Japan

The people of Japan call their country "Nippon", which means "the land of the rising sun". You can see the rising sun in the middle of their flag. Japan's People Most Japanese people today wear western style clothes. But during holidays, festivals, and at other special times, they may wear traditional robes called kimonos. The patterns on kimonos change with the seasons to reflect the seasonal changes in nature. The Japanese have strong family ties and deep respect for authority. In Japan, it is polite to greet one another by bowing. Japanese students study calligraphy to learn the art of handwriting. Children go to school in Japan Monday through Friday, plus a half day on Saturday. They only have one month off from school, during the school year, from the middle of July to the middle of August. Because school is so difficult and competitive in Japan, many children go to juku, which is a school held in the evening that helps students keep up with their regular school work. Japan's Homes Japan is a very crowded country. Almost 75% of the population live in cities and towns. People live in homes and apartments. Most homes are made of wood and are decorated very simply.

The Geisha were once an important part of Japanese social life. Now in modern Japan, there are few geishas that practice this ancient art. The geisha was trained in the traditional Japanese arts of music, poetry, calligraphy and tea ceremony. They were expert hostesses that entertained with their beauty and charm.
Japan's Culture Japanese culture has made many important contributions. Ikebana is the art of flower arranging, bonsai is the cultivation of miniature trees and origami is the art of paper folding. Haiku is a type of Japanese poetry.

Japanese people catch and eat more fish than any other country in the world. Fishing is a profitable occupation for many.

Japan's Food Rice is an important crop in Japan. Farmers grow crops on terraced fields since the land is so mountainous. Rice is served at almost every meal in Japan. Another staple is fish, which is the main source of protein. A popular dish is sushi, which is rice and raw fish wrapped in sea weed.

Japan's Sports Most Japanese people love to play and watch sports. Baseball is one of the most popular sports. Sumo wrestling and golf are also enjoyed.

Japan's Holidays and Celebrations Children's Day in Japan is held on May 5th. It is a time for families to celebrate the joy of a child. Children's Day is a tradition that has been celebrated since ancient times. May 5th was traditionally a boy's holiday known as Tango no Sekku. On this day, boys would fly carp-shaped flags and streamers, called koinobori. Boys would also display dolls of famous warriors inside the home. Girls also have their own holiday on March 3rd, called Hina Matsuri, or the Doll Festival. The family flies one carp flag for each son. The oldest son gets the largest flag and the youngest gets the smallest. There is also a black carp flag for the father and a red carp flag for the mother. The Cherry Blossom Festival, or Hanami, is a time for celebration in the Spring. People gather in parks to view the cherry blossoms (called sakura). Japan's Land Tokyo is Japan's capital city. It is a very busy and crowded city with many shops and restaurants. It is a cultural center that has museums, temples, and parks. The Imperial Palace is found in the middle of central Tokyo. Mt. Fuji is Japan's highest mountain. It is 12,387 feet high and located on Honshu Island near Tokyo. Mt. Fuji is a dormant (not active) volcano and is a popular tourist attraction. Japan's Facts: Area: 145,874 sq mi. Capital City: Tokyo Population: 126 million Main Language: Japanese Currency: Yen Industries: electronics, cars, office machinery, steel, processed foods, and textiles

India
India is a large country with the second biggest population in the world and many different languages, cultures, religions and climates. India's People When Indian people greet each other they place their hands together and say "Namaste". This means, "I bow my head to you." Older people are treated with great respect in India. When greeting an elder, some Indians may touch their feet as a sign of respect. India's people come from many backgrounds. Some are very wealthy while others are very poor. Most people live modestly in the large cities. Religion is very important in the culture of India. Most people are Hindu or Muslim, but Christianity, Sikkhism, and Buddhism, and other religions are also practiced. Clothing in India varies by area. Most women wear a sari made of colorful silk or cotton. The sari is one long piece of material that is draped around the body like a dress. Many men wear a dhoti. A dhoti is a white piece of cloth that is wrapped around the hips and pulled through the legs. Not all people dress traditionally in India, but the clothing is always loose due to the heat. Most children in India attend school. Some schools are modern and have books and computers. In poor areas of the cities or in remote areas, there can be 40-60 students in one classroom with little or no supplies. Most schools teach in English because there are too many regional languages. India's Homes The homes in India are as varied as the people. Most people live very modestly in small apartments or homes in large cities. Many just outside of the large cities live in moderate homes with balconies and gardens. There are also very wealthy people who live in large, modern homes with servants.

India's Culture The people of India have many languages, religions, and cultures. Religion has been very influential in the music, dance, festivals, and clothing of India. The unique sound of India's music is often created with an Indian instrument called a sitar. This instrument looks similar to a guitar, except that it has a very long neck. There are 18 official languages, but over 1,600 languages and dialects spoken in India. English is commonly spoken in India. India's Foods Many of India's people are vegetarians, meaning they don't eat meat. Hindus believe that the cow is a sacred animal and never eat beef. Much of the food in India is flavored with spices such as cinnamon, garlic, and cumin. Most meals include rice, vegetables, bread, and yogurt.

India's Activities Watching movies is a popular pastime in India. Bombay is the center of India's film industry. Indian children play soccer and badminton and board games like Parcheesi and backgammon. Basketball is becoming more popular in recent years. India's Animals India is home to lions, tigers, antelope and Indian elephants. Wildlife lives mostly in northern India, but the natural habitat is shrinking because of India's growing population. Elephants are sometimes used to help plow fields or to move and carry heavy items. There are also many reptiles including the king cobra, pythons, crocodiles, and monitor lizards.

India's Holidays and Celebrations Diwali is a joyous celebration that takes place on the last day of the last month in the lunar calendar. This is usually at the end of October. During this five day holiday, people light oil lamps and set off fireworks. The holiday is also to worship the goddesses Kali and Lakshmi. People thank them for their good fortune and strength. Diwali is also the beginning of the new year. It is a time for people to reflect on the importance of their lives. They begin the new year with good habits. India's Land India has the second largest population in the world. The land of India has many forms including plains, mountains, and tropical areas. The climates change so much in India that India is said to have three seasons- the hot, the wet, and the cool. India's Cities and Landmarks Calcutta is one of the most populated cities in the world. It is home to more than 10 million people. Monsoons can bring so much rain to Calcutta that the city can be flooded for months. India's cities are a unique mix of modern and traditional ways of living. The busy streets of the city are crowded with buses, taxis, and cars as well as rickshaws (a type of cart drawn by person or bike) and sometimes camel, cows, or other livestock. Only a small percentage of people in India own a car. Buses, trains, and walking are the primary ways people travel in India. The Taj Mahal is a popular tourist destination in India. It is also one of the most famous

buildings in the world. The white marble monument was built by a 17th century ruler as a gift to his wife.

India's Facts: Area: 1,269,346 sq. miles Capital City: New Delhi Population: 1 billion Main Languages: Hindi, English, and Urdu Currency: Rupee Products: rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry