Japan

Name: Japan, in Japanese: Nihon/Nippon

Capital: Tokyo, which is the biggest city in Japan with over 9 million inhabitants.
Population: 127 million people live in Japan (2017)
Government: Constitutional Monarchy. The emperor is called Akihito
Language: Japanese
Religion: majority are Buddhists or Shintoists
Life expectancy: 83.5 years
Currency: 1 Yen (NOK) = 100 ore
National Symbols: crane - birds, cherry blossom -flowers
National Day: 17 May (Constitution Day)
Geography: Japan is on the Asian continent. Japan is a chain of islands along the eastern coast of Asia,
reaching from the northern coast of Russia to the South East China Sea. A flight to Tokyo takes an 8 hours
flight from Singapore, 13 hours from London/England, 12.5 hours from
New York/USA.
The Japanese islands consist of 4 main islands and dozens of smaller isles.
The largest of the four major islands is Honshu, which is also the seventh
largest island in the world. The biggest cities are Tokyo (where almost ⅓ of
all Japanese people live), Yokohama, Osaka and Nagoya. The highest
mountain in Japan is Mount Fuji, a dormant (sleeping) volcano, which last
erupted in 1707.
Japan lies on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire', a chain of volcanoes which are responsible for the most dramatic
volcanic outbreaks and tsunamis in the recent years. In Japan, there are more than 108 active volcanoes.

Attractions
 Kyoto: see the historic sites and temples such as the famous Golden Pavilion
 Osaka: visit Dotonbori, the main entertainment district and the aquarium or go on tour in the Universal
Studios
 Hokkaido: Go skiing or snowboarding in one of the oldest ski resorts in Japan
 Tokyo: Visit the Imperial Palace and gardens or have fun at Disneyland Tokyo
 Nagano: Monkey parks and hot springs and the famous Matsumoto Castle
 And don't forget try to go on a ride on the super-fast Shinkansen train, the high-
speed Japanese bullet train. The maximum speed is about 320km/h (200 miles
per hour)

People
Japan is the oldest monarchy in the world and has an emperor. Akihito, the
reigning emperor is Japan's 125th emperor, in Japanese called 'tenno'. The
crown is usually handed down from father to his son or grandson. The current
emperor's wife is Crown Princess Michiko. The imperial palace is in Tokyo and
this is the main residence of the imperial family.
The Japanese language is complex, but there are no singular and plural forms
and there is no gender form (as in French, Spanish or German) and no articles
are used. There are only 48 sounds so it is relatively easy to learn to speak, but
learning how to write Japanese is quite a task. There are three styles of writing the symbols. The biggest
challenge is learning to write the characters!
In Japan, learners at most schools have to wear school uniforms.
The Japanese school holidays are much shorter than in most countries
around the world, and even during holidays and on weekends, many
Japanese students go to school for club activities or extra lessons.
Japanese celebrate many festivals among them the most popular in
springtime to celebrate the spring flower season and the cherry blossom.
The Gion Matsuri in July is celebrated in Kyoto when the Japanese people
dress in traditional kimonos.
Famous Japanese are:
 Miyamoto Musashi, a samurai 1584 - 1645
 Yoko Ono, anti-war activist and artist (and widow of Beatles star John Lennon). Born in 1933
 Haruki Murakami, writer (born 1949), he won many awards for his works
 Takashi Murakami, artist (born 1962), his artworks 'Jellyfish Eyes'
 Yamapi, actor and youth idol (born 1985)
 Emperor Akihito, current emperor/'tenno heika' (reigning since 1989)

Food
The Japanese diet consists mainly of rice, fish, soy products and vegetables. Many
dishes contain these ingredients and soups as well as sushi (which contain raw fish such
as salmon or tuna) are very popular.

Popular Japanese food:

 Sushi: raw fish and rice rolls and
 Bento box: Lunch boxes often filled with sushi and other treats and snacks
 Ramen: egg noodles in a broth
 Soba: buckwheat noodles in broth
 Tempura: light and crispy deep-fried food such as vegetables, fish or meat
 Taiyaki: sweet treat with various fillings in fish shape
 Yakitori: chicken cubes on skewers often dipped into a salty soy sauce
 Yakiton: pork cubes on skewers

Animals
In Japan, deer roaming the many parks are a common sight.
Japan has also one of the largest thermal regions in the world. Many popular
hot springs are to be found on the southwestern side of Japan. The hot
springs are called 'onsen'. There are local snow monkeys which keep warm
by bathing in the hot springs.
Diverse species of animals can be found in Japan, the most common animals
are monkeys, deer, flying squirrels, wild cats and bears. There are about 160
species of wild animals, 700 species of birds and 32000 insect species in
Japan.

