Image from CIA - The World Factbook

Situated in northeast Asia, Japan is a volcanic archipelago of around 3,000 islands, although only about 600 of these are inhabited. The country comprises four main islands: Hokkaido to the north; Honshuu, the largest and home to the capital, Tokyo; Shikoku, the smallest of the main islands and Kyuushuu to the south. Further south lay the Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa, with their sub-tropical climate.

Japan is home to around 127.5 million people (the tenth largest population in the world), of whom around 35 million live in Tokyo and the surrounding area. The average life expectancy is 82.02 years (2007) and 21.2% of the population are over 65 years old. The main religions are Shintoism and Buddhism and the currency is the yen.

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Facts, figures and geographical knowledge are all very well, but they don't help to give you an idea about what really makes up a country: the people. So hold on to your kabuto: it's time for a whistle-stop tour of the A-Z of Japanese culture.

A - Anime
A contraction the English word 'animation', anime has taken the world by storm. Although Japan has been making cartoons for almost as long as the West, anime has thrived over the past few decades. Highly stylised, covering every theme imaginable and catering for most tastes, anime has become popular the world over; be it ten minute shorts or long, drawn-out series, anime can amass huge fanbases. The film 'Spirited Away' by Hayao Miyazaki (widely-recognised as a master of the art form) became the highest grossing film of all time in Japan in 2001 and even won the Oscar for 'Best Animated Film'.

B - Bushidou
'The Way of the Samurai'. Samurai (bushi) are the famous warriors of feudal Japan. As well as the many rules which governed them, there were seven virtues which every samurai needed to have:
* Rectitude
* Courage
* Benevolence
* Respect
* Honesty
* Honour/Glory
* Loyalty
Of course, everyone knows the consequences of breaking the rules: seppuku (ritual suicide)!

C - Cosplay
Another word with English roots, this time from the words 'costume play'. In essence, fans of anime and manga (more about that later) dress up as their favourite characters. People can spend a fortune on their costumes, which may only get worn at a convention for just one day, but the results are often very impressive. This hobby has caught on amongst anime fans in the West, but is often met with less success.


D - Dango
Dumplings! With many different flavours, these are a popular food, which characters in anime can often be seen eating. The dumplings in the picture below are called 'bocchan dango' and are flavoured with sweetened red bean paste and green tea – definitely not one to put in a beef stew!

E - Earthquakes
Seismic disturbances are a common occurrence in Japan – sometimes there are more than three a day! Fortunately, most of these are minor. However, earthquakes can have devastating consequences: 6,434 people were killed in the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995 and the damage cost Japan around ten trillion yen (around $100 billion USD); the most costly natural disaster a single country has ever experienced. One figure puts the death toll of the Great Kantou Earthquake of September 1st, 1923 at 142,000, a tragedy which led to 'Disaster Prevention Day': 'disaster drills' are carried out and there is a moment of silence for casualties of the earthquake.
Nowadays, Japan is very well prepared for earthquakes and it needs to be: Tokyo expects a major earthquake around every 70 years and 1923 was quite a while ago now...


F - Fuji-san
Perhaps one of Japan's most iconic features, Mount Fuji is 3,776m high and Japan's highest mountain. Strictly speaking, it's a dormant volcano, which last erupted three hundred years ago.
It's also worth pointing out that 'Fuji-san' does not mean 'Mr. Mountain'; in this case, 'san' (山) is the Japanese word for a mountain (although you may have also heard it called 'Fuji-yama' – same difference).

G - Genji Monogatari
The world's first novel and one of the most celebrated works of Japanese literature – and it was written by a woman! Written around 1,000 years ago, it tells the tale of Prince Genji and his many illicit love affairs. At over 1,000 pages, it's worth a read – if you've a month or two to spare!

H - Hachiko
With the lack of space in Japan (73% of the land is mountainous), there's not a lot of room for man's best friend (although there are places where you can hire a dog to take for a walk/play with). One of the most charming tales of Tokyo, however, is about a dog: Hachiko.
Every morning, Hachiko would follow his master to Shibuya subway station. The dog would wait patiently at the station until his master returned in the evening. One day, tragedy struck: Hachiko's master died whilst he was at work. Nevertheless, loyal Hachiko kept his vigil by the station until his death nine years later. The locals were so touched by Hachiko's loyalty that they erected a monument in his honour - a statue of the faithful dog. Even today, the statue of Hachiko is a favourite meeting point in Tokyo. 
If you want to see the real dog, he's now a taxidermy specimen in the science museum. The legend lives on.

I - Imperial Rule
Today, the Emperor has a mainly ceremonial role, much like the Queen of the United Kingdom, and serves as 'symbol of the state and the unity of the people'. The Emperor is said to be descended from the Gods; accordingly, the Emperor was once Japan's highest-ranking cleric. Until 1945, the Emperor was also a military commander, although battles were more likely to be political than physical! The Emperor resides in the Imperial Palace, 'Koukyo' (皇居), situated in Tokyo and you can take a look inside the Inner Palace, just as long as you're there when it's open to the public - on the 2nd of January or the Emperor's birthday!

