JAPAN

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. JAPAN

Location:
Total area: 377,812 sq km
Extension: approx. 3000 km
Islands: roughly 7000
Latitudes: 2025'N to 4533', 3540' in Tokyo

Population: About 127,720,000 (2007)

Capital
Tokyo is Japan's biggest city, with a population of 8.94 million people in its 23 wards . The Tokyo
became Japan's capital in 1869. Up to that time the capital city had always been located in the Kinki
region. Kyoto prospered as the capital for more than a thousand years.
Japan was ruled by a series of feudal governments (shogunates) from different parts of the country.
In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Kamakura shogunate, based in the Kanto region (where Tokyo is
located), ruled the country. In the beginning of the 17th century, power shifted to the Tokugawa
shogunate, which had its headquarters in Edo (today's Tokyo). Through all of these changes, Kyoto
remained the capital.
In 1869, Tokyo officially became the capital and the central government organizations, such as
administrative offices, the Diet, Supreme Court, and embassies, were centered there. Many banks
and companies also have their headquarters in Tokyo, and the Keihin area (Tokyo-KawasakiYokohama) boasts the country's highest concentration of industry.
However, it is not only the fact that the city is the nation's political, economic, and industrial hub
that has brought so many people to Tokyo. It is also a center for culture and education. Since the
1

Meiji Era (1868-1912), Tokyo has attracted a large number of first-rate museums, libraries, and
other cultural facilities. Furthermore, over 20% of the country's four-year colleges are located there.

Official Language
Japanese language is only spoken in Japan. There are 51 sounds and 3 types of characters, which are
Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji. Hiragana is used for sound and particles, Katakana is used for
foreign words, and Kanji is Chinese characters which have meanings for each. We mix these three
when we write down sentences. The sound is similar to Spanish language because the vowels are
almost the same as Spanish.
Japanese people are very good at taking in foreign words and transferring them to foreign sounded
Japanese. This is called "Japanlish". Japanese language is more difficult than English, because
sometimes there are many ways to say just for one word, like "Anata", "kimi", "Omae" etc. for
"you", and "Shujin", "Danna", "Otto" for "husband", so we have to use it correctly according to the
situation.
Major religion(s)
Shinto and Buddhism are Japan's two major religions. Shinto is as old as the Japanese culture, while
Buddhism was imported from the mainland in the 6th century. Since then, the two religions have
been co-existing relatively harmoniously and have even complemented each other to a certain
degree. Most Japanese consider themselves Buddhist, Shintoism or both.
Religion does not play a big role in the everyday life of most Japanese people today. The average
person typically follows the religious rituals at ceremonies like birth, weddings and funerals, may
visit a shrine or temple on New Year and participates at local festivals (matsuri), most of which have
a religious background.

Special feature
Generally, modest, shy, polite. Japanese do not insist, but follow the other people. It's important to
understand everything without words, and you're expected to be like that. It's a common sense. The
society is changing as the bubble economy collapsed, but before, the person who is wanted to a
2

company is not a specialist but a generalist who is well balanced and willing to do anything. Girls
used to be conservative, but of course they are changing.
Other:
Climate
There are four seasons in Japan which are very distinct. Actually Japan is a long country from the
north to the south. So the climate is very different depending on where you are. In Tokyo area,
spring is very comfortable season, summer is incredibly humid so that no one can survive without
the air conditioner, fall is very comfortable as spring, and in winter we have some snow. June is the
rainy season called "Tsuyu", and September is a Typhoon season called "Taifu".
Annual Event
School year and annual year starts from April in Japan. So spring is the fresh season in the year. In
May, there is a week holiday called "Golden week", which some national holidays are combined
actually. In August, we still remember the memorial days of Hirosima and Nagasaki, and also the
day of the ending World War 2. The 13th is "Obon" day which we console the spirits of the dead. In
December Japanese celebrate Chrismas too although we are not Christians. But New year's day is
even a bigger holiday in japan. January 1,2,3 are called "Sanganichi" and always holidays. March is
the end of the annual year.

ITALY

Countrys name:
Republica Italiana, or the Republic of Italy

Location:
3

In the northwest Italy borders to France (488 km), in the north to Switzerland (740 km) and Austria
(430 km) and in the northeast to Slovenia (232 km). It also contains two other (very small)
countries: Vatican City and San Marino. The distance between north to south is about 1200
kilometers. From east to west the distance is never more than 170 and never less than 54 kilometers
(except in the north). 301,230 km

Capital:
Rome is a heady blend of artistic and architectural masterpieces,
classical ruins, and extravagant baroque churches and piazzas.
Rome is also Italy's treasure trove, packed with two millennia of artistic
achievement. It's here that a metropolis once bustled around the carved
marble monuments of the Roman Forum, where centuries later

Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) painted Christian history in the Sistine Chapel, where Gian
Lorenzo Bernini's fountains stand, and where an empire of gold was worked into the crowns of
rulers for centuries.
For culture-seekers and historians this city simply oozes with possibilities for discovery, a chance to
step back in time yet have one foot firmly in the present. It's one city where you can have an
espresso in a square designed by Bernini, then take modern metro (train) back to your hotel room in
a renovated Renaissance palace.
Rome was built on seven hills - Capitolino (commonly known as
Campidoglio), Palatino, Esquilino, Viminale, Celio, Quirinale, and
Aventino. Two of these historic hills, formed the hub of ancient Rome, the
centre of the civilized world (thus the true meaning of the words 'All roads
lead to Rome'). This is one city that will glut tourists senses. Be it the architecture, the food, the
timelessness of the place, its monuments or the people. Simply put, Rome, as it has always been, is a
monument to beauty, history and eternity.

