Japan is an exquisite nation that has something for everyone – stunning temples, delicious food and rich culture make this dream destination a top pick!
But if you want to travel there, you might need some assistance getting acquainted with it all. Here are some fascinating facts about Japan that will make you feel right at home!
1. The Japanese have the highest life expectancy in the world
Japanese have the highest life expectancy in the world and have accomplished this by investing heavily in their health care system. Japanese citizens can access treatments for tuberculosis for free and have a strong health culture where many visit their doctors on a regular basis.
Japan is one of the oldest countries on Earth, so it comes as no surprise that they lead when it comes to longevity. Women can live up to 87 years, while men reach 80 years – both figures exceeding American lifespan averages by more than 10 years!
Japanese longevity may be due to “neoteny,” or their genes setting them up to age slowly. Neoteny refers to the retention of juvenile traits into adulthood, and is common among many animals.
Japanese individuals’ long life expectancies can be attributed to several lifestyle factors, including their low obesity rate, consumption of fish and plant-based foods such as soybeans and green tea, moderate dairy product and meat intake and moderate meat consumption rates. Furthermore, cancer and ischemic heart disease mortality rates in Japan may also be reduced thanks to these lifestyle choices.
Another key contributor to Japan’s high lifespan is government initiatives encouraging healthy eating and preventive healthcare. Japanese visit their doctor an average of 13 times each year, so illnesses are frequently caught early and prevented from spreading further.
This can be attributed to several factors, such as their strict eating regimes and being mindful of portion sizes. They serve their food onto smaller plates for slower and leisurely digestion.
Japanese culture includes an abundance of fruits and vegetables as well as seafood to ensure they receive all of the essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help ward off chronic illnesses.
Other possible contributing factors for Japanese longevity may include their social and cultural beliefs that place emphasis on healthy lifestyles and family bonds. They have a strong sense of social responsibility; families frequently provide elderly relatives with caregiving duties to make them feel connected to their communities and increase quality of life in old age.
2. The Japanese are the world’s largest creditor nation
Japan has been an economic power for more than 100 years, serving as one of the world’s premier creditors with an extensive net international investment position and boasting one of the highest annual trade surpluses and one of the highest private financial asset bases globally.
Japanese business people possess a special approach to business issues. They don’t hesitate to make changes if it serves the interests of customers, employees and the economy in general.
Japanese society prides itself on their developed country status and great economic power status, and this success is an integral component of their culture and economic dominance. Additionally, Japan is widely known for their clean environment and respect for their surroundings – following mottainai, or “nothing goes to waste”, they take steps such as recycling products whenever they can or repairing products before discarding.
Japan is also known as a leading rice wine producer, producing some 550 to 450 BC as the world’s first recorded production of fermented rice drink known as Sake (fermented). Sake has long been enjoyed here and can only be made using premium grade sake rice varieties.
Thus, Japanese are among the world’s largest exporters of sake – an integral part of Japanese culture that accounts for more than 80% of global production!
Japan has always faced numerous issues throughout their history, yet they always managed to overcome them and continue progressing. They aren’t afraid of change either and remain one of the world’s leading innovators in technological development.
They have also managed to protect their currency from falling, yet are now faced with serious challenges such as high debt levels and a significant trade deficit.
If you are planning a visit to Japan, conducting research before your arrival is highly recommended. Doing this will allow you to better understand its culture while preventing any unexpected issues from arising during your time there.
Are you seeking an unforgettable travel experience? Japan could be the answer! Not only will you learn about their culture and meet interesting people, but you will also be able to sample some of its delicious food and beverages!
3. The Japanese are the world’s largest car manufacturer
Japanese car companies are well known for producing reliable and durable vehicles at an economical cost, as well as being market leaders for hybrid and electric car production. While their models might not reach Western levels of production, Japanese customers still vouch for their quality and dependability.
Japan is home to several prominent global automotive brands, such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Mazda and Lexus. These manufacturers produce everything from sporty coupes and sedans to off-road SUVs.
Toyota is the world’s largest car manufacturer and produces more than 10 million vehicles annually. Established by Kiichiro Toyoda in 1937, this global conglomerate has earned a stellar reputation for producing economical yet efficient automobiles.
This company is widely known for their cutting-edge designs and advanced technologies, in addition to offering safe handling practices and responsive services.
Honda is one of the world’s premier automobile manufacturers and boasts annual production levels exceeding 4.5 million vehicles in 2018. Their cars are engineered to be safe, reliable, and fuel efficient – three characteristics valued by consumers around the globe.
Acura is Honda’s luxury car division and was first released to market in 1986. Today it can be found in markets including the US, Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico China Russia.
Honda produces more than just cars; they also manufacture motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Since 2006, they have begun production on an all-electric bus fleet.
Daihatsu Motor is a Japanese automaker known for manufacturing smaller and off-road vehicles. Additionally, Daihatsu serves as a top supplier of parts for other manufacturers.
Suzuki is another top Japanese brand and one of the top 10 best-selling car manufacturers globally, producing motorcycles, ATVs and outboard marine engines in 23 countries around the globe.
Mazda is the fourth-largest Japanese auto manufacturer and thirteenth-largest global producer, boasting plants in Japan, Europe and North America.
Mazda’s most beloved models include the MX-5 Miata, Mazda CX-3 and RX-3 sports cars. Furthermore, it is renowned for producing grade trucks and buses such as Pajero buses.
The Japanese auto industry provides an intriguing example of technological innovation’s impact. Starting in the 1970s, Japanese car manufacturers utilized advanced digital manufacturing technologies and robotics to increase efficiency during production, as well as adapt their management structures accordingly. They became capable of producing various cars at reduced costs that have helped increase market share internationally.
4. The Japanese are the world’s most expensive city
Japan is notoriously expensive, yet there are ways you can reduce expenses while still enjoying all that Japan offers.
Note that this ranking is determined by an in-depth survey that compares prices of over 200 products and services offered in 172 cities around the world, converted into dollars. This makes it an invaluable tool for companies who want to assist their employees when moving abroad – particularly during times when the US dollar surged like last year.
Tokyo and Nagoya in Japan have fallen down the rankings as their currency, the yen, depreciated against other major ones during the survey period – making expats who receive pay in foreign currency more expensive to live there. Moscow and St Petersburg on the other hand saw increased rankings this year due to an appreciation of their local ruble against major world currencies in recent months.
ECA International conducted the survey and determined its ranking by taking into account inflation rates, currency strength or weakness and overall cost increases in each country. For instance, US dollar surged early this year which caused other currencies to weaken and drive costs up.
As a result, living costs in some of the world’s major cities rose 8.1% annually on average due to rising petrol and other goods prices and Ukraine’s conflict having an adverse impact on multinational firms’ supply chains.
Asia claims several of the top spots on this list, with Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai and Guangzhou making up most of them. Hong Kong currently stands as the most expensive city worldwide.
Osaka also made the ranking, although only slightly more affordable than Tokyo when it comes to cost of living. Food and accommodation expenses tend to be less prohibitive there than elsewhere in Japan.
If you want to save money, 100 Yen Shops offer stationery and kitchen supplies at prices much lower than regular stores – even bottle water can be purchased for just $1 or coffee for $3! Plus they provide discounts for kids too!