Japan is a civil code country with a mix of Asian and Western traditions.

Japan's neighbours include the Republic of Korea, China, and Russia.

The land area of Japan is 378,000 square kilometers, which is a little smaller than California. Three-quarters of the country is full of mountain. Japan is surrounded by sea. Warm and cold currents flow through the seas around it, creating an environment that supports a variety of fish species.

What type of fish do you think would be in the seas of surrounding Japan? The country has four well-defined seasons.

Two of the most beautiful sights in Japan are the cherry blossoms in spring and the vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows of the autumn leaves. The Japanese people enjoy these signs of the changing seasons and track their progress with weather reports, which feature maps showing where the spring blossoms and autumn leaves are at their best.

The far north and south of Japan have very different climates. In March, for example, you can go sunbathing in the south and skiing in the north! The country often suffers such serious natural disasters as typhoons, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes. Although these disasters can claim many lives, as in the Kobe Earthquake of January 1995, the Japanese have been working hard for years to minimize their damage. Japan uses state-of-the-art technologies to design quake-resistant structures and to track storms with greater precision.

Japan’s Main industries include - The automobiles, consumer electronics, computers, and other electronic goods.

We cannot talk about the Japanese without mentioning the Japanese Imperial Family. Under the Japanese Constitution, the Emperor is the symbol of the state and the symbol of the unity of the people but has no powers related to government.

Emperor Akihito took the throne as the 125th Emperor of Japan in 1989. Members of the Imperial Family receive state guests from other countries and make overseas visits.

FLAG

Japan's national flag is called the Hinomaru, and was used as the National Flag in the late nineteenth century. The flag features the sun as a red disc against a white background.

Do you know some of the do’s and don’ts of the Japanese?