0
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What is genkan used for?
what is genkan
Where would you find a genkan?
A genkan is generally found in a Japanese home and is the portion of the home where people take off their overcoats, shoes, etc. (or put them on). It is usually in an entryway and is an important part of the home.
What do you take off when you enter a Japanese house?
In a Japanese house you should always remove your shoes. The area in which you take off your shoes is called the genkan. In this area one slips off their shoes careful not to touch the floor of the genkan with their socks. Step up onto the raised floor in socks and put on the slippers if desired. It is impolite to enter barefoot so one should wear socks.
Where do the Japanese take their shoes off?
At the raised entrance to the home (known as genkan), in a dojo, certain restaurants/tea houses... Anywhere where there is a transition from outdoor to in, shoes will be removed and changed for slippers (or a pair of indoor shoes for work/school,etc.) . Any room with tatami mats will only be walked on with socks.
What are the positives and negatives of the Japanese home?
An unusual feature of Japanese housing is that houses are presumed to have a limited lifespan, and are generally torn down and rebuilt after a few decades, generally twenty years for wooden buildings and thirty years for concrete buildingsaditional Japanese housing does not have a designated use for each room aside from the entrance area (genkan, 玄関), kitchen, bathroom, and toilet. Any room can be a living room, dining room, study, or bedroom. This is possible because all the necessary furniture is portable
What building materials to use to build a traditional Japanese house?
One of the features of Japanese traditional house is the floor is covered with straw mats (tatami) and the other feature is it use sliding door (shoji screen).Many traditional houses have a small area (a bit like a shrine) to pray to ancestors and to God.
What are traditional Japanese buildings called?
Traditional Japanese homes are made of wood and supported by wooden pillars, but today's homes usually have Western-style rooms with wooden flooring and are often constructed with steel pillars. More and more families in urban areas, moreover, live in large, ferroconcrete apartment buildings. Two big differences with Western homes are that shoes are not worn inside the house and that at least one room tends to be designed in the Japanese style with a tatami floor. Shoes are taken off when entering a house to keep the floor clean. The genkan, or entrance, serves as a place for removing, storing, and putting on shoes. People tend to put on slippers for indoor use as soon as they have taken off their shoes.
What types of housing is available in Japan?
Housing in Japan includes modern and traditional styles. Two patterns of residences are predominant in contemporary Japan: the single-family detached house and the multiple-unit building, either owned by an individual or corporation and rented as apartments to tenants, or owned by occupants. Additional kinds of housing, especially for unmarried people, include boarding houses (which are popular among college students), dormitories (common in companies), and barracks (for members of the Self-Defense Forces, police and some other public employees).An unusual feature of Japanese housing is that houses are presumed to have a limited lifespan, and are generally torn down and rebuilt after a few decades, generally twenty years for wooden buildings and thirty years for concrete buildings -- see regulationsfor details.Traditional HomesKusakabe House, built in 1879, TakayamaTraditional Japanese housing does not have a designated use for each room aside from the entrance area (genkan,玄関), kitchen, bathroom, and toilet. Any room can be a living room, dining room, study, or bedroom. This is possible because all the necessary furniture is portable, being stored in oshiire, a small section of the house (large closets) used for storage. It is important to note that in Japan, living room is expressed as i-ma, living "space". This is because the size of a room can be changed by altering the partitioning. Large traditional houses often have only one ima (living room/space) under the roof, while kitchen, bathroom, and toilet are attached on the side of the house as extensions.Somewhat similar to modern offices, partitions within the house are created by fusuma, sliding doors made from wood and paper, which are portable and easily removed. Fusuma seal each partition from top to bottom so it can create a mini room within the house. On the edge of a house are rōka, wooden floored passages, that are similar to hallways. Rōka and ima are partitioned by shōji, sliding and portable doors that are also made from paper and wood. Unlike fusuma, paper used for shōji is very thin so outside light can pass through into the house. This was before glass was used for sliding doors. Rōka and outside of the house are either partitioned by walls or portable wooden boards that are used