After World War II, the Japanese people work hard to rebuild the country's economy. By 1953, Japan is making more goods than it was when World War II began. Winter Olympic Games are held in Nagano, Japan. In the south, it is muggy and hot, like Florida. In the very north, summers are cool and winters icy, like Maine.
Most Japanese homes are very small.
To make the most of their small spaces, most Japanese people sleep on special futon mattresses that they roll up and store during the daytime. During meals, at small tables without chairs, many sit in kneeling positions on the floor. In the ninth grade, Japanese students take a major test that determines if they should prepare for higher education. Some Japanese students help to clean their schools and to serve lunch. Baseball is one of Japan's most popular sports.