The Wonders of Japan

Written by: Yuri S

Location and Geography of Japan

Japan is located in the Eastern part of Asia, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, Sea of Okhotsk, East China Sea, and the East Sea also known as the Sea of Japan. Japan takes up approximately 377,975 square kilometers, consisting of 4 main archipelagos (a collection of islands scattered across a body of water) named Honshu, Kyushu, Hokkaido, and Shikoku as well as several smaller archipelagos. The capital of Japan is Tokyo, which is the largest city in Japan. Though Japan’s geography consisting of vast mountainous terrains that cover around ⅘ of Japan has limited agricultural land, it promoted urbanization and technological advancements. Because Japan is surrounded by bodies of water, it is very isolated from other countries. Being isolated from other countries helped Japan to evolve independently, allowing them to preserve their language and flourish in arts and cultural expressions.  

History of Japan (how it was first created)

From around 130,000 BCE- 300 CE, hunters and gatherers roamed around Japan’s archipelagos until many millennials later, farmers introduced agriculture to the land. As rice cultivation spread, complex agricultural societies began to develop, resulting in the people settling down around 13,000 BCA. As the people started to lead more sedentary lives, villages started to form and the society advanced as they were influenced by neighboring countries. Starting from around the time period of  250-1185, interactions between China and Korea greatly influenced early Japanese culture, society, politics, and architecture. Through exchanges of knowledge between neighboring countries, Japan created a peaceful and stable political system where Japanese culture and identity flourished. As Japanese literary culture blossomed in the eighth century and advanced as a country, Japan was referred to as “the Land of the Rising Sun.” Japan’s art, literature, and technological advancements throughout the time periods has lead Japan to become the prospering country it has become today.

More about Japan’s culture:

Traditional Japanese foods:

Sushi is a Japanese dish that is made from rice cooked with vinegar that is served with raw or cooked seafood as well as other toppings. 

Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake dish that is made from wheat flour batter along with other ingredients such as cabbage, meat, seafood, dried seaweed flakes, Japanese mayonnaise, pickled ginger, and more.

Takoyaki is a sphere shaped Japanese snack that is made of a wheat flour-based batter that is cooked in a special molded pan that makes up its spherical shape. It is typically filled with minced/diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger and green onions. It is brushed with takoyaki sauce and mayonnaise and is sprinkled with green laver and shavings of dried bonito afterwards.

Traditional clothes:

Japan’s traditional clothes that are worn by both men and women is called a kimono which is a wrapped front garment that has square sleeves and a rectangular body shape. It is worn with the left side wrapped around the right.

Important holidays:

One of the important holidays that is celebrated in Japan is the Shichi-go-san. Shichi-go-san is a day where girls of ages 3 and 7 and boys of age 5 go to the Shinto shrine with their parents to pray for healthy growth and prosperity. Each age in Shichi-go-san has its own traditional attire.  A candy called chitose-ame which features red and white colors is given to children to symbolize longevity and good health.