Japan is one of the world’s most intriguing countries, boasting everything from an annual p***s festival to having the world’s highest density of vending machines – there are endless fascinating facts and figures about this beautiful nation!
For example, four should be avoided since its sound resembles that of Japanese words for death. Also square watermelons exist!
1. Japan is the oldest country in the world
Japan is an intriguing blend of ancient tradition and cutting-edge modernity. Boasting breathtaking natural beauty as well as world-renowned cuisine, Japan provides something to everyone. Here are 15 fun facts about Japan that will help you understand its rich culture and fascinating history.
Japanese were the first people in East Asia to cultivate rice. This revolutionary crop transformed agriculture and contributed to the spread of civilization across East Asia; more importantly, however, it allowed its people to survive the end of the fourth Ice Age without suffering famine.
As the polar ice caps melted and sea levels rose, land bridges that connected Japan’s islands became submerged by rising waters. This led to its isolation geographically, yet made it more suitable for growing crops and domesticating animals for food purposes.
Japan had long been known for its warring tribes. By the eighth century, these warring tribes began coming together under one centralized imperial state led by Emperor Akihito and controlled by him as its head. Unfortunately, warrior clans began taking power away from him leading to civil warfare lasting into the 12th century and military rule was eventually established with Shoguns taking power over Japan’s governance.
Japan has developed its own distinctive cultural identity due to its isolation. It boasts unique styles of architecture, art and literature as well as cuisine with distinctive regional flavoring. Manga (a type of comic book) has become immensely popular worldwide and comprises approximately 40% of publications sold in Japan alone!
Japan stands out as a cultural powerhouse and one of the world’s most seismically active nations. Sitting atop four massive tectonic plates, Japan experiences frequent earthquakes; most are minor and barely detectable.
Japanese culture holds the number four to be auspicious and thus rarely uses it in their names or businesses, leaving buildings without fourth floors and cutlery being sold in sets of three instead. According to Japaneese culture, four sounds similar to death.
2. Japan has the highest density of vending machines in the world
Japan boasts one of the highest concentrations of vending machines worldwide, selling drinks and snacks as well as fresh flowers, ramen noodles, used women’s panties – you’ll see these machines everywhere from streets and front of shops to driveways and parks – a testament to their culture which reveres both cuteness and automation.
Vending machines in Japan have become an increasingly popular method for handling payments in restaurants. When customers enter, they select their food and beverages from a vending machine before paying either with cash or rechargeable IC cards – allowing restaurant staff to focus more on cooking than on handling payment transactions.
Japanese society values human interactions over automation; conversations on trains and buses tend to take place in quiet tones while phone calls take place with reduced volume. While visitors might not notice this cultural difference right away, it becomes evident when experiencing daily life there.
Japan is well known for its extreme politeness, as well as an intense sense of mindfulness and harmony, evidenced by everything from public restrooms that rival luxury spas to elevators avoiding numbers four (due to sounding similar to death)! All these traits combine for an idyllic way of living that is apparent everywhere you look in Japan.
One of the more striking facts about Japan is that it boasts three separate writing systems – Kanji, Hiragana and Katakana. While some may view this as odd in an age when technology has advanced so rapidly, Japan seems content to utilize each script to preserve their rich linguistic history.
Japan boasts more than 6,800 islands! While most people reside on Honshu (home to Tokyo) it would certainly be worth taking time out of your schedule to experience some of these other stunning islands and witness their diverse beauty.
3. Japan is the world’s largest producer of zippers
Japan is an extraordinary land brimming with beautiful temples, historic shrines and vibrant cities. While influenced by Western culture, Japan still retains its own unique blend of ancient tradition and modern innovation. Japan is famous for its food, technology, anime and pop culture industries but there may be lesser-known facts that might surprise you about their culture and traditions.
Did you know that Japan is the world’s top zipper producer? Japan accounts for nearly 60% of global supply, used extensively across everything from jackets to shoes. Production centers mainly in Toyama where over 40 factories specialize in zipper manufacturing – their production dates back as far as 1884 when Toyama was established as a trading post by the British government!
Since 1985, when Toyama Factory first began producing nylon zippers in Japan, its industry has flourished exponentially. There are now over 60 zipper factories employing over 10,000 people nationwide – most are exported overseas but some remain sold locally in Toyama region.
Japan has an etiquette code and behavior guidelines which govern personal appearance and mannerisms that is particularly strict. When visiting someone’s house in Japan, it is customary to remove your shoes before entering. This practice shows politeness as it prevents dirt from tracking into their home; similarly it would be rude and impolite to wear your shoes inside restaurants or shops.
Japanese culture is known for being both traditional and superstitious. Four is considered unlucky because its sound resembles death; many buildings do not feature a fourth floor and cutlery sets are often sold with three instead of four pieces.
Superstitious Japanese people reflect their strong cultural identity. Due to low immigration rates, which preserve traditions and ways of life for native Japanese, Japanese society enjoys strong levels of unity and harmony among its population, placing an emphasis on consensus decision-making and conformity within society – something which contributes to Japan’s low crime rate.
4. Japan has one of the highest life expectancies in the world
Japan is well known for their extreme dedication to personal health care and working towards living long and happy lives, leading them to have one of the world’s highest life expectancies. Obesity rates remain relatively low while diets rich in vegetables, fish and whole-grain based foods as well as exercise make a considerable impactful contribution towards keeping people in good shape.
Geographic factors also contribute to Japan’s high life expectancy rate. Situated on four tectonic plates, Japan experiences frequent earthquakes; furthermore, active volcanoes abound across its landscape. Yet despite these natural threats, Japan has managed to build a robust and sustainable economy; they’re well known for their high level of discipline and respect towards others; characteristics which contribute significantly to their societal success.
Japanese culture is quite unique in that it employs three separate writing systems – something not commonly seen elsewhere in Western countries, which typically use only one. Japan employs three writing systems that it utilizes simultaneously: Kanji, Hiragana and Katakana are used alongside each other – this may seem cumbersome but Japan seems proud to preserve their unique linguistic heritage!
Japan is home to some of the world’s most breathtaking and tranquil natural landscapes, from mountains and forests rich with biodiversity to its outstanding public transportation system. Notable among them is Shinkansen – Japan’s signature bullet train service which offers fast, reliable travel across its entirety.
Many Japanese do not own cars and rely heavily on public transit to reach their workplaces, helping save on fuel costs while staying fit at the same time. Recently, cycling has become a popular form of transportation – the country has made efforts to expand bike lanes so Japanese citizens can get some fresh air and admire its scenic beauty while riding their bike to work!