page_title: Culture of Japan
section_title: National symbols
hierarchical_section_title: Culture of Japan / National symbols
caption_attribution_description: 日本語: 河口湖のソメイヨシノと富士山 English: Mount Fuji and Cherry Blossoms
context_page_description: The culture of Japan has changed greatly over the millennia, from the country's prehistoric Jōmon Period, to its contemporary modern culture, which absorbs influences from Asia, Europe, and North America.
  Japan's indigenous culture originates primarily from the Yayoi people who settled in Japan between 1000 BCE to 300 CE. Yayoi culture quickly spread to the main island of Honshū, mixing with the native Jōmon culture. Modern Japanese have an estimated 80% Yayoi and 20% Jōmon ancestry.
  Japanese culture was influenced from ancient times to the Middle Ages primarily by multiple Chinese dynasties and to a lesser extent by other Asian countries. For example the Japanese language uses Chinese characters for writing, but Japanese has no genetic relationship with Chinese. Since the Meiji period Japan has been primarily influenced by western countries.
  The inhabitants of Japan experienced a long period of relative isolation from the outside world for over 220 years during the Tokugawa shogunate until the arrival of the "Black Ships" and the Meiji period.
context_section_description: Japan has a number of national symbols. The Japanese archipelago is located to the east of the Asian continent. Japan is regarded as the most eastern Asian country, because east of Japan is the vast Pacific Ocean. Minamitorishima is Japan's easternmost island. Thus Japan is the land where the sun rises before the Asian continent. The kanji 日本 that make up the name of Japan literally mean 'sun origin'. It is pronounced as Nihon or Nippon in Japanese. So it is often called by the epithet "Land of the Rising Sun". The Nisshōki (日章旗, the "sun-rise flag") is the national flag of Japan. It symbolizes the rising sun and corresponds with the name of Japan. The earliest accounts of the rising sun flag is in the 7th century CE. In 607, an official correspondence that began with "from the Emperor of the rising sun" was sent to Chinese Emperor Yang of Sui. Thus the central importance of the sun in Japanese culture is represented in the national flag and other cultural goods. Similarly, the Japan Self-Defense Forces have flags that symbolize the sun.
  The sun also plays an important role in Japanese mythology and religion as the Emperor is said to be the direct descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu. Amaterasu is the personification of Japan. She is seen as the goddess of the sun and the universe in Shinto religion. The Emperor is "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people." Emperor Jimmu (神武天皇 Jinmu-tennō) is the national founder of Japan. The national animals are the Green pheasant, Koi fish and the Great purple emperor butterfly. The Imperial Seal of Japan is one of the national seals and a crest (mon) used by the Emperor of Japan and members of the Imperial Family. The Cherry blossom (Prunus serrulata) & Chrysanthemum morifolium are de facto national flowers of Japan.
  Japan's de facto national dish is Sushi, Japanese curry and Ramen. The de facto national liquor is sake.
  Mount Fuji (Fujisan) is the national mountain of Japan. It is one of Japan's "Three Holy Mountains" (三霊山, Sanreizan) along with Mount Tate and Mount Haku. It is also a Special Place of Scenic Beauty and one of Japan's Historic Sites. The summit is considered a sacred place since ancient times. As a national symbol of the country, Fujisan has been depicted in various art and media such as painting, woodblock prints (such as the Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji), poetry, music, theater, film, manga, anime and pottery.
caption: Mount Fuji and sakura (cherry blossom) are national symbols of Japan
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