JAPAN

NIHON/NIPPON (日本国 )

AnAn archipelagoarchipelago of

6,852 islands

Honshū, Hokkaidō, Kyūshū

and Shikoku (97%)(97%) CAPITALCAPITAL – Tokyo – Tokyo

The Greater Tokyo Area is the largest metropolitan

area in the world – over 30 million residents.

HonshūHonshū

HokkaidōHokkaidō

ShikokuShikokuKyūshūKyūshū

TOKYO

TOTAL AREA - 377,944 km2

POPULATIONPOPULATION over 127 million people(The world's tenth-largest population)

ETHNIC GROUPS ETHNIC GROUPS 98.5%98.5% Japanese

NATIONAL LANGUAGE – Japanese(No official language – many regional dialects)

0.5%0.5% Korean0.4%0.4% Chinese0.6%0.6% other

LIFE EXPECTANSYLIFE EXPECTANSYThe longest of any country in the world (According to both UN and WHO

MALE – 79 years FEMALE – 86 years

Japan has the third lowest infant mortality rateAfter Singapore, Japan has the lowest homicide rate in the world.

GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT - - Unitary parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy

PRIME MINISTER - PRIME MINISTER - Yoshihiko NodaEMPEROR – EMPEROR – Akihito

Imperial seal of Japan -

- Japanese flag

MONETARY UNIT – MONETARY UNIT – the Japanese yen  ¥¥(The 3rd most traded currency in the foreign

exchange market after $$ and €€)

RELIGIONRELIGION SHINTO &/or BUDDHISM – SHINTO &/or BUDDHISM – about 85 %about 85 %

a very local religion Shinto teaches

important ethical principles but has no commandments

Shinto has no founder. Shinto has no God. Shinto Shinto is little interested in missionary work

“Way of the Spirits”

Shinto sees human beings as basically good and has no concept of original sin, or of humanity as 'fallen'.

ToriiTorii

 91 million Japanese identify themselves as Buddhist

was given a role in supporting the growing influence of central government

kami (God) now look after Japan and its people.

spiritual status of the emperor as the descendant of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu 

 

 first arrived in Japan in the 6th century from the Southern part of the kingdom of Baekje on the Korean peninsula.

FAMILYFAMILYTraditional extended family nuclear (after WW II )

a strict gender-based role

the man is always the head of the household

3-4 generations living under one roof.

hierarchy by birth  marriage of

convenience

The The “ “ ie”ie”  - ideal/traditional view of

the Japanese family 

woman produce children, man provided a monthly income for the family

man could keep a mistress Young people respect older people

MODERN (USUALLY NUCLEAR) FAMILIESMODERN (USUALLY NUCLEAR) FAMILIES

Parents may share their roles

Till the age of 5/6 spoil their children a lot

They don’t hesitate to invest large amounts of money for their children’s education

BREAKFASTBREAKFAST at 6-7 amMEALSMEALS

 Japanese style Western style

LAUNCH LAUNCH – bento at 12-1 pm

DINNER DINNER – kaiseki at 6-8 pm

ONIGIRIONIGIRI

TABLE MANNERSTABLE MANNERS

it is considered good manners to empty your dishes to the last grain of rice.

unlike in some other parts of East Asia, it is considered bad manner to burp.

after eating, try to move all your dishes back to the same position they were at the start of the meal.

remove your shoes at the door do not motion, point, or wave with your chopsticks never ever leave chopsticks standing vertically in the

bowl of food itadakimasu” (”I gratefully receive”) - before starting to

eat do not leave tips in Japan

serve one another than serve yourself.  You should periodically check your friends' glasses, and

replenish them before they are empty. 

ALCOCHOLALCOCHOLDrinking plays an important role in Japanese society. Drinking parties, typically held at restaurants are a common activity that are used to strengthen both social and business ties.

if someone wants to serve you, you should drink to make room in your glass if it is full

 you should not start drinking until everybody at the table is served

“KAMPAI!”

From Monday till Friday 9am to 5 pm

private shops may work on SaturdayDepartment stores: 10am to 7/8 pm (no break for lunch)Convenience stores: 24 hoursBanks: 9am – 3 pmAlmost all museums and department stores keep opening on national holidays

OPENING TIMESOPENING TIMES

PUBLIC TRANSPORTPUBLIC TRANSPORT

HIGH SPEED HIGH SPEED ““BULLET TRAINS”BULLET TRAINS”

HOUSINGHOUSING

traditionaltraditional

GREETINGS:GREETINGS:

By bowingWhen bowing to someone of higher social status, a deeper, longer bow indicates respect.

Also to express thanks, to apologize, to make a request or to ask someone a favor.

san: the most neutral and famous title sama : a more polite form of san, commonly used

in formal situations kun : used for boys and men that are younger than

yourself. chan: used for young children and very close

friends or family members. sensei: This is a title used for teachers, doctors

and other people with a higher education and from whom you receive a service or instructions.

TITLESTITLES

It is considered impolite to go to someone's house without a gift

 A gift is usually brought in a paper bag

GIFTSGIFTS

Some items prominently displaying the number 4 and 9 should be avoided

women to give men chocolate on Valentine's Day

Men give presents on White Day

TRADITIONNAL DRESSTRADITIONNAL DRESS::Kimono & Yukata

The common Japanese are extremely punctual for appointments

Japanese take appointment times quite literally. If they say, “let’s meet at 4:45,” they literally expect you to be there on the dot

TIME CONCEPTTIME CONCEPT

the world's fourth-largest exporter 2nd largest automobile manufacturing

country  the largest electronics goods industry,  Major exports: electronics, cars, consumer

and electronics goods, including cameras and computers, automobiles, heavy machinery, tools, precious metals

JAPAN’S ECONOMY JAPAN’S ECONOMY – 3rd largest in the world

for your attention!