to seal the house at night. Extended roofs protect the rōka from getting wet when it rains, except during typhoon season where the house gets sealed completely. Roofs of traditional houses in Japan are made of wood and clay, with tiles or thatched areas on top.For large gatherings, these partitions are removed to create one large meeting room. During a normal day, partitions can create much smaller and more manageable living spaces. Therefore, kitchen, bathroom, toilet, and genkan with one multipurpose living space create one complete Japanese housing unit. However, the bathroom, toilet, and even kitchen can be communal. (See Sentō.) Therefore, the minimum Japanese housing arrangement, which is still possible to find if one is looking for the cheapest room to rent, consists of just genkan and one living room/space.Modern homesHousing is typically listed in real estate advertisements in the format of a number of rooms plus letter designators indicating the presence of common room areas, for example: 1R or 2LDK. R designating room, L for living room, D for dining room, and K for kitchen. In this format, the bathroom and toilet are not mentioned but are included with the exception of some very small 1R or 1K's. L, D and K are not really separate and are part of or next to the kitchen. An LDK is bigger than a DK. The number before the letters indicates the number of additional multipurpose rooms. Often the rooms are separated by removable sliding doors, fusuma, so large single rooms can be created.Additionally, advertisements quote the sizes of the rooms---most importantly, the living room---with measurements in tatamimats (jō in Japanese, traditional mats woven from rice straw that are of a standard size: 180 cm by 90 cm (5 feet, 10 inches by 3 feet) in the Tokyo region, and 191 cm by 95.5 cm in western Japan): "2DK; one six-tatami Japanese-style room, one six-tatami Western-style room" is an example.In Japan, multiple-unit blocks are referred to as one of two types: 1) Apaato (アパート）often older[when?] buildings, which are usually only a few stories in height, without a central secure entrance 2) Manshon (マンション) more modern[when?] expensive buildings with multiple floors, elevators, and a communal secure gate, with centralised postboxes; they are usually more sturdily built than apaato, normally of reinforced concrete (RC) construction.[12]Though commonly accepted standards for description exist, this is not a legal requirement, therefore descriptions may not be entirely accurate.[edit]GenkanMain article: GenkanOne characteristic of a Japanese home is the genkan, or entryway. It includes a small area, at the same level as the outside, where arriving people remove their shoes. As they take off their shoes, people step up onto a raised floor. They point the tips of their shoes to the outside. The rest of the residence is at the raised level of this floor. Adjacent to the lower floor is a shelf or cabinet called a getabako (geta box) in which people may place their shoes. Slippers for wear in the home are also stored there.[edit]ToiletMain article: Toilets in JapanThe toilet in Japanese housing is located away from the bathroom and separate from it. It usually is in a small stall-like room with only the toilet in it. When entering the bathroom, one traditionally replaces their house slippers with plastic "toilet" slippers, swapping back when exiting the bathroom.[edit]KitchenMain article: Japanese kitchenThe modern Japanese kitchen features appliances such as a stove, a narrow fish grill (broiler), and an electric refrigerator. The stovetop may be built-in or may be a self-contained unit on a counter-top, and it is usually gas-burning, although recently induction heating (IH) stovetops have become popular. Common units of all types of stoves include two to four burners. Broilers designed for cooking fish are usually part of the stove and are located below, and unlike many Western-style grills, are not full width. Built-in ovens large enough to bake or roast are uncommon; in their place, work-top multifunction convection microwaves are used. Most kitchens have electric exhaust fans. Furnishings commonly include microwave ovens, hot water boilers, and electric toaster ovens. Built-in dishwashersare rare, although some kitchens may have small dishwashers or dishdryers. The kitchen includes running water, typically with hot and cold faucets/taps.[edit]BathroomSee also: SentōJapanese housing typically has multiple rooms for what in Western housing is the bathroom. Separate rooms for the Japanese toilet, sink, and ofuro (bathing room) are common. Small apartments, however, frequently contain a tiny single bathroom called a unit bath that contains all three fixtures. A small sink may also be built into the top of the toilet tank -- there is a tap, with the top of the tank forming the sink, and the water draining into the tank -- which runs during the flush cycle; this is particularly common in mid-20th century buildings. The room with the sink, which is called a clothes changing room, usually includes a space for a clothes-washing machine. The room containing the bathtub is waterproof with a space for washing, and often for showering, adjacent to (rather than in) the tub. As a result, bathwater is neither soapy nor dirty, and can be reused. Many washing machines in Japan come with an extension pipe to draw water from the tub for the wash.Hot water usually comes from a gas or kerosene heater. The heater is usually located outdoors (at least in warm climates). Its gas supply may be from a municipal utility or from tanks on site. The typical Japanese water heater is tankless and heats water on demand. One heater may supply both bath and kitchen however many homes have two or more heaters.