Japan

Japan, situated on the east coast of the Asian continent between the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean, is divided into 47 prefectures. Tokyo, the world-famous capital of Japan, is actually the biggest city in the world, spanning 847 square miles. The vast majority of Japanese residents live in cities, with other large ones on the main islands Honshu and Kyushu being Osaka, Nagoya, and Kyoto. Japan is known for its advanced infrastructure, one of its most notable installations being the Shinkansen bullet train system. Some notable landmarks that systems like this connect are the Tokyo Skytree, Himeji Castle, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Shibuya Crossing, and the Arashiyama Bambo Grove. One variable that Japan's expansive networks of highways, train lines, and even buildings must account for is earthquakes, because Japan is situated at the convergence of four different tectonic plates and endures extreme earthquakes yearly. Tsunami is a Japanese word because they are such a common occurrence in the wake of Japanese earthquakes. A cool feature of these intense earthquakes has been the emergence of the Japanese Alps, which are situated centrally on the main island. There is an abundance of unique wildlife found in this region and across the country such as giant salamanders, Japanese hornets, Japanese red foxes, Japanese green pheasants, and of course, koi. Agriculturally, only a small portion of Japan's soil is arable, driving the development of a sea-based culture. From shellfish to seaweed, Japanese food such as sushi and ramen revolves around different seafood. Demographically, Japan is quite ethnically homogeneous, although there are some indigenous Japanese communities in some of the less-inhabited islands. Japan has a very complex language and a rich history. In brief, Japan evolved from feudal shogunates to a modern state, and after post-World War II rebuilding, became a technologically advanced, economically powerful nation. Most Japanese people adhere to a belief system known as Shintoism, which is centered on the worship of nature spirits called kami. These kami have influenced the production of Japanese anime, which is a huge global industry. Japan also turns out many large video game titles such as Super Mario Brothers, Pokémon, and The Legend of Zelda. Japan has an aging population, traditional in their thought, which drives the intense work atmosphere in Japan. Martial arts and folklore are additional features of Japanese culture which have truly put them on the map in the modern era.