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Japan
Wikiportal to Japan
Japan is an island nation off the east coast of continental Asia. Its four largest islands are (in order by area) Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku. These islands make up 99% of Japan's area. It is divided into 47 prefectures, of which Tokyo, home to the government and Emperor, is the most famous. The nation's government is the Diet, consisting of an upper house, the House of Councillors, and a lower house, the House of Representatives, which designate the cabinet, headed by the prime minister. Each prefecture has an elected governor and a separately elected legislature. The Constitution establishes the Emperor as a symbol of the nation.
Early texts trace the country's foundation to Emperor Jimmu, while written history begins with a shaman named Himiko. The Shinto religion is native to Japan, and Buddhism, which came from Korea and China, developed further in the islands. The philosophy of Confucianism played a major role in shaping the country's thoughts, institutions, ethics, and personal relationships.
Japan's rich tradition of performing arts includes Noh, Kabuki, and Bunraku. Its literature includes The Tale of Genji (a novel dating from the 11th century) and waka and haiku poetic forms. The arts of Japan encompass sculpture, painting, woodblock prints, calligraphy and manga. The world has embraced Japan's modern manga, film, anime, video games, and J-pop.
The powerful economic engine of Japan includes manufacturing enterprises such as Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Matsushita, and Sony. Its financial services providers compete internationally in banking and insurance. The construction, shipping, and fishing industries are worldwide in scope. The nation's imports include energy and food. Governmental agencies involved with the economy include the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Bank of Japan.
In the Spotlightedit
Volume 1 of the Kiteretsu Daihyakka manga.
Kiteretsu Daihyakka (キテレツ大百科, or Kiteretsu Encyclopedia) is a science fiction manga series by Fujiko F. Fujio which ran in the children's magazine Kodomo no Hikari from April 1974 through July 1977. The manga was later made into a 331-episode TV anime series which ran on Fuji TV from March 27, 1988 through June 9, 1996.
The main character is a scientific genius boy named Kiteretsu, who has built a companion robot named Korosuke. He frequently travels in time with his friends and Korosuke in the time machine he built. Miyoko is a girl in his neighborhood who is basically his girlfriend (though they are both in grade school). There are many similarities in the makeup and appearance of the main cast to the cast of Doraemon, which was also created by Fujio.
- Read on...
Did you know... edit
From Wikipedia's newest Japan-related articles:
... that the National Center for University Entrance Exams or colloquially Daigaku Nyushi Center is an Independent Administrative Institution that administers the National Center Test for University Admissions and law school entrance exams in Japan? It is under the control of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
... that The Night of Taneyamagahara is an anime short film directed by Kazuo Oga and released by Studio Ghibli? A DVD release for Japan is scheduled for July 7, 2006.
... that the siege of Takehana followed the siege of Kaganoi in 1584? Toyotomi Hideyoshi employed the same tactics at Takehana as at Kaganoi, diverting the Kisogawa with a dam and flooding the fortress.
... that Musashi is a Japanese novel written by Eiji Yoshikawa and serialized in 1935 in Asahi Shimbun? The partially fictionalized account of the life of Miyamoto Musashi has been referred to as the Gone With the Wind of Japan. The 970 page epic Charles S. Terry translation, with a foreword by Edwin O. Reischauer, details the man's brash youth, many journeys and eventual maturity, and the people he encounters along the way.
... that Momotarō-zamurai is a novel that centers on a ronin, the younger twin brother of a daimyo who was caught in a succession dispute? He comes to the aid of his brother in this good-versus-evil plot in which the character assumes the name of Momotaro. The novel has been the basis for many jidaigeki films and television series stretching from 1952 to 1993.
... that Issei Suda is a photographer and professor at Osaka University of Arts? Suda worked as the cameraman of the theatrical group Tenjo Sajiki, and as a freelance photographer since 1971. His books include Domon Ken Award-winning Ningen no kioku.
... that Tomitaro Makino was so prominent a pioneer Japanese botanist noted for his taxonomic work that he has been called "Father of Japanese Botany"? His research resulted in documenting 50,000 specimens, many of which are represented in his Makino's Illustrated Flora of Japan. Despite having dropped out of grammar school, he would eventually attain a Doctor of Science degree, and his birthday is remembered as Botany Day in Japan.
Japan Quiz!edit
Test your knowledge of Japan.
Japan's prefectures include the to, dō, fu, and ken.
How many of Japan's prefectures are fu?
- You'll find the answer here.
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