Japanese Food

The word for "meal" in Japanese is gohan. This word actually refers to steamed
rice, but rice is such an important food to the Japanese that gohan has come to
mean all sorts of meals. A traditional Japanese meal consists of a serving of plain,
white rice, along with a main dish (fish or meat), some kind of side dish (often
cooked vegetables), soup (often miso soup), and pickled vegetables. Japanese rice
is sticky when cooked, making it ideal for eating with chopsticks.

Japanese today eat many dishes from around the world, notably from Europe,
North America, and Asia. In addition to rice, Japanese people eat bread, noodles,
and pasta and enjoy a wide array of meats, fishes, vegetables, and fruits. Sushi,
tempura, sukiyaki, and other Japanese foods famous abroad are, of course, also
popular in Japan.

Cities, in particular, have many fast-food restaurants offering hamburgers and fried
chicken, which are especially popular with young people and children.
Before eating, Japanese people say "itadakimasu," a polite phrase meaning "I
receive this food." This expresses thanks to whoever worked to prepare the meal.
After eating, people again express their thanks by saying "gochiso sama deshita,"
which literally means “It was quite a feast."
 Japans National Flag and Anthem
Japan's national flag is called the Hinomaru. It came to be used as the national flag
in the late nineteenth century. The flag depicts the sun as a red disc against a white
background.

The lyrics of Japan's national anthem, "Kimigayo,"trace their roots to a 31-syllable

poem, or waka, that was written in the tenth century. "Kimigayo" took on its
present form in the latter half of the nineteenth century, when a melody was added.
The words of the song pray for enduring peace and prosperity in Japan.
 Explore Japan
Location: Japan's neighbors include the Republic of Korea, China, and Russia.

National flag: Known as the Hinomaru, the flag depicts the sun as a red ball against
a white background.

National anthem: "Kimigayo"

Population: 126,926,000 (as of 2000)

Land area: 377,873 square kilometers

Japanese Money is called the Yen

1.

1 yen coins
1.

1,000 yen notes

2.

5 yen coins

2.

3. 2,000 yen notes

10 yen coins

3.
4.
5,000 yen notes
50 yen coins

5. 4.

100 yen coins 10,000 yen notes

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Language: Japanese (The written Japanese language uses a combination of three writing systems:
kanji, hiragana, and katakana.)
Main religions: Shinto, Buddhism, and Christianity

Main industries: automobiles, precision machinery, consumer electronics, computers, and other
electronic goods

Number of Internet users: 55.93 million people (as of the end of 2001)