4 August 2012
English happens to be the only foreign language taught in Japanese schools.
In Japan, the head of the state is the Emperor, while the chief of the government is the Prime Minister.
You can smoke just about anywhere.
The crime rate is amongst the lowest in the world.
Sumo wrestling is Japan's national sport, although baseball is also very popular.
Restaurants in Tokyo were awarded twice more Michelin stars than those in Paris, making it the culinary capital of the world. (another reason why I love Japanese cooking.)
Some traditional Japanese companies conduct a morning exercise session for the workers to prepare them for the day's work.
Tsukiji market in Tokyo is the world's largest fish market.
The official name of Japan is Nihon or Nippon, which means Land of the Rising Sun.
Japanese people take a hot bath every night; some do not have showers installed in their bathrooms.
Ovens are not very common in Japanese kitchens, but most households own a rice cooker.
Noh, a type of Japanese theater, can be up to 8 hours long.
In Japan, when you use the restroom in someone's home, you should put on special bathroom slippers so as not to contaminate the rest of the home.
Some Japanese men shave their heads as a form of apology to someone.(note: this is pretty rare but still good to know.)
In the Japanese language, it is considered rude to say the word "no" directly.
Geisha means "person of the arts", and the first geisha were actually men.
The Japanese word for "tea" and the word for "what the heck" sound very similar.
In ancient Japan, small eyes, a round puffy face, and plump body were considered attractive features in a woman. (I know this isn't very useful but I found it pretty interesting).
Facts about Japan • Opuss № I