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An Introduction to Japan
One of the globe's leading economic power houses, Japan is an island chain situated in East Asia, flanked by the Sea of Japan to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east.
 Stretching from the tip of the Korean Peninsula 3000km northwards, the four main islands (Honshu, Shikoku, Hokkaido and Kyushu) are home to 126 million people.
The country's terrain is very rugged, and lying as it does on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, Japan is extremely susceptible to volcanic activity, experiencing around 1,500 seismic occurrences per year.
The Japanese climate varies greatly, from tropical in the far south to freezing in the far north; however, the majority of the region enjoys a temperate climate.
Tokyo, the nation's capital, is located halfway up the east coast of Japan's main island, Honoshu. It is a high‑tech extravaganza of neon, glass and steel, whose property rates are the highest in the world.
Japan's economic growth since World War II has been nothing short of breathtaking, and the Japanese people are renowned the world over for their strong work ethic, a trait supported by the intense cooperation between government and industry.
The Japanese culture is one engendered in ceremony, with respect and politeness as values held sacred in this enigmatic nation.
The Future of International Academies
Since publishing the 'Proposal of 100,000 Overseas Students' in 1983, the Japanese government has been devoting itself to comprehensively implementing each related policy. As a result, the number of overseas students in Japan has increased fivefold within a decade, reaching a current total of 3,000.
In order to attract more excellent students to Japan, improvements are being made to the screening procedures of overseas students, educational content, scholarship schemes, facilities and accommodations, as well as changes to infrastructure to benefit the life and study of overseas students in Japan.
One of the major steps forward is the development of overseas students' language abilities. Pre-university classes for Japanese courses have emerged, and nearly 600 Japanese language schools have been set up in the last 10 years.
Japanese academies warmly welcome students and friends from all over the world to study Japanese language, culture, science and technology, and to promote an international exchange of culture.
Authors: David Collins & Nasanori Sou – Translated by Xinming Liu |
