17/01/2025
21 Facts you did not know about Japan:
1. Japan consists of four main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. Honshu occupies 61 percent of the country's total land area, Hokkaido 22 percent, Kyushu eleven percent and Shikoku five percent. Beside these, there are over 6,800 smaller islands.
2. The Japanese word "karaoke" comes from "kara" meaning "empty" and "oke" meaning "orchestra," essentially meaning "empty orchestra."
3. Japan has the highest life expectancy in the world, with an average lifespan of around 85 years.
4. The Japanese railway system is one of the most punctual in the world, with trains typically running on time to the second.
5. Japan is home to over 1,500 earthquakes each year due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
6. The Japanese art of flower arrangement, known as ikebana, focuses on harmony, balance, and simplicity.
7. Japan has more than 50,000 people who are over 100 years old, making it one of the world's leaders in centenarians.
8. The Japanese consume about 24 billion instant ramen packs each year.
9. Sumo wrestling is Japan's national sport and has a history spanning over 1,500 years.
10. Japan has over 6,000 islands that are uninhabited.
11. The Japanese city of Fukuoka has the world's first subway system to have been hit by a typhoon.
12. In Japan, tipping is considered rude and is not customary in restaurants or other service industries.
13. The Japanese archipelago stretches over 3,000 kilometers from north to south.
14. The world's oldest company still in operation, Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, has been operating since 705 AD and is located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.
15. Japan has the second-largest music market in the world, after the United States.
16. There's a Japanese island called Ōkunoshima, commonly known as "Rabbit Island," where hundreds of friendly rabbits roam freely.
17. Japan has more than 3,000 McDonald's restaurants, the second-highest number of McDonald's outlets in the world after the United States.
18. Japan has more than 200 volcanoes, 108 of which are considered active.
19. The world's shortest escalator, located in Kawasaki, Japan, has only five steps.
20. Japan has more than 6,000 islands inhabited by humans.
21. Japan has one of the lowest rates of obesity in the world, partially due to its traditional diet and emphasis on portion control.
