Talk:Japan/Archive 2

message: I have moved the following part. It may be true but I don't think this much detail is relevant to this article. 
:However, ethnically, it is a question. Traditionally, the Japanese tend to think that they are one of the most homogeneous nations in Asia.  However, recent DNA tests have proven that they are actually one of the most mixed people in Asia.  They have Chinese, Korean, Altaic, Malay, Ainu and other ethnic geneology in their race.  The Japanese are considered to be "Homogenized Mixed Race".  Language wise, it could be said that it is a result of a Chinese/Korean/Malay/Ainu Creole.  However, much study is not emphasized because of the Japanese government's discouragement.
-- Taku 01:27, Feb 19, 2004 (UTC)
I am removing this part because it is an insignificant comment:
:Many people, especially those in younger generations, claim to feel that religion is something to stay clear from, pointing out historical reasons such as the role that the nationally enforced Shinto played in World War II, and more recently Aum Shinrikyo and its actions. 
--69.212.98.38 19:48, 6 Aug 2004 (UTC)
replies: text: I agree with User:69.212.98.38's view on this one. The statistics in this file show that Shinto and Buddhism are about equal and that individually they almost equal the total population which is explained by people adhering to more than one religion. I couldn't find the stats on `non-religious` in Japan but I'm pretty sure there must be something somewhere. So I reverted back to fit this. --Sekizaru 18:50, 10 Aug 2004 (UTC)
thread_title:  Demography 

message: Because of Towns-unification policy of the government Japan, many towns and villages are administratively lost and many new cities are settled. Most of data of villages and towns like Izuhara should be rewritten specially on their administrative position. Today there is no town named Izuhara, Nagasaki prefecture but Tsushima City. Your contribution will be appreciated. KIZU 22:04, 29 Mar 2004 (UTC)
replies: text: I do not think every articles are reflected recent unifications, but I believe Idzuhara, Nagasaki (link from Nagasaki Prefecture) and Tsushima, Nagasaki has been fixed as of a month ago. Maybe I have some overlooks. Would you tell me about particular articles desiring fixes? -- Takanoha 15:10, 31 Mar 2004 (UTC)
thread_title: Recent News

message: Is 日本国 supposed to be pronounced Nihonkoku or Nipponkoku?  I've seen evidence pointing both ways, although the latter seems more "official" to me somehow. -- Sekicho 14:26, Apr 3, 2004 (UTC)
Both are acceptable, but Japan tends to use NiPPon for official things, sporting events, etc.  Exploding Boy 02:11, Apr 8, 2004 (UTC)
:My impression is the same: Nippon is more popular than Nihon. Interesting is almost always people say Nippon-koku kempo, Nihon-jin, Nihon-shiki, Nihon-go and so forth. Nippon-go, for instance, sounds awful. Rules? I have no idea. Or maybe it varies across dialects? Sure, this kind of discussion should be made somewhere in Wikipedia. -- Taku 02:18, Apr 8, 2004 (UTC)
:Nippon seems a bit old fashioned to me. Ok for cheering, but the modern reading is "nihon". FWIW google has 96 hits for nipponkoku, but 909 for nihonkoku. Zeimusu 12:25, 2004 Apr 29 (UTC)
I just noticed that the article reads that "Nihon" comes from the Chinese - but if that's the case, why is it the kunyomi of 日本?  Are we certain that "nihon" comes from the Chinese? -- Tlotoxl 15:11, 8 May 2004 (UTC)
replies: text: Actually both parts use the on’yomi (from Chinese). Nihon is an abbreviation of Nippon which uses the standard on’yomi of 'nichi' for 日 rather than the kun’yomi of 'hi'. But when the article says that it comes from the Chinese it means more that the Kanji comes from China. The pronunciation is probably a lot different when the name was first used around 700AD than the current pronunciation, both in Japanese and Chinese. --Sekizaru 19:46, 19 Jul 2004 (UTC)

text: I noticed someone deleted the Names of Japan section.  I didn't put it back because I have noticed that Wikipedia is complaining about the article being too long.  I created a seperate Names of Japan page, but this might conflict with the Nippon and Nihon page.  Please let me know if you have an opinion on what should be done.
--Scipantheist 21:00, 27 Apr 2005 (UTC)
thread_title: Official name

message: I've noticed most country articles have at most a 200-word paragraph or so before the table of contents/data box/first subject heading; Japan has five paragraphs, of varying length.
This has the unfortunate effect of pushing the data box, with the attractive flag/seal/map motif, down below the first screen of most users. Anyone want to redistribute the intro? There seems to be a lot of etymology and history that could be trimmed out, but I wouldn't know where to put it.... Radagast 00:58, Jun 23, 2004 (UTC)
:I personally think all the specifics about Nihon/Nippon vs Japan should be moved "below the fold". While it definitely belongs in the article, it doesn't deserve 2/3 of the intro either. -- Cyrius|✎ 01:22, 23 Jun 2004 (UTC)
replies: text: I moved the paragraphs directly concerned with the name to "below the fold" as suggested. However maybe the first paragraph needs to be re-written to take this into account. Any suggestions on where the Origin of Name section should go or an alternative title for it? --Sekizaru 19:58, 19 Jul 2004 (UTC)
thread_title: 5-paragraph intro?

message: I'm a little confused about this paragraph:
Japan's ruling LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) has been in power since 1955 almost continuously (except for 1993). Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has introduced radical reform, such as the dissolving of the Upper House in 2003 and sending SDF (Self Defence Forces) to Iraq. The oppositional DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan) seems to be gaining more momentum, and that will be shown in the 2004 Upper House Elections in July.
If the Upper House was dissolved in 2003, why are there elections for it in July 2004? Also, would this be better placed in the Politics section? -AndrewHows
:It's Cleared up and merged into the Politics section. The lower or the House of Parliament was dissolved and upper or the House of Councillors is up for the election today.  I guess the writer simply got confused. Revth 07:35, 11 Jul 2004 (UTC)
thread_title:  History 

message: On the Japanese Wikipedia for [] it says that Okinawa and Yamaguchi are sometimes listed under Kyushu, which would make the prefecture total nine. This would match the name of Kyushu being formed by 9 states. Yet, Yamaguchi is on Honshu Island and Kyushu only has 7 prefectures on the island. I just noticed that now. I don't know Japan's history but has this been mentioned anywhere?
:Yeah, I believe it is covered in the Kyushu article -- Kyushu had 9 prefectures prior to the Meiji Restoration:
::The name Kyushu literally means nine (九) provinces (州) and gets its meaning from the nine ancient provinces that once made up the island. These were Chikuzen, Chikugo, Hizen, Higo, Buzen, Bungo, Hyuga, Satsuma, and Osumi. The central government, behind the Meiji Emperor, in 1871 abolished this and the feudal system of government and established prefectures (Haihan Chiken) in their place. 
:-- Tlotoxl 05:14, 18 Sep 2004 (UTC)
thread_title:  Kyushu not Kyushu? 

message: I settled Wikipedia:Japanese Wikipedians' notice board. Would you like to give a look? It needs much improvement. All who are interested in Japan are invited. :) Thanks. --Aphaea 16:02, 22 Oct 2004 (UTC)
thread_title:  Notice board