71 Interesting Facts About Japan

Last updated on May 3rd, 2019

Japan, officially the Republic of Japan, is an island country in East Asia. It has a total area of 377,915 square km. Tokyo is its capital and largest city. Japanese is its national language. Its official currency is Yen (¥) (JPY). Japan shares maritime borders with the following regions: Taiwan (Republic of China), the Northern Mariana Islands (US territory), the Philippines, Russia, South Korea, China, and North Korea. Japan is often called the “Land of the Rising Sun”. Japan is a member of the UN, the G7, the G8, and the G20 and is considered a great power. Let’s learn more about this technologically advanced nation with some interesting facts.

71 Interesting facts about Japan

1. There are a total of 19 Nobel Prize winners from Japan.

shortest escalator Japan
The worlds shortest escalator and as you can see, there are only four steps in it.

2. The worlds shortest escalator is in Japan. And yes, it is used as well.

3. Fleeing motorists in Japan are shot by police with paintballs. This technique helps them to identify the defaulters easily.

4. Train stations in Japan have staff people to shove people into the trains because there are so much of passengers.

5. Eating while walking is considered rude in Japan.

6. The unemployment rate in Japan is only 4%.

7. Japanese farmers produce square watermelons for the sake of ease of storing.

8. Famously, Japan is the world’s largest creditor nation.

9. Up to 60% of the animated shows are produced in Japan, making it the leading country to do so.

10. 98% of adoption in Japan are of male adults. Japanese do this to keep their family business in their family.

The Flag of Japan

flag of Japan
The flag of Japan. Image credit – CIA

Facts about suicides and homicides in Japan, fish market, industries, Japanese cuisines, etc

11. Unfortunately, the suicide rate is very high in the country.

12. However, only 2 gun-related homicides are reported in Japan per year.

13. One interesting fact about Japan is that if you encounter raised floor in some part of the building, it indicates that you should remove your footwear there.

14. Tsukiji fish market of Japan is the world’s largest wholesale fish and seafood market.

15. ‘Nippon’ or ‘Nihon’ is the Japanese name for Japan. It means “the sun’s origin”. It is often translated as ‘the Land of the Rising Sun’.

16. Mount Fuji is the highest point in Japan, which stands at 3,776 m.

17. Almost three-quarters of Japan’s land cannot be utilized for industrial, residential or farming purposes.

18. Japan is known as an industrial nation. It produces world-class machines, electronics, and vehicles.

19. Robotics is the main sphere of talent in Japan. They are known the world over for ASIMOthe world’s most advanced humanoid robot.

20. Sushi, Sashimi and Tempura are among well know Japanese cuisines around the world.

Japan on the map


Facts about literacy rate, volcanoes, national sport, diseases, etc

21. The literacy rate in Japan is 99% for the population over 15 years of age. This means almost all the people in Japan can read and write.

22. There are 118 volcanoes in Japan. This number outlasts volcanoes in any other country and makes 10% of the world’s total number of volcanoes.

23. The life expectancy of the Japanese is 83 years, which is more than that of the Americans, which is 81 years.

24. Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku are the four main islands of Japan. The total number of islands in the country is 6852.

25. With more than 127 million people as of July 2012, Japan has the tenth largest population in the world.

26. Tokyo – the capital of Japan – is the largest city in the world by land area, population, and density.

27. Sumo wrestling is Japan’s national sport.

28. Baseball is Japan’s most popular spectator sport.

29. The beverage of choice in Japan is o-cha (お茶; green tea), which is served hot or cold depending on the time of year.

30. The four big diseases caused due to pollution in Japan are Itai-itai, Minimata, Niigata Minimata, Yokkaichi Asthma.

Facts about the nuclear emergency, nuclear power, fastest train, education, etc

31. Japan’s first-ever nuclear emergency was declared on March 11, 2011 – due to the Fukushima I nuclear power plant disaster. 140,000 residents within 20 km of the plant were evacuated.

32. Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant was shut down on 06, May 2011 as the area where it operated is expected to be hit with an earthquake of magnitude 8.0.

33. The Japanese do not elect a president directly. They have a parliamentary system of government.

34. Shinzō Abe is the Prime Minister of Japan.

new maglev bullet train
Japan’s new maglev bullet train

35. Japan’s new maglev bullet train is the fastest train in the world.

36. Japan’s sex ratio is 0.95.

37. 98% of students go to high school in Japan whereas education is compulsory only for the nine years of elementary and middle school.

38. GDP of Japan is $4.7 trillion. The FDI inflow in Japan is $2.3 billion.

39. One fact about Japan is that black cats are believed to bring good luck.

40. Only 2% of people in Japan are immigrants.

Facts about earthquakes, automobiles, cuisines, coffee, etc

41. Interestingly, Japanese families utilize the same water for bathing as they do for other purposes.

42. Japanese are so much interested in comics that more paper is used for printing them than that for toilet paper.

43. Toyota, a Japanese automobile company is the world’s third-largest automaker.

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