[edit]WashitsuA tatami room with shoji.Many homes include at least one traditional Japanese styled room, or washitsu. It featurestatamiflooring, shojirather than draperies covering the window, fusuma(opaque sliding vertical partitions) separating it from the other rooms, an oshiire (closet) with two levels (for storing futon), and a wooden ceiling. It might be unfurnished, and function as a family room during the day and a bedroom at night. Many washitsuhave sliding glass doors opening onto a deck or balcony.Other bedrooms, as well as living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens, are in a Western style. They usually have modern synthetic floor coverings. Ceilings are typically also synthetic, and might be white or beige. Windows usually open by sliding laterally, although many kitchen windows open by tilting, with the bottom slanting outwards.[edit]One room mansionA one room mansion (wan rūmu manshon ワンルームマンション) is a Japanese apartment style in which there is only one small room (10 m2/3.0 tsubo; 110 sq ft in many cases) and usually a compact bathroom. It is a functional equivalent of the Western-style studio apartment. These styles of units are most often rented by single individuals due to their extremely small size which makes it hard for more than one person to reside in them. Most of Japan's city apartments have rooms such as these although family units (around 60 to 90 m2/18 to 27 tsubo; 650 to 970 sq ft in size) are more common, especially in Japan's suburbs.[edit]Utilities[edit]HeatingHearth in a traditional Japanese house inHonshū.A modern kerosene space heater.Space heating, rather than central heating, is normal in Japanese homes. Kerosene, gas, and electric units are common. Apartments are often rented without heating or cooling equipment, but empty duct space reserved for piping is common, allowing the installation of heat pump units. Occupants purchase appliances and take them when they move.Traditional Japanese buildings do not use insulation, and insulation may even be omitted in modern construction, especially in the low-end apartments; nor is insulated glazingtraditionally used in windows, with these being generally single-pane.[13]This is not the case in Hokkaido and the northern part of Honshū, due to the cold winters there. Insulated and centrally heated homes in the northern part of Japan are warmer than many homes in warmer parts of Japan.[13]This is not the case for the newer buildings as they are being properly insulated and built with insulated glazing.[13]The simplest kerosene burner has a tank for fuel, a mantle, and a control dial. Battery-operated electric ignition is a popular step up. The next rank has an electric fan to circulate hot air through the room. Many such units feature computer control of temperature. The computer can also turn them on and off on schedule. Gas heaters are also popular, and many homes have gas outlets in various rooms to accommodate portable units. Windows in many homes have vents to open to protect the occupants from excessive exhaust gas. Kerosene and gas units have safety features to turn off the fire and cut off the fuel supply when the heater receives a shake, whether from an accident or due to earthquake. These units also usually shut off automatically after two or three hours to prevent carbon monoxide fumes from building up while the resident is sleeping.Another type of kerosene heater functions similar to a radiator, and consists of two parts. Kerosene fuel is stored in a tank and burned outside the home, and the flame is used to heat a fluid which is circulated into the second unit inside the house. In this unit, fans blow across the tubes carrying the heated fluid, and the room is warmed as a result. This type of heater is popular since it reduces the fumes significantly, and also virtually eliminates the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning as well as the chance of a small child or pet accidentally injuring themselves.Electric heat is typically delivered through heat pumpunits mounted on the ceilings or the walls, such as above the doors to the deck or balcony, rather than through baseboards. These heaters often do double duty as air-conditioners, and are accordingly called eakon(エアコン?). Thermostatic control and timers are available in most lines. The manufacturers of electric and electronic appliances produce these heaters.In northern