Japan

GEOGRAPHY

Japan is a string of islands in Asia. There are four main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. There are also nearly 4,000 smaller islands! Japan can be a dangerous place. More than a thousand earthquakes hit Japan every year. Japan also has about 200 volcanoes, 60 of which are active. 

PEOPLE & CULTURE

The Japanese are very hardworking. Children show respect for others, especially parents and bosses. They learn to do what's best for their family and worry less about their own needs. Japanese food is very different from food in Western countries. There is lots of rice, fish, and vegetables, but little red meat. With little fat or dairy, this diet is very healthy, which helps Japanese people live longer than any other people in the world. 

NATURE

The Japanese people love the nature and beauty of the landscape. They say natural features like mountains, waterfalls, and forests have their own spirits, like souls. Most of Japan is covered in green. The mixing of waters makes the seas around Japan very rich in fish and other sea life.