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6 Interesting Facts About Japan That Will Blow Your Mind

Author: Kadir Tuncel
by Kadir Tuncel
Posted: Oct 01, 2020
mount fuji

Japan is one of the most interesting countries in the Far East. It is quite different from Western societies with its culture, lifestyle and other features. Some of the uniqueness found in Japan are quite interesting and attractive. In our article, you can find 6 prominent ones.

1. 1500 Earthquakes Happen in a Year

When it comes to Japan, one of the first things that almost everyone thinks about is an earthquake. It is known that there are frequent earthquakes happening in Japan. Sometimes even very intensive earthquakes occur in the country. After the recent 9-magnitude earthquake, a tsunami occurred and the country was seriously damaged.

Japan is located on four different tectonic plates: North America, Pacific, Eurasia and Philippine. It is the most seismically active region in the world. Therefore, an average of 1500 earthquakes occurs annually. However, the magnitude of most of these is too low to be felt.

2. Mount Fuji Is Considered Sacred

Mount Fuji is one of the most important symbols of Japan. This is the highest and most beautiful mountain in the country. In addition, it is considered sacred according to the Shinto religion. The Kami or divine being of this mountain, which has been considered sacred since the 7th century, is Princess Konohanasakuya. Its symbol is the flower of the cherry tree, one of the most abundant trees in the country.

Mount Fuji fascinates those who come here not only with its height but also with the region where it is located. Located in the shadow of this magnificent mountain, Kawaguchiko Lake adds a very distinctive atmosphere to the environment. Tourists who visit this place always mention that Mount Fuji has a very different atmosphere.

3. The First Europeans to Visit are the Portuguese

In the past, places where people lived densely were Europe, Asia and Africa. Especially the fact that Europe is an important centre in this regard has caused Japan to be noticed late. Europeans first visited this magnificent country in 1543. Nanban trade period, which lasted between 1543 and 1614, started with the help of the people who got off the Portuguese ship that arrived at the port of Nagasaki.

Free trade was made between Japan and Portugal during the Nanban trade period. European weapons, armours, ships and technologies came to Japan during this period. Even tempura, one of the most famous dishes of Japan today, came from Europe during this period.

4. The Last Empire on Earth

In the past, countries did not have democracy but regimes such as oligarchy and monarchy. The emperors or kings were in the lead of these administrations. Empires have remained on the dusty shelves of history with the world's new order. However, Japan did not break its ties with the past and ensured the emperor's position to survive, albeit symbolically.

Recently, there has even been a change of emperor in Japan. Emperor Akihito left his throne to his son Naruhito on April 30, 2019. Naruhito still sits in the imperial office.

5. Dancing Ban After Midnight

Dance can be expressed as a very special activity doing which people find the opportunity to reflect their emotions. However, sometimes different situations can be hidden under a special event such as dancing. A similar situation was experienced in Japan during the Second World War. The dancing places were actually traps of prostitution. In such a period, dancing after midnight was prohibited to prevent this. This ban was first put into effect in 1948.

This ban, which is extremely meaningless today, continued until 2015. This aforementioned dancing ban can be shown as one of the most interesting features of Japan.

6. Why Is It Called Japan Instead of Nippon?

Japan is called Nippon or Nihon by the Japanese, although many people do not know it. So why is this country known as "Nippon" in Japanese, while in other countries it is known by the name Japan and similar words?

When Marco Polo describes Japan to the western world, he refers to this country as "Zipangu". This is one of the main reasons for this name difference.

Both Nippon and Japan (or similar words for Japan in other languages) mean the origin of the sun. This meaning evokes the starter word. At the same time, as Japan is located in the east part of the world, it is one of the countries where the sun rises first. That is why this country is also called "the land of the rising sun".

This is how the name adventure of Japan, one of the developed and popular countries in the world, emerged.

About the Author

Hey! I`m Kadir Tuncel. I graduated from Sakarya University with a specialization in International Relations. I live in Istanbul and practice skills received there. Also, I`m interested in traveling. My dream is to get 8 hours of sleep every day.

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Author: Kadir Tuncel
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Kadir Tuncel

Member since: Jun 14, 2018
Published articles: 11

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