Japan, underfloor heating yukadanbō (床暖房?) (literally, floor heater) is common, a type of radiating heater beneath the floor, where heated fluids are circulated to provide warmth. Underfloor heating is also found in a house or condominium located in the warmer part of Japan, but not for apartment. The cost is expensive, so sometimes this type of heater is only installed in limited areas such as living room or "clothes changing room". Electric carpets have become popular in recent years.Toilet seats are frequently heated via electric heat.Finally, a traditional type of heater known as a kotatsuis also still widely used today. The kotatsu can come in multiple forms, but the more common is as an electric heating element attached to the underside of a low table: the table is typically surrounded by a light duvet-like cloth to keep the heat in. This type of table is common in the washitsu.[edit]ElectricityThis outlet has a post for grounding an air conditioning unit.Most Japanese dwellings are connected to the nation's power grid by using 3-wire system with standard phase-neutral voltage of 100 V. 100 V AC outlets are located throughout the home for general use. Few 200 V outlets may also exist for connecting induction heating stove or large air conditioner. The line frequency is 50 Hz in eastern Japan, and 60 Hz in the western part of the country. Service limiters of 30 to 60 A is typical for some electricity distributors.Many domestic appliances operate properly at either frequency. Outlets resemble those formerly used in the North America (see comparison), with two vertical slots. The older outlets are unpolarized and many sockets lack earthing capability. Outlets in the kitchen, toilet, and bathroom, as well as those supplied by the ceiling for air-conditioning units do usually have earthing, either in the form of an 3-pin outlet or a covered binding post. Devices designed for use with water, such as clothes washers and heated toilet seats, often have a separate earth wire or earth pin. Cheater plug adapters are readily available to convert such plugs and so allow their use in all types of sockets.Since 2005, new Japanese homes are required to have 3-pin earthed outlets for connecting domestic appliances. This rule does not apply for the outlets not intended to be used for domestic appliances, but it is strongly advised to have 3-pin outlets throughout the home.[14]100V polarized outlet (JIS C 8303; 15A125V)3-pin earthed outlet (JIS C 8303 15A125V)3-pin high ampacity outlet, typically used for air conditioners (JIS C 8303; 20A125V)200V earthed outlet, typically used for stoves and larger air conditioners (JIS C 8303; 20A250V)[edit]LightingLighting equipment, like heaters, is normally the provenance of the occupant. Many homes do not include built-in ceiling lights in the living, dining, and bedrooms. Instead, they have ceiling receptacles that provide both electrical connection and mechanical support for lighting equipment. There are four common types of ceiling connectors and these will generally also support the weight of the light fitting. Kitchens, bathrooms, corridors and genkan are likely to have built-in ceiling fixtures.Lighting is generally by fluorescent lamps and LED lamps, and most frequently in living areas features a 4-way switch. The lamp has two separate circular fluorescent tubes, together with a nightlight (formally 常夜灯, informally a ナツメ球, natume-kyū, "jujube-bulb" (so-named for the shape)), and the switch cycles between "both bulbs on", "only one bulb on", "night light only" and "off". Replaceable glow starters(formally 点灯管, informally グロー球 gurō-kyū "glow bulb") are common in the older fixtures.[edit]AutomobilesOutside of the downtown areas of large cities, many Japanese people park their cars at or near their homes. Some single-family houses have built-in garages; others have carports or unsheltered spaces on the grounds. Apartment and condominium buildings frequently have parking lots, some occupying (for example) the first floor (i.e. at ground level) of the building, others outdoors. Elevator parking allows double use of limited space: one car parks below ground level, with an elevator raising it when needed; the other parks at ground level. More elaborate elevator arrangements are also in use. Residents also lease parking spaces at vacant lots in the neighborhood, generally on a monthly basis, called tsukigime chūsha (月極駐車?, monthly parking).[edit]ConstructionFoundation for a new houseMany single-family residences are constructed by nationwide manufacturers such asMatsushita(under the name PanaHome), Misawa Home, Mitsui, and SumitomoForestry. Some such companies maintain parks with model homes to show to prospective buyers. The builders of a condominium may open a unit to show prospective buyers; alternatively, they may construct a separate model room elsewhere. Makers of appliances similarly operate showrooms to display their products.