Yokoso! Japan

New Year or Oshogatsu /Shogatsu (お正月）is the important day in Japan. Throughout the period of Japanese New Year, Dec 29 - Jan 4, there are many traditions that related with Japanese’s New Year.

 

Before New Year

• Most people start to prepare a lot of thing for New Year. For example :-  Decoration home, when you walk though the street, you will see many Japanese house is decorated with ornaments which made from pine, bamboo and plum trees. The combination set of this decoration is called “Kadomatsu

 

• Preparing to make Mochi for the New Year 
• Cleaning their house both inside and outside to make home pure
• Sending New Year card

New Year Eve (Dec 31)

The Buddhist temples throughout Japan toll a bell 108 times on New Year's Eve. This is called “Jyoyanokane”  and it starts just before midnight. Many people visit a temple for “Jyoyanokane” , then stay there for the New Year prayer called “Hatsumoude”. But some people stay at their home and enjoy to eat Toshikoshi Soba (buckwheat noodles) and watch television programs. A more recent custom is watching the music show "kohaku uta gassen" which on-aired by NHK, a highly popular television program featuring many of Japan's most famous J-pop and Enka singers in spectacular performances.

 

 

New Year Day (Jan 1)

Starting this day by viewing the first-sunrise of the year (New Year’s first sunrise is called “Hatsu-hinode”) is the best. So, this day is supposed to be full of joy and free of stress and anger, while everything should be clean and no work should be done.

The biggest activity of this day is visiting a shrine or temple (Hatsumoude). So, temples and shrines are crowded with visitors.

There are special New Year’s food consisted of many different dishes which is called “Osechi Ryouri”. Each dish has a meaning such as wishing for happiness.

The kids in Japan receive money, which is called “Otoshidama” , from their parents, relatives and visitors who visit their home.

Moreover, there are a few games traditionally played on New Year day such as

• Hanetsuki (Japanese badminton)

• Takoage (kite flying)

• Karuta (a card game)

 

credit :

http://www.nihongomemo.com/nenchugyoji/oshogatsu.htm

http://www.wikipedia.com

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2064.html

 

Japan’s currency is Yen（円）. Coins are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen and bank notes in denominations of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen.

• The person, who is shown on 1000 yen bank note, is Nasume Soseki who is a famous poet in Meji era.
• The 2000 yen bank note was printed for memorial of Summit at Okinawa in year 2000. The front of this bank note is a Ancient Gate, which name is “Chureimon”
• The person, who is shown on 5000 yen bank note, is Nitobe Inaso who is a famous academician in Meji and Showa era. He is the first person who gave chance to Japanese female to study.
• The person, who has shown on 10000 yen bank note, is Fukusawa Yukichi who is a important thinker and academician in Meji era.
• For 500 yen coin, the figure of this coin is Sakura (Cherry blossom).
• For 10 yen coin, the figure of this coin is Wooden mansion which name is “ Byoukoin ” in Kyoto.
• For 5 yen coin, it is called “Go-en” in Japanese language which it means “Friendship” , so that why Japanese people use this coin into prayer.

From bank note and coin, you can notice that Japanese people pay attention to the good things and persons who is important for social.

Japan has demarcated their land to the parts as same as other country which can describe in below.

• Province level – In Japan, Province level is called as “ 県 – Ken” such as Nara-ken. Moreover, Japan’s province is called different follow province size. The province level which is bigger than normally province is called “ 府 – Fu” and the biggest province level is called “ 都 – To” such as Tokyo-to.
• City level – In Japan, City level is called “ 市 – Shi” , “ 町 – Chou”, “ 村 – Son”
  

Region

Japan has separated to 8 regions such as Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, kinki, chugoku, shikoku, kyushu

There are 4 seasons in Japan.

1. Winter （冬 - Fuyu）
   • In December - February

   

2. Spring  （春 - Haru）
   • In March – May
   • In this season, there are a lot of spring bloom (include Cherry blossom). In Japan, the spring bloom looks like starting to do the new things, so most of schools will open and most of workers will starter their work in this season.

    

3. Summer （夏 - Natsu）
   • In June – August
   • In this season, Japan will has rain a little bit

   

4. Autumn （秋 - Aki）
   • In September – November
   • In this season, you will see leaves change color from green to red.

   

Geography

Japan is situated in northeastern Asia between the North Pacific and the Sea of Japan. The area of Japan is 377,873 square kilometers, nearly equivalent to Germany and Switzerland combined or slightly smaller than California. Japan consists of four major islands, surrounded by more than 4,000 smaller islands

Shown below are the four major islands, their locations and sizes.

• Hokkaido
  (northern island) 83,000 square kilometers
• Honshu
  (main island) 231,000 square kilometers
• Shikoku
  (smallest island) 19,000 square kilometers
• Kyushu
  (southern island) 42,000 square kilometers

Japan's topographical features include coastlines with varied scenery, towering mountains, which are very often volcanic and twisted valleys that invite visitors into the mysterious world of nature.

Language

There is only one official language spoken in Japan, which is of course Japanese. However, many Japanese are able to understand English to a certain extent since English is the foreign language that everyone must learn as part of compulsory education.

Even if you don't understand Japanese, you can still certainly enjoy Japan. But if you know a few everyday Japanese phrases then it will make your trip even more memorable. A few words make a big difference


Population

Japan's population is over 126 million. Most Japanese reside in densely populated urban areas. Japan's capital city is Tokyo. The population of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area including the city, some of its suburbs and the surrounding area is approximately 12 million.

Shown below are Major cities of Japan and their approximate populations

credit : http://www.jnto.go.jp/en

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