If the country of Japan ever wrote an autobiography, it would include much more in it than facts about its vibrant culture, diverse etiquette, and unfortunately a horrific past. A look at some of these interesting facts in this story will leave you surprised, if not shocked.
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Did You Know?
One of the earliest records of the word 'Japan', in English, was in a letter written in 1565, in which the name of the country was spelled Giapan.
The Land of the Rising Sun is truly intriguing to many. A land of mystic, this country is where tradition and modernization gel the best. There are many interesting facts about this country that make it unique. Though it is famous for its high life expectancy and literacy, it is equally infamous for its suicide rates and sex industries.
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A constitutional monarchy, the country is currently represented by Emperor Akihito, who is considered 'the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people'.
In this story, we'll go through some fun, interesting, and unique facts about the country; facts that are surprisingly, not very commonly known.
Interesting Facts
Japan is an archipelago of more than 6,852 islands, with the four main islands―Hokkaidō, Honshū, Shikoku, and Kyūshū (from north to south), comprising 97% of its total land area.
» The Japanese language has a word for 'death from overwork'. It's Karoshi.
» The crime rate in Japan is among the lowest in the world.
The prefecture of Greater Tokyo Area, which includes the capital city of Tokyo, is the largest metropolitan area in the world.
» It has the highest life expectancy in the world, and its literacy rate is almost 100%.
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» Japan is the tenth-largest country in terms of population, the third-largest economy by nominal GDP, and the fourth-largest purchasing power in the world.
» Japan is the most vulnerable nation to earthquakes among all the regions of the world. Each year, about 1,500 earthquakes are recorded in Japan.
» Japanese cities are awarded more Michelin stars than the rest of the world combined.
» Japanese etiquette prohibits people from blowing their nose in public, as it is considered extremely rude to do so.
» According to an article published in 2005, in the Australian daily The Age, Japan is one of the world's leading tobacco markets, with 30 million smokers.
Japan has the longest reigning monarchy in the world.
» English happens to be the only foreign language taught in Japanese schools; its instruction is compulsory starting from 5th grade, from 2011.
» Japan has the highest number of vending machines in the world, with one machine for approximately 23 people; in Japanese, these machines are called jidō-hanbaiki.
» Though not practiced universally, Japanese people 'slurp' their noodles, which is considered a sign of tasty food.
» Japan is one of the few countries in the world that consumes raw horse meat; in Japanese, it's called sakuraniku.
» Japan is the only country in the world against which atomic weapons have been used. Ironically, according to its Three Non-Nuclear Principles, Japan will not manufacture, possess, or permit nuclear weapons on Japanese soil.
» The current Empress of Japan, Empress Michiko, was the first commoner to wed into the Imperial Family.
Approximately 73% of the country is forested, making it unsuitable for residential, agricultural, or industrial purposes.
Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) is the 4th busiest airport globally; it is also Asia's busiest.
» Globally, the country of Japan is the second-largest producer of automobiles.
These facts give us a sneak peek into the country's culture, traditions, and economy. If you know any such trivia yourself, feel free to share it in the comments section below.