[edit]Construction materialsA retail display shows a variety of ceramic roofing tile styles.For freestanding houses, wood frames are popular. Two-by-four construction is an alternative to the native style. Houses may be clad in siding or faced with ceramic tile. Interiors often have drywall, painted or with a wall covering. Tile is a common roofing material; it may be fired clay or concrete. Clay tiles often bear a color and a glaze.Large buildings are typically constructed of reinforced concrete. Roofs coverings include asphalt and synthetics.[edit]Housing regulationsThe usual maximum allowed height of a wooden building in Japan is two stories. Some wooden houses may have lofts, but these may not be used as bedrooms, only for storage space. Steel and concrete buildings may have more stories, but usually they only have two. Basements are uncommon in private homes but common in high-rise buildings.The ratio of built-upon area is regulated according to a system called kenpeiritsu (建ペイ率?)involving the floor area of the house and the area of land the house is built upon. The area is restricted to being, for example, 80% of the area of the land. The kenpeiritsu varies according to the location of the land.The taxable value of a house is controlled by its building material. Wooden houses are considered to have a lifespan of twenty years, and concrete ones to have a lifespan of thirty years, and the assessed price depreciates each year contrary to housing markets in other nations. Most real estate agents also use this pricing policy as a rough guide.[edit]Living patternsMany young Japanese adults choose to live with their parents, rather than seeking a separate residence, a phenomenon known asparasite singles (パラサイトシングル). A 1998 survey by the Ministry of Health and Welfare indicated that about 60% of single Japanese men and 80% of single women between the ages of 20 and 34 lived with their parents.After marriage, the young couple often live in the same house as their parents. A desire for some separation between the generations has led to the phenomenon of nisedaijūtaku (二世代住宅?), literally "two generation housing", a single house which contains two complete separate living areas, one for the parents and one for the younger generation.Conversely, in large metropolitan areas of Japan, it is no longer uncommon for young couples to co-habit in an apartment before they marry.Traditionally, the elderly also continue to live with their children rather than being put into homes for the elderly. The responsibility for the parent usually falls onto the oldest male child or atotsugi(跡継ぎ?). The number of elderly people living at home has led to a great demand for care products for home use, and also the so-called "barrier-free" housing, which contains fewer steps and obstacles for the elderly.Apartment sharing between strangers is rare in Japan, most single people preferring to live in small sized individual apartments. However, in recent years, as Japan is undergoing demographic and socioeconomic change, it is becoming more common for young people to share apartments. Apartment designs are many and varied. An older pattern for single occupancy is a long thin, shoe-box shaped apartment, with a kitchen area and bathroom located often near the genkan and a living space/bedroom at the opposite end where a small balcony may be located.Japanese companies and organizations often send their male employees to various locations throughout Japan. It is not always possible or desirable for the entire family unit to move near to the employee's new job site. In this case, small apartments are rented by married men who then travel to the family home on the weekends.[edit]Home ownershipBecause of the high cost of housing in major Japanese cities, many urban families and individuals rent apartmentsrather than owning their own home. In 2003, less than half of the living units in Tokyo were owned by the resident. On the other hand, rural areas tend to have much higher ownership rates. The highest rate in the country is Toyama Prefecture, with around 80% of all living units being owned by the resident.The living space of houses and condominiumsis larger than apartments. The average size of an owned residence in Japan is 121.7 m2(36.8 tsubo; 1,310 sq ft). This varies wildly between major urban areas (Tokyo: 91.0 m2/27.5 tsubo; 980 sq ft) and rural areas (Toyama Prefecture: 178.4 m2/54.0 tsubo; 1,920 sq ft). The area of homes that are advertised for sale or rental is commonly listed in the Japanese unit tsubo (坪), which is approximately the area of two tatami mats (3.3 m²/36 sq ft). On diagrams of the house, individual room sizes are usually measured in tatami, as described above in the interior design section.In recent years, condos/mansions have become more and more popular. Compared to 1983, when 64% of owned homes were single family dwellings, and only 27% were condos, more recent statistics show that the latter make up around 40% of the category now.As houses age, owners replace them. A common pattern is to rebuild on the same site. To accomplish this, the occupants move to a temporary residence. A contractor demolishes the old structure and builds a new one on the grounds. The residents can then return to the location. Not having moved, they enjoy the convenience of keeping the same address, telephone number, and utility accounts, as well as avoid the cost of purchasing new land. Because of the wooden construction and relatively short lifespan of Japanese houses, this is often considered cheaper than maintaining the old structure.