Japan is often called the Land of the Rising Sun. This Far Eastern country has a rich history going back many centuries. Today it is one of the leading economic powers of the world. Here we will learn some interesting facts about this important nation.

Fact 1: The Japanese letters that make up the name of the country are literally translated ‘œsun-origin’.

Fact 2: With over 127 million people Japan is the tenth largest country in the world by population. The Greater Tokyo Area has over 30 million inhabitants, and this region is the biggest metropolitan center in the world.

Fact 3: There are about 1,500 seismic events in Japan every year. Most are just small tremors, but there are sometimes larger earthquakes and tsunamis.

Fact 4: In the 1990s nearly 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin moved to Japan to work in industry.

Fact 5: The Japanese enjoy the third longest life expectancy in the world. The average lifespan in Japan is nearly 84 years old.

Fact 6: 99% of the Japanese population is literate. The majority of people finish at least 15 years of formal education.

Fact 7: The Shinkansen train (‘œBullet Train’) is a high speed train network that began running in 1964. The trains can reach speeds of up to 149-186 mph (240-300 km/h).

Fact 8: Sumo wrestling is the national sport of Japan, but baseball is the country’s most popular sport. The Nippon Professional Baseball League was established in 1936.

Fact 9: In March 2011, Japan suffered its strongest earthquake in recorded history and one of the five most powerful in the world. The quake triggered tsunami waves of 133 feet or 40 meters high. Nearly 16,000 people died in the disaster.

Fact 10: The country is made up of over 6,800 islands and it is considered an archipelago (cluster of islands).