ukiyo- e and kabuki, started emerging when the influence of China started diminishing after the rise of the
samurai class in the 10th century.
Religion in Japanese Culture
There are two dominant religions in Japan: Shinto and Buddhism. Neither of them has a
clear definition of God and the judgment day. Shintoism does not even have any holy book or the
concept of sin. So, in a Western sense, Japanese religions are more like traditions rather than holy
belief systems. Shinto is Japan’s own religion where some natural objects are considered sacred
but not necessarily worshiped as gods. Buddhism proposes that everyone can become a Buddha
(the enlightened human) if he/she leaves worldly desires and lives a simple life. Japanese people
traditionally go to both Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines; so they are both Shintoist and Buddhist.
Japanese Literature
Japanese literature refers to the written materials produced by Japanese authors in the past. The two most well-known Japanese literary works are “The Tale of Genji,” and “haiku” poems. The
Tale of Genji is a novel written in the 11th century which is sometimes called the world’s first novel.
It is a story about a prince who was kicked out of the imperial family and had love affairs among
commoners. Haiku is the name given to minimalistic poems that consist of three phrases uttered in
17 syllabi (5-7-5). The topic is usually about seasonal changes and the phrase in the middle
connects two distant concepts. Recently, Haruki Murakami became famous for his novels based on
strange characters and absurd moments of life. His style is considered Western but his novels still
reflect everyday life in Japan.
FACTS ABOUT JAPAN
Cleanliness in Japan – Japanese people highly value cleanliness, and it's common to see them carrying handkerchiefs and keeping public spaces spotless.
Jaywalking – Jaywalking is generally avoided in Japan, as people tend to follow traffic rules strictly.
Queueing – Japanese people are very disciplined when lining up, whether at train stations, stores, or elevators.
Sitting posture – Seiza, a formal way of sitting on one's knees, is a traditional posture in Japan, especially in tea ceremonies.
Vending machines – Japan has vending machines everywhere, selling not just drinks but also snacks, hot meals, and even umbrellas.
Onsen – Before entering an onsen (hot spring), one must wash thoroughly to maintain cleanliness in the shared bath.
Taking photos – In Japan, it's polite to ask permission before taking photos of people, especially in temples or shrines.
Money tray – Cashiers in Japan use a small tray for payments instead of handing money directly to maintain politeness.
Tipping – Tipping is not expected in Japan, as good service is considered standard.
Slurping – Slurping noodles is common in Japan and shows appreciation for the food.
Life expectancy – Japan has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, thanks to a healthy diet and active lifestyle.
Punctuality – Being on time is very important in Japan, and even trains are rarely late.
Internet speed – Japan has one of the fastest internet speeds in the world, making online services very efficient.
Tetraphobia – Many buildings in Japan avoid the number 4 because it sounds like the word for "death" in Japanese.
Safe country – Japan is one of the safest countries in the world, with low crime rates and high trust in society.
The GENKAN – A genkan is the traditional entryway in Japanese homes where people remove their shoes before stepping inside.
japanese writing
1. Kanji (漢字):
These are logographic characters adopted from Chinese writing.
Each kanji represents a word or concept.
There are thousands of kanji, and a basic working knowledge requires learning several thousand.
Kanji are used for nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
2. Hiragana (ひらがな):
This is a phonetic syllabary, where each character represents a syllable.
Hiragana is used for:
Grammatical particles.
Verb and adjective endings (okurigana).
Words for which there are no kanji, or when the kanji is too difficult.
Furigana (small hiragana written above kanji to indicate pronunciation).
3. Katakana (カタカナ):
This is also a phonetic syllabary, with each character representing the same syllables as hiragana.
Katakana is primarily used for:
Foreign loanwords (gairaigo).
Onomatopoeia (words that imitate sounds).
Emphasis.
Foreign place and personal names.
common greeting
Good morning. – おはようございます (Ohayou gozaimasu)
Good afternoon. – こんにちは (Konnichiwa)
Good evening. – こんばんは (Konbanwa)
Good night. – おやすみなさい (Oyasuminasai)
Thank you. – ありがとう (Arigatou) / ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu)
You're welcome. – どういたしまして (Dou itashimashite)
Goodbye. – さようなら (Sayounara)
Expressions before meals – いただきます (Itadakimasu)
Expression after meals – ごちそうさまでした (Gochisousama deshita)
Excuse me. – すみません (Sumimasen)
Sorry. – ごめんなさい (Gomen nasai)
Doumo. – どうも (Doumo) (can mean "thanks" or "hello" depending on context)
Onegai shimasu. – お願いします (Onegai shimasu) (used when making requests)
Long time no see. – お久しぶりです (Ohisashiburi desu)
Douzo. – どうぞ (Douzo) (used when offering something to someone)
Long time, no see. – (Duplicate of #14)
Mata ne / Jaa mata / Jaa ne. – またね / じゃあまた / じゃあね (Casual ways to say "See you later")
Mata ashita. – また明日 (See you tomorrow)
Tadaima & Okaeri. – ただいま (Tadaima – "I'm home") & おかえり (Okaeri – "Welcome back")
Ittekimasu & Itterasshai. – いってきます (Ittekimasu – "I'm leaving") & いってらっしゃい (Itterasshai – "Take care / See you later")
TRANSLATION TASK 2
How are you? – お元気ですか？(Ogenki desu ka?)