[edit]Home and apartment rentalA two-story Japanese rental apartment building in Karatsu, Saga.To rent an apartment in Japan, would-be tenants visit real estate agents located in every neighborhood and browse through copies of apartments for rent. These usually have the layout of the apartment for rent and the costs to rent this apartment. If a would be tenant is interested in a particular apartment, the agent contacts the landlord to see if the apartment is still available and whether a visit could be arranged. Typically, a renter cannot rent an apartment on her or his own, but is required to have a guarantor who promises to pay the rent if problems arise.Traditionally, Japanese landlordscollect both a damage deposit and "key money" before the renter takes occupancy, and the real estate agent is also paid a month's rent for services provided. Key money is a non-refundable payment to the landlord. In major cities like Tokyo and Osaka, key money is often a major investment in itself: up to six months' rent in many cases. In recent years many landlords have begun demanding smaller amounts of key money, equal to two or three months' rent or none at all. An industry of no-deposit apartments, called monthly mansion and weekly mansion, has also sprouted up in major cities: these generally charge higher rents than traditional leases, and may offer some hotel-style amenities such as linen service.In Tokyo, a typical rental agreement is for one year. Each year, this agreement is re-negotiated, and the renter pays an additional month's rent as a fee. In many other cities, however, the one-year agreement is regarded simply as a minimum length of stay, and the rent does not change over the years.[edit]Guest HousesForeigners in Japan renting apartments on their own often face discriminationfrom real estate agents or landlords who refuse to rent to foreigners.[1]Some agents will explain to foreigners directly that it is difficult to rent to them. Finding a guarantor is also difficult for many foreigners. Living in a Guest House is one way to circumvent these problems. Sometimes referred to as "Gaijin Houses" (meaning foreign persons' house), Guest Houses come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They are designed to provide short-term accommodation at reasonable prices with a minimum of hassle. Usually aimed at foreign visitors, they are becoming increasingly popular with young Japanese seeking to break with the tradition of living with parents until, and sometimes after, marriage. While deposits are payable in most cases they tend to be low and the famous Japanese key money is not charged for these properties. A guest house will provide one room for sleeping, a shared kitchen and shared bathroom. Facilities like washing machines are usually coin operated but due to intense competition many landlords are seeking to provide as many free utilities as they can; free internet is almost a given in Tokyo these days. Typically, foreigners and Japanese are finding it harder to find guest houses and have been opting for small apartments(Aparto).[edit]Company housingMany Japanese companies also maintain their own apartment buildings (called shataku) where young employees live when they first start working. Sometimes, the shataku is located near the company's office building. In other cases, the company may not own its own apartment complex, but hold an exclusive lease over one or more independent apartment buildings. In 2003, there were nearly 1.5 million shataku units in Japan.[edit]Traditional housingA model of traditional house in KyotoA traditional house in Okinawa Prefecturehas the red tile roof characteristic of the region.In premodern Japan, commoners typically lived either in free-standing houses, now known as minka, or, predominantly in cities, in machiya(町屋) or row-houses called nagaya (長屋). Examples are still visible in Kyoto. Additional dwelling patterns included the samurai residence, the homes of wealthy farmers (such as the village headmen), and the residences of Buddhisttemples.Wood was the material of choice for structures, while roofs could be thatch, cypress bark, tile, or bare wood. Raised floors were of wood, and might be covered with straw mats in places. Kitchens usually had dirt floors.[edit]HomelessnessThe Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare reported [15] in 2003 that Japan had 25,296 homeless people. Osaka, Tokyo, and Aichi were the prefectures with the highest homeless populations, while the city of Osaka, the 23 special wards of Tokyo, and the city of Nagoyahad 1750 or more (no other city had 850). The ministry found that about 41% lived in urban parks and 23% along river banks; streets and railway stations also had significant numbers.
