Japan, is a country with a rather diverse history. It is certainly one of the first countries that most people will think about when “Asian history/culture” comes into question. From a country whose history spans over 15 million years. Having the world’s third-largest economy and its substantial growth in the latter half of the 20th century after the Second World War. Being a world leader in the production of electronics, automobiles and technology.
The island country’s landscape is dominated by various volcanic mountains, providing numerous hot springs and fantastical scenery. It, likewise, however, puts the country at risk for devastating earthquakes and tsunamis (tidal waves), experiencing an average of 1,000 earthquakes annually, though most of these are too small to be felt.
Furthermore, because of Japan’s unique geography; from its size, position and topography, the country has a very complex climate. Ranging from hot and humid in some areas, and heavy snow in others.
Its exquisite culture is one of its most unique points. The Japanese language has one of the most complex writing systems in the world, with over 3,000 characters and three different scripts. While pronunciation is not that difficult; it is not a ‘tonal’ language as many other Asian languages are. Additionally, the love for precise physical composition. Evident in all facets of the culture, from carefully manicured gardens to small functional homes, haiku poetry to beautifully arranged traditional foods.
The typical Japanese diet includes fish, rice, green tea, vegetables, noodles and many soy-based products such as tofu, miso(fermented soybean paste), and soy sauce. The desserts are often made from sweet beans. Although the traditional diet is one of the healthiest in the world, western influence has made fast food like hamburgers and pizza available and popular in Japan, albeit quite expensive in many cases. Alongside the standard Japanese diet, there is no shortage of restaurants in Japan where you can find other staples for dishes like ramen, teppanyaki, sushi, okonomiyaki and more.
Japan’s society is quite interesting. Beyond being the country that pioneered the anime medium, idols, television and work ethics all have their parts in regards to societal norms of the country. Typical business hours are 9 to 5 in Japan much like the west, but it’s not uncommon for workers to work overtime. Even more so, it’s often expected for workers to work overtime paid or unpaid purely because they must uphold a standard for the company and their co-workers.
Japan