J - J-Pop
Love it or loathe it, Japanese music is big business: Japan has the second largest music industry in the world. Much of it is dominated by アイドル ('idols'): think pretty, twenty-somethings who do nothing but sing and act cute in front of adoring crowds - despite being mocked somewhat by J-Rock artists (more on those later). Western music came to Japan after it opened its doors to foreigners after the Meiji Restoration; of course, as with many other popular culture phenomena, Japan took it and made it its own. Utada Hikaru (who was born in New York) revolutionised J-Pop with her debut single 'Automatic' in 1998 and now the pop music scene is brimming with American influences - and cringe-worthy English. Today, the reigning 'Empress of J-Pop' is Hamasaki Ayumi, with record sales of over 50 million. Not bad for an artist unheard of outside of East Asia.

K - Kimono
The traditional dress of Japan. Worn by both women and men, these robes are generally only worn on special occasions nowadays. The price of a kimono can easily reach hundreds of thousands of yen, so not surprisingly, most people will have only one or two (if they have one at all), although women are more likely to own one than men.
Putting one on is no mean feat: there are over 60 steps to follow and it takes more than one person. The lighter, summer kimono called a 'yukata' is a more viable option and these are worn to festivals. The colour and style of the kimono should relate to one's status: a young, unmarried woman wouldn't wear the same kimono as her mother, for example.
The word 'kimono' means 'thing to wear', but a kimono is more than just a garment; kimono are a work of art.

L - Loose Socks
A staple of any Japanese schoolgirl's wardrobe. Japanese uniforms are very strict (and expensive) but girls have bent the rules with their leg-warmer style socks. The sailor-style uniform of Japanese schoolgirls is infamous and now female anime fans all over the world can order big, baggy socks to complete their outfit thanks to the Internet.
In contrast, boys' uniforms tend to be one colour and very dull. However, the more rebellious students may unbutton the jacket part of their uniforms. Some things are the same the world over, it seems.

M - Manga
Manga are comic books and are closely linked with anime. Although in the west the word 'manga' applies solely to Japanese works, in Japan, the word refers to comic books in general. The word itself means 'whimsical pictures' and can find its roots in a work so named by the artist Hokusai. Manga as it is known today started in the 1950s and has become popular throughout the world: the industry's worth hundreds of billions of yen in Japan and hundreds of millions of dollars in the USA. Manga, like anime, cater for all tastes and all ages. Whether you're into animals, sports or cooking, you're bound to find something appealing. Manga are sometimes turned into anime and endless amounts of merchandise. There are conventions for fans to get together all over the world and even western artists are creating their own comics manga-style, such as 'la nouvelle manga' in France and 'manhwa' in South Korea.

N - Ninja
Ninja have gained popularity throughout the world thanks to endless movies and a certain group of turtles. Generally speaking, whereas samurai would fight in the battlefield, ninja would use guerilla tactics: they were spies and assassins. Whatever the Bushido code prohibited was the task of a ninja. Ninja practised 'ninjutsu', which is essentially the art of being stealthy. Other ninja staples include 'shuriken' (throwing stars) and 'kunai' (used as a dagger but its initial purpose was as a trowel!).
Popular culture versions of ninja are probably not an accurate reconstruction of the real thing. There are still schools of ninjutsu around today, but it would be foolish to join with the expectation of running over rooftops and disappearing into the night with a puff of smoke.

O - Onigiri
The ubiquitous rice ball.  One of Japan's favourite snacks, you'll find them in convenience stores in many flavours. Slightly triangular in shape, onigiri were created before chopsticks were used; the rice ball is perfect for picking up. Samurai were said to keep some in their pocket for lunch whilst on the battlefield.
Fillings include fish and pickles and Hawaii has its own speciality: Spam rice balls. Probably not what samurai took into battle.

P - Pachinko
Japanese vertical pinball, played in packed, noisy, garishly lit 'pachinko parlours'. Get small, metal balls through gates and win more balls. Exchange these balls for prizes and vouchers. Pachinko parlours aren't allowed to give cash prizes - not surprising, considering that gambling is illegal in Japan. Simple but addictive.

Q - Q-chan
Q-chan (otherwise known as Takahashi Naoko) became Japan's first track and field gold medallist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics (excluding a Korean athlete who won gold whilst Korea was annexed by Japan back in the 1930s). A marathon runner, she broke the world record at the Berlin Marathon in 2001 with a time of 2:19:46, becoming the first woman to complete a marathon in under two hours and twenty minutes.
The standard having been set, another Japanese woman, Noguchi Mizuki, won gold in the marathon of the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

R - Ramen
These humble noodles have become a cultural phenomenon. Chinese noodles in a (usually) meat-based broth, ramen comes in a variety of flavours, from simple 'shouyu' (soy sauce) to 'tonkatsu' (pork bone broth). One of the most recent varieties, which has also become very popular, is 'miso', made from chicken stock and miso (soybean paste).
Cup ramen and instant noodles have become a Heaven-sent convenience food around the world and are even available from vending machines in Japan.
But surely there is no bigger proof of ramen's success than the fact that J-Popper Otsuka Ai has written a song about it?