What are the 5 themes of geography for China?
Location-Hot summers and cool winters come and go in Japan. It's kind of like where we live. That's because it is in the same area of latitude as the Midwest. It rests to the east of Russia, North Korea, and South Korea. Tokyo is located in the middle of the east coast, at exactly 36° N 138° E on the largest island, Honshu.Place/Physical-The land of Japan is rugged and mountainous. Most flat areas are built into cities. There are over 3,000 islands owned by Japan. Small islands are the peaks of underwater mountains. They protect the west coast from tsunamis, while the east coast gets hit hard.The climate can vary from tropical in the south, to a cool temperate in the north. This means Japan gets all four seasons like we do. In the fall, we see shades of orange and red from the oak trees. In Japan, cherry blossoms, sakura, fall, making autumn a very beautiful season.The main natural resources in Japan are minerals and fish. Japan is an island, so saltwater fish can be easily caught. It is also the leading producer of many different varieties of minerals: cadmium, selenium metal, electrolytic manganese dioxide, and titanium sponge metal to name a few.Japan is considered small, a total of 377,915 kilometers squared; it's a little smaller then California. Even though it seems small, Japan holds a lot of interesting things among the land.Place/People-Try to think of putting a third of the U.S.'s population into California. With a total of 127,078,679 people, some places in Japan can get a little crowded. 65% of the population lives in large cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya. Japan has more people per square mile than any other country in the entire world. Most of the people in Japan are native to the country, but some are Korean, Chinese, or from other countries.The language they speak there is, of course, Japanese. Their books are read from back to front. The sentences are either from right to left, or up and down. The characters used are called Kanji. Kanji was originally from China. Hiragana is used to make up Kanji, and Katakana is used for foreign languages.84% of the people are Shinto, and 71% are Buddhist. Are you confused? A lot of the population belongs to both of the religions. Another 2% are Christian, and 7.8% are other religions.Akihito is the emperor of Japan. He runs a parliamentary government with a constitutional monarchy. A holiday is set for his birthday on December 23. It is called tenno no to jobi. Of course, this holiday changes with every emperor. If there is a huge significance that pertains to the emperor, they will still celebrate it as well.A large red disk sitting in the middle of a white rectangle makes up the Japanese flag. It represents the rising sun, and the sun without rays. Legends say that when earth and the sun were created, Japan was the first land to be touched by the sun.Japan's economy is the second largest in the world. It's mastery of high technology helped it get there. Work is valued above many things, but family always comes first. Defense allocation is comparatively small, but they are certainly not weak.In Japan, almost every meal has rice. One type of food is onigiri, rice balls wrapped in seaweed. Sushi also contains rice, but has cooked or raw fish. Every meal might have rice, but not every food. Takoyaki is octopus, onion, fish and seaweed flakes mixed in a batter that is rolled into balls and eaten with sauce. Noodles and tofu are common. One thing that is consistent through every meal is tea. Even though it's not what we are used to, all of these different foods are really delicious.When teenagers and children buy food from a stand on the street, they tend to walk around and eat at the same time. When adults buy food from a stand, people consider it rude to walk and eat. Also, it is improper to yawn, place your ankle at your knee, or blow your nose in public. Most people will sit with both feet flat on the ground, but sometimes you can cross your ankles or knees. To call someone to you, hold your palm flat out, facing down and wiggle all of your fingers. If you're visiting someone in the hospital, it is not typical to bring plotted plants. They symbolize the person being "rooted" there for a long time. It is also bad luck to bring chrysanthemums or white flowers because it represents death and funerals. If you visit someone as a guest, it is polite to bring a gift such as cake, or fruit. The Japanese represent modesty and reserve. Guests will give a moment of hesitation before accepting food, and are offered the most comfortable chair. When people are greeting in Japan, they bow. While