1
What is the capital city of Japan?
Tokyo
Japan is also known by this nickname, which refers to its position in the East.
The Land of the Rising Sun.
How many main islands make up the country of Japan?
Four
What do the islands of Japan actually consist of geographically?
They are the tops of mountains.
What does the red circle on the Japanese flag represent?
The sun.
What is the term for the things a country does a certain way, such as taking off shoes when entering a home?
Customs
What are the traditional Japanese robes worn on holidays called?
Kimonos
Besides learning, name two chores Japanese students are responsible for at school.
Serving lunch and cleaning (hallways, bathrooms, or classrooms).
How often do Japanese children typically attend school on the weekend?
Every other Saturday.
Name two specific customs regarding how Japanese people eat.
Eating with chopsticks and sitting on cushions on the floor.
What is the name of the famous volcano in Japan?
Mt. Fuji.
How tall is Mt. Fuji, and approximately how long has it been since it last erupted?
It is 2 miles high and has not erupted in over 300 years.
What is considered Japan’s most important crop?
Rice
For how long have the Japanese people been growing their primary crop?
Thousands of years.
Japan is home to one of the world's fastest versions of this type of transportation.
Trains
What are the two major religions practiced in Japan?
Buddhism and Shinto.
Which religion is considered Japan's oldest, and what does its name mean?
Shinto; it means "Way of the Gods."
From which country was Buddhism brought to Japan?
China
In the Shinto religion, what are "Kami" and where do followers go to worship?
Kami are spiritual powers; followers worship in shrines.
Who is Amaterasu in Japanese mythology?
The Sun Goddess.
What is the name for the traditional Japanese art of paper folding?
Origami
What is the name of Japan's traditional poetry, and who was one of its most famous poets?
Haiku; Matsuo Basho.
Describe the syllable structure of a Haiku poem.
The first line has 5 syllables, the second has 7, and the third has 5.
What is the specific name for the spiritual powers in Shinto?
Kami
What is the specific purpose of a Kimono in modern Japanese culture?
They are special robes worn on holidays.