Special Sub-Topic: An American In Japan Click Here To Play: An American In Japan

Where is the annual Snow Festival held every year?

Sapporo. The Snow Festival is held every year in February. The Japanese call the festival "Sapporo Yuki Matsuri". Typically there are over 300 snow and ice sculptures created and they are lighted at night.

What do the Japanese call the "bullet train"?

shinkansen. You can travel the length of Honshu by the shinkansen. Service began in 1964 and traveled at speeds up to 200kph (125mph). Now it attains speeds over 300kph (187mph)!

Which of the following is NOT a Japanese beer?

Tsing Tao. Tsing Tao is a Chinese beer. Interestingly, the Kirin is a mythological Chinese creature that is part horse, deer, dragon and other beasts.

In what year did the U.S. return control of Okinawa to Japan?

1972. Okinawa was a kingdom until 1879 when it became a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa became a possession of the United States in 1951 with the signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty.

What is awamori?

An Okinawan liquor. Awamori is usually drunk with ice and water. Trust me when I say you don't want to drink this straight.

Is the sweet potato native to Japan?

y. The purple sweet potato, or Okinawa sweet potato, is native to Okinawa. It makes for excellent tempura, is delicious when boiled and cubed (because it is so naturally sweet) and also is used in desserts.

What is Obon?

A Buddhist celebration for honoring ancestors. Obon occurs in mid-July through mid-August, depending exactly where in Japan you are. Many Japanese believe their ancestors' spirits return to visit during Obon.

What is the name of the Emperor's residence in Tokyo?

Kokyo Palace. The Kyoto Imperial Palace was the Emperor's residence until the capital of Japan moved from Kyoto to Tokyo in 1868. The palace gardens are well-known for their beautiful cherry blossoms (sakura) during the spring.

What is the Japanese word for Japan?

Nihon. The word Edo is alternately used to mean Japan as well. The Ainu are a specific ethnic group in northern Japan.

Which religion is native to Japan?

Shintoism. Most Japanese consider themselves Shintos or Buddhists. Shintoism is native to Japan but is influenced by Buddhism and Confucianism and does not adhere to any strict dogma. In a 2003 survey, over 107 million Japanese described themselves as adherents of Shintoism while nearly 94 million described themselves as Buddhists. Interestingly, these two numbers total more than the estimated 128 million residents of Japan.