some people might appreciate it when foreigners bow, some people find it rude. It's common for the Japanese people to shake foreigner's hands instead of bow.The students in Japan are under a lot of pressure to do well in school. Attending college and having a respectable job is valued. Kids spend a lot of time studying, even though technology is one of their favorite past times. Some even go to school for half the day on Saturdays. Juku is an extra class taken after the regular school day. The term sensei is added to the last names of their teachers as a sign of respect. Most schools will eat lunch in their classrooms. Middle and high school students must wear uniforms. There is one for summer and one for winter.A Japanese family is bound by the sense of responsibility, reputation, and obligation. The Japanese society is founded on the family. What one does reflects on their family. While the mother controls the family affairs, the father is still the head of the house. Although it is not tradition, elderly parents with share a house with their child and the child's spouse.Most of the population lives in big, crowded cities. Most people live in tall apartment buildings. The rooms in the house are somewhat small. People will take off their shoes before entering the house. From the door to the living space, there is a hallway called the genkan. In there, people will place their shoes facing the outdoors, closet, or shelf. Sometimes slippers are worn throughout the house, but will be taken off if there is a room with a tatami mat. This is because the mats are made of straw, and can be torn easily. Some rooms will have cushions to sit on at low tables. When it is time to sleep, people will use a Futon. That is a mat that rolls out.Dating usually starts at age fifteen. Teenagers usually like to go to movies, dance, listen to music, and go shopping. Western styled clothes and music are common with teenagers.Weddings can be very elaborate with three different outfits. The typical marriage age is around 26 to 27. For the ceremony, kimonos would be worn. Then Western attire is worn for photos and socializing. For the evening party, the clothes will change yet again. Gifts and often money will be given to the couple from the guests, while they leave with gifts from the couple.When a child looses a tooth, it will get thrown over the roof, or underneath the floorboards. If it's an upper tooth, it will go under the floor because that is the direction the tooth grows, and vise versa for the bottom teeth.Human Environment Interaction-Volcanoes lurk within the mountain islands. Some of them are active, while others are quite. There are small earthquakes that cause tremors, but most of them are very mild. The schools will have the students practice earthquake safety drills in case of an emergency. Acid rain will fall sometimes which leads to acidification of the lakes.As is any country, Japan is having trouble with landfills. They are creating a solution because spaces for landfills are running out. They are improving technology for plastic recycling, making advancements in incineration technology, and are getting people to recycle solid wastes.One third of Japan's electricity comes from its nuclear plants. A new plant was built recently in Rokkāsho, and there is controversy about where the underground nuclear waste site will be. Some local cities claim they will be conducting an environmental study on the site, but many people disagree. Marches and riots have gone on in protest concerning the nuclear plant.Movement-Seventy five percent of the people in Japan use the internet. That's about 90.91 million! The phone service is excellent within the county as well as internationally.Japan is an extremely busy place; many means of transportation are needed. There are 167 airports, 26,435 km of railways, 1,203,777 km of roadways, 1,770 km of waterways, and ten ports and harbors. Because Japan is so busy, traffic jams are common. Most people use public transportation such as trains or buses. To get from one island to another, there are planes, or an underground train. The bullet trains in Japan are some of the fastest in the world. It's all necessary for every day life and transportation.Region-Japan belongs to the continent of Asia, but it is not apart of the mainland. It sits just a bit to the east, making it an island. It can be divided up into eight regions: Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa. Each region has its own customs and culture. The Kanto region, which holds Tokyo, and the Kinki region, which holds Osaka, has major differences in the taste of the food they eat, and the style of the performing arts.
