JAPAN

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION (WHAT IS

THE COUNTRY SURROUNDED BY?)
 Japan consists of several thousands of islands, of which
Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku are the 4 largest.
Japan's closest neighbors are Korea, Russia and China. The
Sea of Japan separates the Asian continent from the
Japanese archipelago. 

 The geographical location of the Japanese archipelago has

defined the Sea of Japan for millions of years. Without the
Japanese archipelago it would just be the Pacific Ocean.
The term has been the international standard since at least
the early 19th century. 
 LANGUAGES SPOKEN

 Japanese is the official language used in the country and is also the
primary language in the country with over 125 million speakers. 

 Besides the Japanese language, the other widely used language in

Japan is the Ryukyuan language.

 Other languages native to Japan include Hokkaido Ainu, Bonin

English, Nivkh, and Uilta. 

 Several foreign languages are used in the country including

English, German, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and French.
 LANDSCAPE (NATURE, CLIMATE)
 Japan is located upon the edge of several tectonic plates so
that it has a number of active volcanoes. As a result, Japan has
a variety of volcanic landscapes.
 There are many geothermal areas that developed hot springs.
 Surrounded by seas, Japan is a country rich in water. Coastal
areas, in particular, you can see beaches, bluffs, sandy
beaches, tidelands and coral reefs that serve as habitats for
many birds and fishes.  
 LANDSCAPE (NATURE, CLIMATE)

 When Hokkaidō in northern Japan is still buried in snow

in January, cherry blossoms come into full bloom in the
southern islands of Okinawa.

 As well as the four seasons, most of Japan has a rainy

season known as tsuyu, lasting around six weeks from
late spring or early summer.
EDUCATION (SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES)

 Education in Japan is compulsory at the elementary and lower

secondary levels. Most students attend public schools through
the lower secondary level, but private education is popular at
the upper secondary and university levels.
 The academic year starts from April and ends in March,
having summer vacation in August and winter vacation in the
end of December to the beginning of January. 
 EDUCATION (SCHOOLS AND
UNIVERSITIES)

 In Japanese schools, the students don’t take any exams

until they reach grade four (the age of 10). They just take
small tests.
 Children are taught to respect other people and to be
gentle to animals and nature. They also learn how to be
generous, compassionate, and empathetic. Besides this,
the kids are taught qualities like grit, self-control, and
justice.