Japan

=Japan= = = ==

http://geology.com/world/japan-satellite-image.shtml

Japan Natural Resources:
A natural resource for Japan is fish. negligible mineral resources. //note:// with virtually no energy natural resources, Japan is the world's largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas as well as the second largest importer of oil

Japan Natural Hazards:
Japan has numerous volcanoes, some of which are active, but many dormant. Each year approximately 1,500 seismic activities, which are mostly tremors, occur. Other natural hazards for this country include tsunamis and typhoons.

Japan Environmental Issues:
Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, therefore contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere. Furthermore, their environmental issues include air pollution from power plant emissions, resulting in acid rain. This causes acidification of lakes and reservoirs, which degrades the water quality and threatens aquatic life.

Climate
Varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north.

Terrain
Mostly rugged and mountainous

Environment - International Agreements
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Land Use
arable land: 11.64% permanent crops: 0.9% other: 87.46% (2005) Irrigated Land: 25,920 sq km (2003)

=Collection 2:=


 * http://www.jref.com/culture/**

=**Religion in Japan**= There are two principal religions in Japan, [|Shintoism] and [|Buddhism], officially followed by 54% and 40% of the population respectively. Shintoism is more a set of traditions and customs than an actual religion. It is classified as an animist religion as people believe in the spirits of nature, or [|kami], which can be found in a tree, a rock or a waterfall. Shintoists are not bound by any formal set of rules, such as the Bible in Christianity of the Koran in Islam. [|Japanese Buddhism] is divided in 15 sects, although only 7 of them are still relatively common nowadays. Japanese people are not very religious, with greatest part of the population only visiting temples for the New Year. The Japanese also do not mind mixing elements of Buddhism and Shinto with one another, and many people would be at a loss to say which element belongs to which religion (=> see [|Temples & shrines : an explanation]). There is a Christian minority in Japan, dating back from the contact with Portuguese and Spanish missionaries in the 16th century. Christians only make up 1% of the Japanese population, and most are to be found in [|Kyushu], especially in[|Nagasaki] There are only a few thousands Muslims residing in Japan. All of them are immigrants from Muslim countries, mostly Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey (=> see Registered Foreigners in Japan by Nationality), or recent Japanese converts who married them. The 20th century has seen the emergence of new cults, many of which are based on Shinto and/or Buddhist beliefs. The most influencial of them is Soka Gakkai, a form of the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin founded in 1930. It now has several millions followers in Japan and is related to the political party //Komeito// ("Clean Government Party"). New religious groups have not always cohabtited peacefully with the rest of the population, as showed the 1995 sarin gas attack in the Tokyo underground, perpetrated by members of the religious group [|Aum Shinrikyo].

=**Guide to Japanese manners and etiquette**= Written by Maciamo

**The indispensable basics**

 * Never enter a house with your shoes. This is one of the few rules for which Japanese will not make allowance just because you are a foreigner. This rule is also valid for some establishments like schools. Slippers are usually provided in the entrance hall. If slippers are provided for the toilet, use them instead of the one for the rest of the house.
 * When you are invited into a Japanese family, bring a small present or "omiyage" (souvenir, usually food). If you are coming straight from your country, it is preferable to bring some local culinary specialties from your home town/region.
 * Say "o-jama shimasu" (sorry for disturbing) while entering someone's house.
 * Some shops, cafes or department stores provide plastic covers for umbrellas. Make sure not to enter with a dripping wet umbrella without one.
 * Refrain from blowing your nose in front of other people. Japanese only use paper tissue for this. Like in other Asian countries, it is considered rude to blow you nose in a handkerchief and stuff it in your pocket afterward. Japanese are usually aware of this Western practice, although that might make them feel uncomfortable.
 * You should not eat while standing or walking in the street. Even inside a house, you should sit down to eat. The only exceptions are for eating at a counter (e.g. ramen) or for eating an ice-cream in the street. This custom is one of the most difficult to adapt to for many non-Japanese, as it doesn't seem to make much sense.
 * Do not point your finger, feet or chopsticks at people. If you have to indicate an object or direction to someone, wave your fingers with the palm downwards.
 * Avoid being expressing your opinion too directly. Japanese have what they call "honne" (real opinion) and "tatemae" (public opinion). They will express the latter in most situation so as not to disturb the group harmony. It is of course flexible and consist in agreeing with the people around you as much as possible. This is the reason why Japanese are so bad at debating serious issues in public (including the media). "Honne" is what you really think but do not say openly, or only to close friends or relatives.
 * Avoid interrupting people when they are speaking or thinking about an answer. Japanese do not mind short periods of silence in the middle of a discussion.
 * Avoid fixing someone in the eyes (for men, even, or especially beautiful girls sitting in front of you in the train).
 * Do not use your mobile phone in trains unless it is clearly allowed to do so. Using emails or SMS is fine though.
 * Money should be given in an envelope, but only about half the Japanese really take the trouble. Most men do not seem to care, except for formal situations. Never forget this rule for weddings. In addition, the number of banknotes given to the married couple should be a odd number, as superstitious people believe that the couple might separate if the number can be divided in two.

**Table manners**
In the most traditional families, you might have to do the following things.
 * Do not stick your chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice, as this is used in Buddhist funerary ceremony.
 * Do not pass food to someone else with your chopsticks for the same reason as above.
 * At a "nomikai" (e.g. while going drinking with colleagues at an Izakaya), you should (re)fill the glasses of people around you when they are empty, and they should do the same for you. If you want to refill you glass, start by serving other people. If you do not want a refill, do not empty you glass.
 * It is polite to say "itadakimasu" once before eating or drinking, and "gochisousama deshita" to your host or to the restaurant's staff after eating or when leaving the place.
 * Contrarily to Western manners, noodles can be and should be slurped. Likewise, bowls or plates should be brought up the the mouth rather than bending one's head toward it.
 * ==**Traditional manners**==
 * Sit in the "seiza" position. This can be difficult and painful for Japanese themselves, especially taller people. It involves sitting on the floor with the legs folded under your body, with your back resting on your heels.
 * It is usually said that people should avoid the number "4" for gifts. Like in China and Korea, 4 is pronounced the same way as "death". However, it seems that very few Japanese people really care about this superstition nowadays.