1. Japan consists of over 6,800 islands.
2. 21% of the Japanese population is elderly, the highest proportion in the world. Japan has more than 50,000 people who are over 100 years old.
3. Square watermelons are grown by Japanese farmers for easier stack and store.
4. In Japan there are more pets than children.
5. Japan’s birth rate is so low that adult diapers are sold more than baby diapers.
6. In Japan there are ‘Maid Cafes’ where waitresses dressed in maid costumes act as servants, and treat customers as masters (and mistresses) in a private home, rather than as café patrons.
7. 126.5 million people live in Japan (2020)
8. Capital: Tokyo, which is the biggest city in Japan with over 13 million inhabitants.
9. Government: Constitutional Monarchy. The Japanese emperor is called Naruhito.
10. Language: Japanese
11. Religion: majority are Buddhists or Shintoists
12. Life expectancy: 86 years
13. Currency: 1 Yen (JP¥) = 100 sen
14. Prime Minister: Joshihide Suga, since 14 September 2020
15. The highest mountain in Japan is Mount Fuji, a dormant (sleeping) volcano, which last erupted in 1707. Mount Fuji is 3,776 metres/ 12,388 feet high.
16. Japan is slightly smaller than the state of California in the USA or slightly bigger than Germany.
17. A flight to Tokyo takes a 8 hours flight from Singapore, 13 hours from London/England, 12.5 hours from New York/USA.
18. Popular Japanese dishes are:
Sushi: raw fish or seafood dish but also vegetable can be used in these dainty little bites or rice rolls
Bento box: Lunch boxes often filled with sushi or other treats and snacks
Ramen: thin egg noodles, usually served in broth
Soba: buckwheat noodles, usually served in broth
Tempura: light and crispy deep-fried food such as fried vegetables, fish, seafood or meat
Teriyaki: dark sticky sauce containing honey, ginger, garlic and soy sauce. This sauce is popularly served with meat or fish dishes.
Taiyaki: sweet cake treat with various fillings in fish shape
Yakitory: chicken cubes on skewers often dipped into a salty soy sauce
19. Many popular hot springs are to be found on the southwestern side of Japan. The hot springs are called 'onsen'. There are local snow monkeys which keep warm by bathing in the hot springs.
20. The Japanese eat more fish than any other people in the world, about 17 million tons per year. Japan is the world’s largest importer of seafood, with shrimp comprising about one third of the total, about four million tons a year. More than 20% of Japanese protein is obtained through fish and fish products.