The Tops of a submerged mountain chain form the
islands of Japan. about three-quarters of the country is
too steep to farm or build on. Japan has a population of
127 million, most of whom live in valleys and on the narrow
coastal plain. Japan is a leading industrial nation, but its
success is fairly recent: until 1853 the country was closed to
foreigners, and the government refused to import modern
machines. Japanese companies have been very successful in
exporting their own goods, so Japan sells more
than it buys and has become very wealthy.
Western influence is strong, but the
Japanese are very proud of their
traditional culture and religion. They
continue to practice old customs while
developing modern technology. most
people follow both the buddhist and shinto religions.
The head of state is an emperor, but the government is
democratic. In the past, the country was ruled by noblemen
and samurai, professional soldiers who had a strict code of honor.
although the samurai have long been disbanded,
their code still influences everyday life.293
Tokyo
The largest city in Japan is the capital,
Tokyo. about 38 million people live in
the city and suburbs, and the whole area
is extremely overcrowded. fumes from
cars and industry are a major problem,
but effective measures are being taken
to reduce pollution.sushI
Traditional Japanese
food consists mainly
of fish and rice. often
the fish is eaten raw
or lightly cooked in
dishes called sushi.IndusTry
although Japan has few raw
materials, such as metal ores or
coal, Japanese industry is among
the most successful in the world.
The country’s main resource is its
workforce. Japanese workers are
very loyal to their companies, and
many workers take their vacations
together, exercise together, and
sing the company song daily.
managers are equally devoted
to the company and pride
themselves on their cooperation
with the workers. new technology
and techniques are introduced
quickly and help boost prosperity.Japanese people travel more
by train than travelers in any
other country.bulleT TraIn
Japan has more than 12,427 miles (20,000 km) of railroads. The most
famous train is the shinkansen, or bullet train, which runs from Tokyo to
fukuoka. The train covers the 731 miles (1,176 km) in less than five hours
reaching a maximum speed of 186 mph (300 km/h).Mount Fuji, a 12,389 ft
(3,776 m) tall volcano, is
sacred to the Japanese.sumo WresTlIng
The national sport of Japan is sumo wrestling. It
attracts large crowds and is shown on television.
The two contestants try to push each other out
of a small ring. success depends on strength and
weight, so sumo wrestlers go to schools where
they train and follow a special diet. successful
wrestlers may become extremely rich and
famous. The sport is traditional and follows an
elaborate pattern controlled by officials in
decorative costume.Japan is located in the pacific ocean,
off the east coast of asia. north and
south korea are to the west, and the
russian federation to the north. There
are four main islands, covering more
than 142,000 sq miles (370,000 sq km).japan
bonsaI
Japanese bonsai trees
are pruned so that they
do not grow more than
a few inches
high.US_293_Japan_1.indd 293 21/01/16 5:02 pm