I'm good. – 元気です (Genki desu)
Yes. No. – はい (Hai) / いいえ (Iie)
Really? – 本当ですか？(Hontou desu ka?)
Understood? – 分かりましたか？(Wakarimashita ka?)
Are you sure? – 本当に？(Hontou ni?)
Of course. – もちろん (Mochiron desu)
That's right. – そうです (Sou desu)
I know. – 知っています (wakarimashita)
I don't know. – 知りません (Shirimasen)
Good luck. / Do your best. – 頑張って (Ganbatte)
Please help. – 助けてください (Tasukete kudasai)
Wait a moment. – ちょっと待ってください (Chotto matte kudasai)
Long time, no see. – お久しぶりです (hisashiburi desu)
Nice to meet you. – 初めまして (Hajimemashite)
Common Honorifics:
-san (さん):
The most common and versatile honorific.
Similar to "Mr.," "Ms.," or "Mrs." in English, but used much more broadly.
Used for people of any gender, age, or social status.
A safe default when you're unsure which honorific to use.
-sama (様):
A very formal and respectful honorific.
Used for people of higher status, customers, or when showing great reverence.
Often used in business settings and formal correspondence.
-kun (君):
Used for younger males or male peers.
Can also be used by superiors to address subordinates, regardless of gender.
Indicates a degree of familiarity.
-chan (ちゃん):
A diminutive and affectionate honorific.
Used for children, close female friends, family members, or pets.
Conveys a sense of closeness and cuteness.
-sensei (先生):
Used for teachers, doctors, lawyers, and other professionals or respected figures.
Indicates a high level of expertise or knowledge.
senpai (先輩):
used to refer to an older or more experienced person in a group, such as in school or a workplace.
counting numbers
Numbers 1-10:
1: いち (ichi)
2: に (ni)
3: さん (san)
4: よん (yon) or し (shi)
5: ご (go)
6: ろく (roku)
7: なな (nana) or しち (shichi)
8: はち (hachi)
9: きゅう (kyuu) or く (ku)
10: じゅう (juu)
Numbers 11-99:
The key here is to combine "juu" (10) with the numbers 1-9.
11: じゅういち (juu ichi)
12: じゅうに (juu ni)
And so on...
For multiples of 10:
20: にじゅう (ni juu)
30: さんじゅう (san juu)
40: よんじゅう (yon juu)
And so on...
To make numbers like 23:
にじゅうさん (ni juu san) (two-ten-three)
56: ごじゅうろく (go juu roku) (five-ten-six)
100:
100: ひゃく (hyaku)
Hundreds (100-900):
Now, we combine the numbers 1-9 with "hyaku" (100).
100: ひゃく (hyaku)
200: にひゃく (ni hyaku)
300: さんびゃく (san byaku)
400: よんひゃく (yon hyaku)
500: ごひゃく (go hyaku)
600: ろっぴゃく (roppyaku) *note the sound change
700: ななひゃく (nana hyaku)
800: はっぴゃく (happyaku) *note the sound change
900: きゅうひゃく (kyuu hyaku)
counting age
"Sai" (歳) is added after the number to indicate age.
except for 1 and 8
1- issai
8-hassai
“ nan sai desu ka” - how old are you
time
you combine the number with "時 (ji)." For example, 1 o'clock is "ichi-ji”
note tthere is exceptionn again for nu,ber 4,7,and 9
4-yo-ji
7. “shichi-ji”
9.“ku-ji”
(han)" is used to indicate half past the hour. For example, 3:30 is "san-ji han (三時半).
"Jikan" (時間) primarily translates to "time" or "hour(s)." It refers to the concept of time as a duration or a period.
example:"ichijikan" (一時間) means one hour.
months
The basic structure involves combining a number (1 through 12) with the word "gatsu" (月), which means "month."
The Months:
Here's a list of the months in Japanese, along with their pronunciations:
January: 一月 (ichi-gatsu)
February: 二月 (ni-gatsu)
March: 三月 (san-gatsu)
April: 四月 (shi-gatsu)
May: 五月 (go-gatsu)
June: 六月 (roku-gatsu)
July: 七月 (shichi-gatsu)
August: 八月 (hachi-gatsu)
September: 九月 (ku-gatsu)
October: 十月 (jū-gatsu)
November: 十一月 (jūichi-gatsu)
December: 十二月 (jūni-gatsu)