Page 63 - Japan’s Cultural Treasures

DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY

Japan

Facts & Figures

• Area: 145,913 square miles

• Capital: Tokyo

• Languages: 5L[LYP^P T^ _SP ZʯNTLW WLYR`LRP ZQ 5L[LY

• Ethnicity: Japanese 98.5%, Koreans 0.5%, Chinese 0.4%, other 0.6%

• Location: An archipelago extending in an arc more than 1,744 miles from northeast to
^Z`_SbP^_ TY _SP ;LNTʭN :NPLY 5L[LY T^ ^P[L]L_PO Q]ZX _SP PL^_ NZL^_ ZQ ,^TL Md _SP
Sea of Japan.

• Geography: The Sea of Japan separates Japan from the east coast of Asia. Japan consists
of four major islands: Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku. The Kurils to the
northeast of the main islands are now occupied by Russia and subject to dispute. About
60% of Japan is mountain terrain, and the country is blessed with beautiful and varied
landscape as well as lush greenery.

• Population: 126,451,398 (July 2017 estimate)

• Religion: Observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)

• Time Zone: Japan is on Japan Standard Time, 14 hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is 6am
in Washington D.C., it is 8pm in Tokyo.

National Holidays: Japan

In addition to the holidays listed below, 05/03 Constitution Memorial Day
Japan celebrates a number of national
05/04 Greenery Day
holidays that follow a lunar calendar. To
ʭYO Z`_ TQ dZ` bTWW MP _]LaPWTYR O`]TYR _SP^P 05/05 Children’s Day
holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.
com/holidays. 11/03 Culture Day

01/01 New Year’s Day 11/23 Labor Thanksgiving Day
02/11 National Foundation Day 12/23 Emperor’s Birthday

04/29 Showa Day 12/25 Christmas

Historical Overview of Japan
Early History

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