Did you know...?

... that Japanese love plants and they even have an artform of arranging
flowers which is called 'ikebana'. This art of arranging flowers is
known worldwide for its special way of showcasing the beauty of the
flowers in the flower arrangement.

Another art form involving plants is the art of

growing bonsai trees. This special hobby of growing miniature trees is a common
hobby in Japan. Pine, maple, cherry and plum trees are the most popular trees used for
this art of cutting back and trimming. The mini trees are kept small and healthy but in a
similar shape as their counterpart in nature, just a lot smaller.
 South Korea

 Name: Republik of Korea (ROK)

 Capital: Seoul with 10 million inhabitants is also the country's biggest city
 Population: 51 million people live in South Korea (2017). The majority of the people live in the
province surrounding Seoul in the north west of the country.
 Government: Presidential Republic
 National Holiday: 15 August (Liberation Day)
 Language: Korean
 Literacy: More than 95% can read and write.
 Religion: Main religions are Christianity (27%) Buddhism (15%), however many practise Confucianism
regardless of their religious beliefs
 Currency: 1 South Korean Won equals 100 Jeon
 National Symbols: taegeuk (yin yang symbol), Hibiscus syriacus (national flower) and the Siberian
tiger (national animal). The national colours are red, white, blue and black.
 History: For many centuries, South Korea was an independent kingdom, but after 1905 the country was
ruled by the Japanese. After Japan surrendered to the USA after the Second World War in 1945, Korea
gained independence again, but the country soon was split between South Korea (which is largely
supported by the USA) and communist North Korea along the 38 degrees latitude. Since 1953 South
Korea's economy expanded successfully, while the people in North Korea are very poor and the relations
between the two Koreas are very strained.

Geography
South Korea is located in Eastern Asia and sits on the Korean peninsula. The only land borders are with North
Korea. South Korea has a coastline of about 2,413km/1,500 miles length.
South Korea is roughly the size of England or Portugal and about ⅓ of the size of Germany. South Korea is
seven times smaller than Texas!
The highest mountain of South Korea is the Hallasan with 1,950 m/6,400ft. Hallasan is a volcanic mountain and
this is an active volcano, however, it has not erupted in many centuries. The mountain is located on the island of
Jeju. Jeju is the largest South Korean island and located to the south of the peninsula. It has a moderate climate
and is a popular holiday destination. There are more than 3,000 islands lying mainly around the southern and
western coastline of South Korea.

Economy
South Korea is one of the biggest economies in Asia and among the four 'Asian Tiger Countries' which also
includes Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The main trading partners are China, USA, Japan and Germany.
Big Korean companies are Samsung, Hyundai, LG Electronics and Lotte Group. The Lotte World Tower in
Seoul is the highest building in the country and the fifth highest in the world.

Attractions
Seoul is the country's capital and largest city. It is situated by the Han River. A quarter of South Korea's
population lives in Seoul and the surrounding area. Myeong-dong, the main shopping district of the capital city,
is a busy shopper's paradise with glittering lights and billboards.
Bukchon Hanok Village, on the other hand, is the preserved old quarter and traditional Korean village you
simply must see. Here you will also find Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Jeju Island is among the favourite Korean holiday destinations. With a mild
climate and numerous possibilities to go hiking in the
mountains or lazing at the fabulous beaches, there are
lots of activities for every family.
Then there is Busan, a large port city in the southern
part of the country. In South Korea's second biggest
city, you can do your shopping and temple tours, also
relax at some stunning beaches.
And there you will be close to fascinating mountains too! The national park
surrounding Korea’s second highest mountain Jirisan is only about three hours
from the city of Busan.
Another great place to marvel at nature
is Seoraksan National Park for its breathtaking
mountains with its snowcaps. There is also the
huge Great Unification Buddha statue which
weighs over 108 tons and is 14.6 metres/48 ft. high.
Then, of course, there is Pyeongchang. This is a winter resort in the north eastern region of South Korea.
Did you know that the Olympic mascot, a white Siberian tiger, is called Soohorang?

