The Source of the Sun

FOR 10 YEARS DID I LIVE HERE, IN THESE SHAKY ISLES, THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. If it wasn't for my panic attacks, I would probably be living there still.

Japan (日本) is a temple to tomorrow, a sea of soaring skyscrapers, whirring bullet trains, anime and cosplay, Atari and Pok�mon. Like Iceland, it has an elemental nature, the elements are very strong here. The country is regularly tormented by truly colossal disasters, from tsunamis to atomic wars, but yet it keeps on ticking, miraculously.

Japan is the place where tomorrow has already happened, and turned into yesterday's news.

Japan, Land of the Rising Sun
Once upon a time, tourists were afraid to come here, terrified by the supposed high costs of travelling. That has all changed, and Japan is well on its way to becoming one of the world's foremost tourist destinations. That is not necessarily a good thing...

ISLANDS

JAPAN IS an archipelago twisted and torn by unfathomable seismic forces. Climate zones range from the tropics to the taiga.

» Honshu (本州)
» Hokkaido (北道)
» Kyushu (九州)
» Okinawa (沖縄)
» Shikoku (四国)

PREFECTURES

THERE ARE 47 prefectures in Japan, with a status similar to French provinces.

» Aichiken (愛知県)
» Akitaken (秋田県)
» Aomoriken (青森県)
» Chibaken (千葉県)
» Iwateken (岩手県)
» Fukushimaken (島県)
» Gunmaken (県)
» Kagoshimaken (島巿)
» Miyagiken ()
» Niigataken (澙県)
» Okinawaken ()
» Saitamaken ()
» Shizuokaken (県)
» Tottoriken (鳥)
» Yamanashiken (山県)
» Yamagataken (山形県)

Mt Fuji, viewed from the small town of Fuji, one winter morning in 2005.

CITY GUIDES

» Kawasaki (川崎)
» Hiroshimashi (島巿)
» Kyoto (亰)
» Nagasaki (長崎)
» Sapporoshi
» Sendaishi
» Tokyo (東亰)
» Yokohamashi (兵巿)

CULTURE

» Cherry Blossoms (花見)
» Cosplay, & Animism
» Fireworks (花火)
» Food
» Hot Springs (温泉)
» Karaoke (カラオケ)
» Martial Arts (武道)

LANGUAGE

THE QUINTESSENTIAL Japanese greeting, 「こんにちは!」 (kon-nichi wa!) effectively means: "As for today, well..." This is very much as a fill-in-the-dots language, a language of hints and absences. What you don't say is often more important than what you do say.

おはようござます! (Ohayou gozaimasu!) .......... Good morning! (polite)
おはよう! (Ohayou!) .......... Good morning! (casual)
おは! (Oha!) ..........Good morning! (childish)
お前 (Omae) .......... You (lit: the space in front of me) (rude)
仕方が無い (Shikata ga nai) .......... It cannot be helped (polite)

(For my Japanese study guide,

)

RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY

THE SPIRIT of animism is still quite strong in Japan.

» 9 Star Ki
» Nichiren (日蓮)
» Zen

GUIDE FOR VISITORS & EXPATS

» Shopping (買物)
» Travel (行)

NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES

» China (中国)
» Russia (ロツア)
» South Korea (国)
» Taiwan (台湾)

CROWDED WORLD
By Robert Sullivan. Contact me by email: coderot@gmail.com. Visit my Google + profile.
phone: (0431) 749-185 (AUSTRALIA)
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