Preliminary report on Japan

Location & Area
Japan consists of several thousands of islands, of which Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku are the four largest. Japan's closest neighbors are Korea, Russia and China. The Sea of Japan separates the Asian continent from the Japanese archipelago.
Japan's area is comparable to that of Germany or California. Japan's northernmost islands are located on a similar geographical latitude as Milan or Portland, while her southernmost islands are on a similar latitude as the Bahamas. More than 50% of the country is mountainous and covered by forests. Japan is politically structured into 8 regions and 47 prefectures.

Population:
The population of Japan as per June 2008 stands at 127.7 million. Japan the 10th most populous country of the world, contributes 2% of the total global population. Population density in Japan is 339 persons per square kilometer and ranks 32nd in the world in respect to country population density.

History
Japan is one of the world's most ethnically and culturally homogeneous nations, but down the ages its culture and society have been greatly influenced by foreign ideas and institutions, art and literature.

The wholesale importation of Chinese religious and political institutions during the sixth century was followed by a long and essentially 'Japanese' feudal period, which was to last until the 19th century.

The Meiji Restoration of 1868 brought to power rulers dedicated to the pursuit of national modern nation, under whose guidance Japan quickly became a world power. Although Japan's subsequent bid for empire ended in disaster, the years after 1945 witnessed an economic miracle which brought spectacular wealth as well as the western nation of much of Japanese life.

Japanese traditional culture
Food
The modern term "Japanese cuisine" means traditional-style Japanese food, similar to what already existed before the end of national seclusion in 1868. In a broader sense of the word, it could also include foods whose ingredients or cooking methods were subsequently introduced from abroad, but which have been developed by Japanese who made them their own. Japanese cuisine is known for its emphasis on seasonality food, quality of ingredients and presentation.

Japanese cuisine has developed over the centuries as a result of many political and social changes. The cuisine eventually changed with the advent of the Medieval age which ushered in a shedding of elitism with the age of shogun rule. In the early modern era massive changes took place that introduced non-Japanese cultures, most notably western culture to Japan.

Clothing
Customarily, woven patterns, dyed clothing and repetitive patterns are considered informal japanese clothing. Examples of traditional informal japanese clothing are; cotton yukata, woven cotton haori and dyed ikat kimono. These types of japanese clothes would be used as daily wear, for bath houses or for informal friend and family visits.

Formal japanese clothing normally takes on either of two characteristics; very elaborate designs or a simple elegant designs. A few examples of elaborate designed japanese clothes worn for an event are uchikake wedding kimono and festive happi coats. The more elegant designs, subdued colors or solid pattern formal japanese clothes would be worn for paying formal visits, funerals or by married women for weddings or formal functions.

Japanese popular cultures
Manga
The word “manga” basically means “comics” in Japanese. A single manga volume is around the size of a paperback novel and a single manga series can take many volumes to tell a story. While many manga series are for children and teens, many more are in fact geared towards a very adult audience.

Shojo and shonen are two examples of the different types of manga available. “Shojo manga” (girls’ comics) typically have a romance focus and are created specifically for a female audience. On the other hand, “shonen manga” (boys’ comics) appeal to a male audience with storylines that revolve around action and adventure. Although aimed at children and teens, shojo and shonen can also appeal to adults.

An obvious difference between manga and American comics is in the artwork; unlike American comic book heroes, manga characters are usually drawn with large eyes, small mouths, skinny builds and long legs. Another difference is that manga are read right-to-left (the traditional way Japanese is read) rather than left-to-right. In the West many publishers honor this difference and offer manga in an “authentic” format.

1. Japanese cuisine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cuisine
2. Japanese clothing --clothes and events
http://www.japanesekimono.com/japanese_clothing.htm
3. Japanese geography
http://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1000.html
4. Japanese cultural profile -- history
http://www.culturalprofiles.net/japan/Directories/Japan_Cultural_Profile/-40.html
5. Japanese population
http://www.mapsofworld.com/japan/population-of-japan.html
6. What is Manga? ---A Brief Introduction to Japanese Comics

http://manga.suite101.com/article.cfm/what_is_manga
7. Picture
http://www.greatrail.com/media/4941680/Mount%20Fuji%20and%20cherry%20blossom%201%20c.%20JNTO%20400x300.jpg