Most Koreans live in urban areas of the country. The biggest

cities are the capital Seoul, Busan (Pusan), Incheon (Inch'on) and
Daegu (Taegu).
South Korea is one of the most technologically advanced
countries and the educational standards are high. The people in
rural areas are still much poorer and many live a simple life.
Many Koreans practice Confucianism which is an old tradition in many Asian countries. Confucianists follow
the teachings of Chinese teacher and philosopher Confucius who told his pupils to lead a simple life, do good
and respect each other.
Koreans celebrate the New Year twice! The New Year celebrations are on 1st of January
as most countries do and for Lunar New Year which is celebrated in February each
year. Children look very much forward to the Lunar
New Year celebrations which are two weeks long
celebrations over the New Year when they get gifts,
often money wrapped in red envelopes or red packets, from family and friends.
People in Korea will wear their traditional costumes, such as the hanbok, for
national and regional cultural festivals.

Korean pop music, also called k-pop, has become famous worldwide.

Language
Although Korean (also called Hangul) is the official language, in many regions people speak Korean dialects.
Children learn Mandarin and English in schools and most people speak English fairly well.
The Korean alphabet has 24 letters and the language does not have any articles and does not follow a word
order. The language is similar to Mandarin and Japanese and is written and read from top to bottom and from
left to right.
Korean is the language of both countries: South Korea and North Korea. Apart from using a slightly different
accent and some dialects, the Koreans can understand and communicate with each other.

Food
Many Korean dishes are rice, vegetable, soya and meat based. Sesame seeds, chillis,
kimchi and rice products are the most common ingredients in Korean dishes. Koreans
mainly eat with spoons and metal chopsticks. The spoon is used for rice, stews and
soups only. Here are some typical Korean dishes:
 Kimchi: traditional dish made with fermented vegetables such as cabbage or
leafy greens and chillis
 Dak Galbi: spicy chicken stir-fry with sweet potatoes, rice cakes and vegetables
 Bulgogi: grilled meat and vegetable dish
 Jajangmyeong: very popular street food consisting of noodles, vegetables, fried
pork or seafood in a thick black bean sauce.
 Bibimbap: mixed rice with four to six different vegetables and often served
with an egg that might be fried and sunny side up or raw.

Animals
There are many endangered animal species living in
South Korea. Among them are the Siberian tiger, the Amur leopard, the golden
eagle, the lynx and the Siberian musk deer.
Below you see animal statues at Heading Yonggungsa temple in Busan. These
animals depict the twelve Zodiac signs.
 China

Name: People's Republic of China (PRC)

Capital: Beijing with 21 million inhabitants is not only China's capital city but also the second
biggest city after Shanghai.
Population: 1.4 billion people live in China (2018). The majority of the people live in cities
and towns.
Government: Republic, communist state
Languages: Mandarin or Standard Chinese (official language), while Cantonese (Yue) and
Shanghainese (Wu) are among other most spoken languages
Literacy: More than 96% can read and write.
Religion: No main religion, as religious memberships are not supported by the government.
Main religions are Buddhist (18%), Christian 5%, Muslim 1.8%, Taoist, Hindu and Folk Religions (22%)
Currency: 1 Renmimbi (Yuan) equals 100 Jiao
Flag colors: red with five golden stars
National day: 1 October - in 1949 the People's Republic of China was formed.
National symbols: dragon and giant panda
National colours: red and yellow
History: For many centuries, China has been one of the most advanced civilizations accomplishing major
scientific and artistic treasures. The Xia and Shang dynasties are considered as the oldest Chinese civilizations.
Over the centuries many emperors ruled the country, the last emperor of China, the last ruler of the Qing
dynasty, was Pu Yi who abdicated in 1912. In the 20th century the world was shaken by bloody wars and from
1937-1945 Japan occupied large industrial areas in China and took over the Chinese government. Since 1949
the Communist Party of China rules the country. The current president of the People's Republic of China is Xi
Jinping.

China is located in the eastern parts of Asia and is the largest country that is entirely situated in Asia. China is
the fourth largest country in the world after Russia, Canada and the USA. China has the longest international
land border and borders with 14 countries. The countries bordering China are: Russia, Mongolia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Burma (or Myanmar, which
is the official name), Laos, Vietnam and North Korea.
China has 23 provinces; the country considers Taiwan to be their 23rd province.

Geography
China is the most populous country in the world as it is home to almost one fifth of the world population. Did
you know that China is slightly smaller in size than the USA? Although China is so large, there is only one time
zone! Most people in China live in the eastern parts of the country; the western parts are only sparsely
populated.
The Pacific Ocean forms the natural border in the east and southeast and southwest of the country. In the west,
there are the Himalayas Mountains, which is the highest mountain range in the world. Most of the western parts
of the country lie on the Tibetan mountainous plateau and in fact, mountains make up the majority of the
landscape, dominating over 70% of the landmass. In the north, there is the vast Gobi Desert. Deserts are making
up about 20% of the country. The huge country has many different climate zones ranging from tropic zones to
arctic zones.
The highest mountain on the border with China is the Mount Everest, the world's highest mountains, with 8,848
metres (29,000ft). The longest river in China is the Yangtze River with over 6,300km (3,914miles) in length.
China will soon have the world's longest bridge. In July 2018 the Hongkong to Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will be
opened to traffic. It will also have the world's longest underwater tunnel!

