What You Didn't Know About Japan

Here's a list of interesting facts about Japan:

- Japan is made up of 6,852 islands, 430 of which are uninhabited.

- The Japanese name for Japan is 'Nihon' or 'Nippon', which means 'origin of the sun'.

- In Japan, 70% of the surface is covered by mountains, of which 200 are volcanoes.

- There are about 1,500 earthquakes a year in Japan. These, along with typhoons and torrential rain, are part of everyday Japanese life.

- Japan's population is 98% Japanese, with almost no immigration. Few countries in the world have such a high degree of ethnic homogeneity.

- Unemployment in Japan is below 4%.

- Japan has more than 50,000 people over the age of 100.

- Aokigahara Forest at the foot of Mount Fuji is the traditional place where Japanese people go to commit su!c!de.

- If a Japanese person chooses to commit su!c!de by jumping in front of a train, their family will pay the cost of interrupting the journey.

- The number of illiterates in Japan is less than 1%.

- To date, Japan has awarded 18 Nobel laureates.

- There are only 2 shooting murders in Japan every year.

- The average annual train delay in Japan is just 18 seconds. The punctuality, aerodynamic performance and safety of train travel are legendary. In the event of an earthquake, trains stop automatically to avoid the risk of derailment.

- There are staff at stations whose job it is to help passengers board crowded trains.

- Japanese staples are rice, fish and seafood. In fact, rice is not missing from any meal. And the most popular pizza topping is squid, an edible cephalopod mollusc with an elongated body and a mouth surrounded by ten tentacles.

- Sipping at the table is considered polite, as it indicates that the food is delicious.

- In Japan there are more pets than children.

- 98% of children adopted in Japan are boys, the idea being that wealth stays in the family.

- For the Japanese, black cats bring good luck.

- In Japan there are cafes where you can play with cats.

- All Japanese homes have extra shoes for guests.

- The first and most important rule of behaviour in Japan is punctuality. But punctuality doesn't mean arriving at the appointed time, it means arriving at least ten minutes early. On time means you are already late.

- The Japanese carry a towel with them at all times to wipe off the sweat.

- If you catch a cold in Japan, you should wear a mask to avoid spreading the disease. Also, blowing your nose in front of others is inexcusable.

- In Japan, eating or drinking while walking down the street is a sign of bad breeding.

- In Japan it is considered rude to say 'no' directly to a request or suggestion. You should phrase your answer in such a way that your conversation partner does not feel offended by your refusal.

- The Japanese grow watermelons. Growers came up with the idea because they needed to store and transport them more easily. Later, their other ingenious compatriots created pear-shaped, apple-shaped and even heart-shaped melons.

- Japanese bus drivers stop the engine at a standstill to reduce pollution.

- Japanese police have paintball guns for easier identification of offending vehicles.

- In Japan, rescuers drive about 40 km per hour and stop at every stop, respectfully asking people to step aside and thanking everyone at length for their understanding.

- In Japan there is a highway that runs through a building.

- Sleeping on the job is acceptable in Japan as it is considered the result of fatigue caused by intense exertion.

- In Japan, students and teachers clean classrooms and the canteen together.

- Many spas and public baths in Japan prohibit the entry of tattooed guests.

- Yaeba (buck teeth) are considered attractive in Japan, so some girls go to the dentist to have their teeth crooked.

- Ganguro (translated as 'black face') is a Japanese fashion that involves painting the face as dark as possible.

- The world's oldest surviving company, Kongo Gumi, is based in Japan. It was founded in 578 AD and was engaged in construction. Since then, Kongo Gumi has operated continuously, building temples, castles, fortresses and buildings that are now part of the country's cultural heritage. It was taken over in 2006 as a subsidiary of Takamatsu.

- Japan has one of the largest fishing fleets in the world.

- Japan and Russia still haven't signed the peace treaty from the end of World War II because of the dispute over the Kuril Islands.

- The number of Chinese killed by the Japanese during World War II is greater than the number of Jews killed in the Holocaust.

- In 1949, India sent two elephants to the Tokyo Zoo to boost the morale of the defeated Japanese in World War II.

Make sure to also read: The Japanese Miracle + VIDEO

Source: https://frumoasaverde.blogspot.com/