Some Interesting Facts About Japan

Japan is a fascinating country with a rich and diverse history. It holds a unique place in the world for many reasons. After reading this list of interesting facts about Japan we think you'll agree.

Interesting Facts

1. Japan is an island nation located in the Pacific Ocean.
2. In geographical terms Japan is an archipelago (group of islands) that includes more than 3,000 individual islands. Going from north to south, the four major islands include Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu.
3. Japan's neighbors to the west include Russia, North and South Korea and China.
4. At its closest point, Japan is only about 360 miles from China, its neighbor to the west. The East China sea separates the two countries at this point, and the two nations have long argued over territorial claims and fishing rights in these waters.
5. The first permanent capital of unified Japan was the city of Nara, which became the capital in 710 BC. The capital would later be shifted to the city of Nagaoka and, ultimately, to Heian (modern day Kyoto).
6. Tokyo is the current capital of Japan and is also the largest city in terms of population.
7. Buddhism became the national religion of Japan during the Nara period, which lasted from 710-794.
8. Buddhism is still a major religion in Japan today. Shinto is another major religion in the country. Many people practice both of these religions together as one.
9. Samurai warriors date back to 12th Century Japan. During this time, two powerful clans were fighting with each other for control of land. The Samurai lived their lives by the bushido code, or the "way of the warrior."
10. Samurai warriors carried two swords, which was a privilege reserved for them. One sword was long and the other short.
11. If defeated in battle, some warriors chose to commit suicide to avoid capture or a dishonorable death.
12. Samurai warriors (and the feudal class system in general) came to an end during the 1860's. Emperor Meiji declared a series of laws that effectively abolished the Samurai class after nearly 1,000 years of existence.
13. A 2003 American film dramatized the end of the Samurai class in Japan. It starred Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe, and was nominated for several Academy Awards.
14. In 1894, Japan went to war with China in what would later be known as the First Sino-Japanese War. The two nations fought for control of Korea. It was fought between the Qing Dynasty in China and the Meji Empire of Japan. The war ended in less than a year with the Treaty of Shimonoseki, through which Korea remained fully independent from both nations.
15. The Second Sino-Japanese War began in 1937 and lasted until the end of World War II in 1945. Among other factors, the war was fought due to Japan's desire to dominate China and secure its natural resources and raw materials to fuel the Japanese Empire.
16. On December 7, 1941, Japanese war planes (fighters and torpedo bombers) attacked the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack came in two waves and included more than 350 aircraft launched from six aircraft carriers in the Pacific Ocean.
17. While the attack on Pearl Harbor did not totally destroy the U.S. Navy, it was devastating nonetheless. The attack seriously damaged a number of battleships, cruisers, destroyers and more. The attack destroyed 188 U.S. aircraft and killed 2,388 sailors.
18. The attack on Pearl Harbor partially sunk five battleships (the harbor is shallow, so none were completely sunk). These included the USS Utah, the USS Oklahoma, the USS Arizona, the USS California and the USS West Virginia. The California and the West Virginia were later raised from the harbor and repaired. The Arizona remains where it sunk and is now a memorial that tourists can visit.
19. Japan surrendered to Allied Forces on August 15, 1945, effectively bringing WWII to an end. Germany was already out of the war by then. The official surrender ceremony took place on September 2 aboard the USS Missouri (a battleship of the U.S. Navy).
20. The current flag of Japan, referred to as the Hinomaru, has a white background with a red disc that symbolizes the rising sun.
21. Modern Japan is a technological powerhouse. We import many of our electronics, automobiles, machinery and other technology products from Japan. They are the world's largest producer of cars, as well as a leader in the field of robotics.

I hope you have enjoyed these interesting facts about Japan and that you get to visit the country sometime in the future. There are some places you just have to visit before you die, and wonderful country of Japan should be on that list!