Attractions
 Great Wall of China: Walk along parts of the over 8,850km/5,500 miles
long Great Wall which once was the border of the old Chinese empire.
The wall stretches across China from the Korean border into the Gobi
desert. This is the longest wall in the world and newer archeological
findings report that the entire defense works including the Great Wall
and all its branches stretches over 21,000km/13,000 miles! Did you know, that the name in ancient
Chinese actually meant 'The 10,000-Mile Long Wall' or 'Incredibly Long Wall'?
 Terracotta Warriors: See the over 5000 sculptures of life-size soldiers, made from terracotta, in Xian.
The sculptures which are on one of the world's most famous archeological sites are older than 2,000
years.
 Forbidden City in Beijing: Houses the Palace museum with the Chinese Imperial Palace and the
Summer Palace that were still used until 1911.
  Potala Palace in Lhasa/Tibet: This is where every Dalai Lama has held his official residence until the
Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950
 Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve near Chengdu: See the pandas in their natural habitat and visit
the breeding and research centre to learn more about the endangered pandas.
 Guilin: The rough limestone Karst Mountains along the Li River between Guilin and Yangshuo are very
picturesque. People enjoy rafting on river.
 'The Bund' in Shanghai: Shanghai is the largest and most populated Chinese city with the busiest port
in the world. The Bund is the megacity's main shopping and business district.
 Hongkong: Visit Victoria harbour. Enjoy the amazing views of the skyscrapers along the shoreline or
get to the top of Victoria Peak and have a bird's eye view of the city and the harbour.

People
Almost one in five people on our earth live in China, while the country is smaller than the USA. The Chinese
government lifted the one-child policy in 2016, now Chinese parents are allowed to have two children.
Many Chinese live in the megacities (cities with more than 5 million inhabitants) of the country, in rural areas
the living standard is still very poor and many people live there live in huts or along the rivers
in stilt houses.
The Chinese love music and opera plays, although the voices of the Chinese opera singers may
sound strange to our ears.
Chinese New Year, also called the Lunar New Year, is the biggest celebration on the Chinese
calendar. The Chinese calendar start at the end of January/early
February each year and every year another animal sign
symbolizes the strength and the weaknesses. There are 12
zodiac/animal signs and thus every 12 years the animals signs start over again.
Children look very much forward to the Chinese New Year celebrations which
are two weeks long celebrations over the New Year when they get gifts, often
money wrapped in red envelopes or red packets, from family and friends.
Popular 'Lion Dances' also take place during this time. The dragon is the most
celebrated symbol of prosperity and strength.

Language
Although Mandarin Chinese is the official language, in many regions other languages
are spoken such as Cantonese, Shanghainese, Hainanese or Mongolian.
The Chinese writing is done from top to bottom in little symbols or signs,
called 'characters' of which an adult usually knows about 8,000 different characters.
With 13 years most Chinese children can read and write 3,000 characters.
Some Chinese words good to know: Ni hao! means Hello!; Xie Xie means Thank You;
Gong Xi Fa Cai! means Happy Chinese New Year!

Food
The traditional diet in China contains low amounts of protein such as meats or dairy
products. Many Chinese dishes are vegetable and soya based. Chinese often eat/drink
soup for breakfast and rice based dishes are eaten throughout the day.
Soy, vegetable and rice products are the most common ingredients in Chinese
dishes. Chinese mainly eat with chopsticks and drink their soups instead of eating them
with a spoon as we do. Here are some typical Chinese foods:
 Springrolls: The fried rice paper rolls are surely the most famous food export
 Chow Mein: stir-fried egg noodles with chicken strips
 Tofu: soy bean curd used in many dishes
 Sweet and sour pork: fried cubed pork and fried vegetables in a sweet and sour
sauce often made with capsicum peppers and pineapple
 Peking Duck: duck roast with crispy thin skin, often served with plum sauce
 Dim Sum: Steamed dumplings filled with minced meat or vegetables

Animals
There are many endangered animal species living in China. Among them are the
Giant Panda, the South Chinese Tiger and the Chinese Alligator.