Fascinating Aspects of Japanese Culture and Geography

Japan consists of over 6,800 islands, with the four largest being Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku. It's a stratovolcanic archipelago, with exceptional natural beauty and hot springs (onsen).

Operating since 578 AD, Kongō Gumi is the oldest existing company. It's a construction company specializing in building temples, showcasing Japan's long history of commerce and craftsmanship.

Momofuku Ando, the founder of Nissin Food Products Co., invented instant noodles in 1958. This revolutionized quick meals globally, leading to the creation of the famous Cup Noodles in 1971.

Japan is home to the highest proportion of elderly citizens. Over 28% of the population is over 65 years old, influencing its economy, healthcare system, and workforce.

Japanese writing uses three scripts: Kanji (characters from Chinese origin), and two syllabaries: Hiragana and Katakana. Mastering the language requires knowledge of at least 2,000 Kanji characters.

In Japan, green traffic lights are actually blue. Japanese language traditionally used the same word for blue and green. Only after World War II did 'midori' become the term for green.

Japan recycles over 22,000 pounds of precious metals from used electronics annually, including gold, silver, and copper, which are often reutilized in new electronic devices.

In Japan, taxi doors open and close automatically for passengers as a courtesy, eliminating the need to touch the handle.