Official language(s)

Italian is the official language but in the provence Bolzano (southern Tirol) a lot of people speak
German (about 200,000 people), in some of the valleys of Piemonte and Valle d'Aosta people speak
French (about 100,000 people); in the valleys of the Dolomites and the region Friuli-Venezia Giulia
some speak Raetoroman. In the provence of Basilicata, southern Italy, a part of the population even
speaks Albanese.
4

Major religion(s)

Catholic Religion in Italy

Italy is the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the Catholic branch of the Christian religion.
It was in Italy that Catholic theology first developed and the Pope, who is the official head of the
Catholic religion, resides in the Vatican City in Italy. About 80% of people in Italy identify
themselves as followers of the Catholic religion, although regular church attendees represent only
between 30-40% of the population.
Although secular practices have to a large degree penetrated in to the culture and customs of
Italians, certain religious rights and observances are still observed quite faithfully. Every year there
are several feasts and festivals that have their origins in the Christian religion. The majority of
marriages in Italy still takes place in a church and are administered by an official man of religion.
First Holy Communion which is a right of passage for all young members of the Catholic religion is
observed by the majority of people in Italy.
Like other countries that follow the Catholic understanding of the Christian religion such as Spain,
pilgrimage is very popular and every year thousands of pilgrims travel across Italy to some holy
sight to seek blessings.
Islam in Italy
Today Islam is the second largest religion in Italy. The total number of followers of the Muslim
religion in Italy currently stands at about 700,000. However, it should be noted that the majority of
followers of the Muslim religion in Italy are either recent immigrants or second generation
immigrants to Italy.
Other Christian Sects in Italy
While there are other denominations of the Christian religion represented in Italy, these are very
small in number. Perhaps the most significant of these are the Jehovah Witnesses who number
approximately half a million people. Other interpretations of the Christian religion in Italy include
the Protestants.

Population
5

Italy has almost 57 million inhabitants. The areas around the big cities have the largest population
density. About 18% of the population lives in one of the cities with 350,000 inhabitants or more.
More information at

Special features

The Godfather
-

This title has dual meaning. On one hand it refers to the mafia (naturally) while, on the
other, this first piece of advice is kind of like the boss and precedes all the others. Its the
big rule; The mafia here is like a cancer, they do awful things; they stop Italy from being
the great country that it could be. Its not that funny to a lot of people and its not really
appreciated when a foreigner comes over and starts kidding around about them. Wearing
a shirt with Don Corleone on it in Italy is like walking into a funeral of a AIDS victim
with a shirt that has a picture of a broken condom on it. Avoid being that guy.

Football
-

In here, they are really love football. If you dont like football and someone talks to you
about it in Italy, just say youre not really into it, and leave it at that. Or better, if you
really want to get involved in Italy, go watch some videos of Roberto Baggio on youtube
and then say hes your favourite footballer ever.

Romantic Depictions
-

People in Italy are often from their region first, and their country second. This is less the
case with the youth, though still holds some truth. With these strong and diverse senses
of identity comes strongly and diverse depictions of each region, and in this way, each
Italian comes to hold an almost romantic view of each different area of Italy.

Never Give Everyone Two Kisses

Dont touch without permission at the markets:
Cover bare shoulders and knees when entering a church
Standing at the bar is cheaper than sitting down
Tipping is not required and can even be considered offensive

Other
Climate
6

Italy has a predominantly Mediterranean climate; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south. In
summertime the average temperatures in the lowlands are 28C in the south and 22C in the north.
The winter is very cold in the Alps, cold and foggy in the Po Plain and the central Apennines; mild
and even warm on the Ligurian coast, the Neapolitan coast and in Sicilia.

HOLLAND- KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS

Countrys name:

Koninkrijk der Nederlanden or Kingdom of the Netherlands

Location:

The Netherlands, on the coast of the North Sea, is part of the great plain of north and western
Europe. Holland is low and flat except in Limburg in the southeast, where some hills rise up to 322
meter. About half of the country's area is below sea level, making the famous Dutch dikes a requisite
for the use of much of the land. Reclamation of land from the sea through dikes has continued
through recent times.
41,526 km, of which 7,643 km water

Capital

Amsterdam, although the government resides at The Hague

Official language(s)

Dutch is the native language of more than 22 million people in the Netherlands and Belgium. In
north-western France, around 60,000 people speak a Dutch dialect.
Dutch is used widely in government and education in the former colony of Suriname, and in Aruba
and the Netherlands Antilles, which are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In Indonesia, many
lawyers and historians speak Dutch owing to historical ties. Afrikaans, which is spoken in South
Africa, is an offshoot of Dutch. Dutch has also influenced other languages, especially in shipping,
waterworks and agriculture.
7

Dutch is taught at around 250 universities around the world. In French-speaking Belgium, northern
France and Germany, many pupils choose Dutch as their second language. In 1980, the Netherlands
and Flanders founded the Nederlandse Taalunie (Dutch Language Union), which promotes Dutch
worldwide and draws up rules for spelling and grammar.
In the province of Friesland, they speak a separate language: Frisian. This officially recognised
language is the native language of around 400,000 people. It is similar in some ways to English and
the Scandinavian languages. Dutch is used in schools throughout the country, including Friesland.
Major religion(s)

Population

More than 16 million people live in the Netherlands (July 2005), 40% of them in the cities. The
average density is 484 people per square kilometer but in a city like The Hague it is over 5,000
people per km.

Special features

The Netherlands is best known for its tulips, windmills and clogs. And for its low altitude and
vulnerability to flooding

Other

Climate: Holland has a mild, maritime climate. The summers are generally warm with changeable
periods, but excessively hot weather is rare. The winters can be fairly cold with the possibility of
some snow. Rainfall is prevalent all year.