At first, let’s see basic information of Japan♪
1.Archipelago
2.Area
3.Population
4.Seasons
5.History
6.Values of each era
1. Archipelago:
JAPAN is Consisted with 4 large islands ( 本州【HONSYUU（main island）】, 九州【KYUU-SYUU】,四国【SHIKOKU】and 北海道【HOKKAI-DOU】）and more than 3800 small islands.
And divided into 47 prefectures.
2.Area:
380000 square kilometers.
Almost same as Germany or Congo.
3.Population:
126,890,000 people. About 11% of them are living in the capital, 東京【TOUKYOU】.
In the area 1/25 of America, about 1/２populations are living.
So, TOKYO’s Scramble Scramble Crossing of 渋谷【SHIBUYA】or rush hour of trains in the morning are famous in the world.
4. Seasons of Japan:
Japan has four clear cut seasons:春【HARU（Spring）】・夏【NATSU（Summer）】
・秋【AKI(Autumn)】・冬【FUYU(Winter)】and
梅雨【TYUYU(Rainy Season）】in June last about 1 month.
It is said Japanese people have one of the most sensitive feeling for natures: they enjoy voice of insects like grasshoppers in fall and cicadas in summer. These is a theory that Japanese people listen it by their left brain as “voice”, while Western people do in their right brain as noise.
5. History of Japan:
Name of Japanese era changes when 天皇【TENNOU（Emperor）】changes. Now is 令和【REAIWA】4th and at the same time 2022 in western calendar.
●MODERN HISTORY＜令和【REAIWA( 2019 – )】←平成【HEISEI( 1989 ‐ 2019 )】←昭和【SHOUWA（1926 ‐ 1989 ）】←大正【TAISYOU（1912‐1926）】←明治【MEIJI（1912 ‐ 1868）】＞←
●MIDDLE AGES＜江戸【EDO（1603-1868）】←戦国【SENGOKU（1467-1615】←(安土桃山【ADUCHI-MOMOYAMA（1568 ‐ 1600）】)←室町【MUROMACHI(1336 ‐ 1573）】←鎌倉【KAMAKURA（1185‐1333）】←南北朝【NAMPOKU-CHOU（1336‐1392】←平安【HEIAN（794‐1185）】←
●ANCIENT TIMES＜奈良【NARA（710‐794）】←大和【YAMATO（250‐710）】←飛鳥【ASUKA（592‐710）】←古墳【KOFUN（250‐538）】←
●PREMITIVE AGE＜弥生【YAYOI（BC300‐250）】←後期縄文【JYOUMON（About BC12000‐BC300)】/前期縄文【 】
大正【TAISYOU（1912‐1926）】
Westernization has progressed further more. Modern Girl, Modern Boy called “MOGA” and “MOBO” made fashions Japanese and Western culture mixed highly sophisticated. Modernization and democracy has improved.
明治【MEJI(1868-1912)】
As same as other eastern countries, western countries came to Japanese ports and BAKUFU opened the country after 200 years.
People’s life style has changed currently at that time into western style( For example, kimono become western clothes or oil rumps become electric lights).
江戸【EDO(1603-1868)】
As it is middle ages, the most unique era which very “Japanic” culture was grow because government called 江戸幕府【EDO-BAKUFU】closed the country and no foreign country’s culture came in under 将軍【SYOUGUN】shougnate rular system. The unique, ecological and peaceful culture with no wars lasted about 200 years.
There are several theories from years to years, Japan is country which has the longest history in the world.
The reason is 天皇【TENNOU（Emperor）】and 皇室【KOUSHITSU(Royal Family）】system has not been changed even 将軍【SHOUGUN(Top of feudal loads)】 or political leaders are changed.
6. Value of each era:
Ex.平安【HEIAN】・「もののあは（わ）れ」【MONONO-AHA（WA)RE】／Kind of sentimental feeling we feel when we watch beautiful but not eternal, not last for a long time like flowers of lives of humans.
室町【MUROMACHI】・「幽玄」【YUU-GEN】/Mysterious and profound feeling we see behind substantial things. Influenced by Taoism or 禅【ZEN】Buddhism.
江戸【EDO】・「粋」【IKI】／Cool, chic, smart and not elaborate. Don’t concern about this worldly, secure things. ←→ 野暮【YABO】
And what’s today’s representable value ！？Yes, it is…
かわいい【KAWAII】！！ lovely, worth to love. Especially for animals, small things, children, woman and girls. seems not matured and need asylum.
(Japanese Girls) Oh, HELL KITTY is KAWAII～♡ PIKACYUU is KAWAII, too～♡♪
Tama-Chan is KAWAII～, too～♪
I think, Japanese value is always not perfect, gorgeous thing. They are trying to seek beauties in small, unperfect, lucking things.
That might be an important thing to be satisfying for which we already have and appreciate them at most, especially in these days people urge more and more.