S - Sakura
The iconic flower of Japan, sakura (cherry blossoms), are a symbol of both feminine beauty and the transience of life. The kanji for sakura (桜) is made up of the character for tree and the character for woman with three strokes above it, like a hair ornament: a cherry tree is as pretty as a beautiful woman. Viewing blossoms ('hanami') is a popular and time-honoured custom and there is even a special hanami forecast, in which meteorologists announce when precisely the blossoms will be in bloom.
There's no point in waiting around for the flowers to turn into fruit, however; cherries come from a different tree.

T - Takoyaki
Literally 'fried octopus', these are another type of dumpling. Popular in Osaka, these are considered fast food and are usually bought from a street vendor. Takoyaki can be made at home, but a special pan is required to help shape the dumplings. Takoyaki can contain other ingredients such a pickled ginger and green onion and are often sprinkled with flaked fish or 'okonomiyaki' sauce (the sauce used in a Japanese-style pizza/pancake dish).

U - Umeboshi
Although usually called plums, umeboshi are closer to apricots. Eaten after they've been pickled, these are extremely sour due to the high amounts of citric acid and can prove corrosive if a lunch-box is repeatedly subjected to them! Umeboshi are supposedly healthy to humans, though: umeboshi form part of an age-old remedy for colds and 'flu.
These red, pickled fruits are often placed on top of rice to look like Hinomaru: the Japanese flag.

V - Vending Machines
In Japan, there is one vending machine for every twenty-three people. Forget drinks and chocolate bars: you can buy just about anything from vending machines in Japan. Some of the more unexpected items include CDs, travel insurance, flowers and 'kabuto-mushi' - rhinoceros beetles! Only in Japan.

W - White Day
Christianity is a very minor religion in Japan: once upon a time, Christianity was even illegal in the country. However, certain festivals have made their way into the culture. Christmas is a time for lovers in Japan and also a time for Japanese-style Christmas cake (but cakes must be bought by Christmas Eve at the very latest - a woman who reaches 25 and is still single is accordingly a 'Christmas Cake' and destined to be alone!). Valentine's Day is also celebrated, but the Japanese do things differently.
February 14th is the day when women give presents to the object of their affections. Men return the favour on March 14th: 'White Day'. Women will give presents to the important men in their lives, regardless of whether they have romantic feelings for them or not. Bad news for men, though: the ideal gift should be worth three times the value of the gift the woman gave.

X - X Japan
There's a remedy for J-Pop: J-Rock. Around 20 years ago, a band called X broke on to the scene and the Japanese music industry has never been the same since. Yoshiki, Toshi, hide, Pata and Taiji (replaced by Heath) thrilled audiences (and aggravated parents) with their noisy 'speed metal' and orchestrated ballads. The band sold over 20 million records and were forerunners of the 'Visual Kei' movement: think 80s hair bands with more androgyny.
X Japan disbanded in 1997, but reunited in 2007 – sadly without guitarist hide, who died in 1998. Their legacy lives on in the rock bands of Japan today. Thanks to the Internet, the popularity of Japanese music has grown and some J-Rock artists even perform abroad, such as 雅 -miyavi-, who is set to take Europe by storm in 2008.

Y - Youshoku
Tempura. Right up there with sushi and noodles as a thoroughly Japanese food, right? Wrong! Tempura was introduced to Japan by the Portuguese in the middle of the sixteenth century. As always, the Japanese have made it their own: deep fried ice cream, anyone?
Youshoku are foreign foods that have become so much a part of Japanese cuisine that it seems like they were Japanese all along. Other examples include Japanese curry, 'nikujaga' (beef and potato stew), 'tonkatsu' (similar to German 'Schnitzel') and even rice has been westernised: 'omuraisu' is a contraction of the words 'omelette' and 'rice' and is ketchup-flavoured rice wrapped in omelette. Fusion cooking isn't a new invention!

Z - Zen
The most popular form of Buddhism in Japan, Zen, teaches accepting the 'now', being spontaneous and having no self-conscious or judgemental thoughts. Zen is best known, though, for its mind-bending questions and statements (koan). Here are a few.
* Two hands clap and there is sound; what is the sound of one hand clapping?
* Men of immeasurable greatness are tossed about in the ebb and flow of words.
* Q. 'What is Buddha?' A. 'Three pounds of flax!'
* The world is vast and wide. Why do you put on your robes at the sound of a bell?
* 'If you think you really come and go, that is your delusion. Let me show you the path on which there is no coming and no going.'

Enlightened?

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