Editing Culture of Japan (section)

==National symbols==
{{Main|National symbols of Japan}}
[[File:Lake_Kawaguchiko_Sakura_Mount_Fuji_3.JPG|thumb|[[Mount Fuji]] and {{transliteration|ja|sakura}} (cherry blossoms) are national symbols of Japan]]

The [[geography of Japan|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 that make up the [[Names of Japan|name of Japan]] literally mean {{nihongo|'sun origin'|日本}}. It is pronounced as {{transliteration|ja|'Nihon'}} or {{transliteration|ja|'Nippon'}} in Japanese,<ref>{{cite web|title=Where does the name Japan come from?|url=http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq/japan.html|access-date=29 January 2017}}</ref> and is often referred to by the [[epithet]] "Land of the Rising Sun".<ref>{{cite book|title=The emergence of Japanese kingship|first=Joan R. |last=Piggott|year=1997|publisher=Stanford University Press|isbn=978-0-8047-2832-4|pages=143–144|url={{Google books|BruaJSZmjHcC|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} }}</ref> The {{nihongo3|"sun-rise flag"|日章旗|Nisshōki}} 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]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Dyer|1909|p=24}}</ref> 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 of Japan|emperor]] is said to be the direct descendant of the Sun goddess [[Amaterasu]], 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." {{nihongo|[[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 of Japan|national seals]] and a crest ({{transliteration|ja|[[Mon (emblem)|mon]]}}) used by the Emperor of Japan and members of the [[Imperial House of Japan|Imperial Family]]. The [[cherry blossom]] (Prunus serrulata) & [[Chrysanthemum × morifolium|chrysanthemum morifolium]] are de facto national flowers of Japan. Japan's de facto [[national dish]] is sushi,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/attractions/dining/food/jfood_01.html|title=Traditional Dishes of Japan|publisher=Japan National Tourism Organization|access-date=24 June 2014}}</ref> [[Japanese curry]]<ref name="curry rice research">{{cite web |script-title=ja:『カレーライス』に関するアンケート |publisher = ネットリサーチ ディムスドライブ |url = http://www.dims.ne.jp/timelyresearch/2008/081014/ |language= ja |access-date=16 October 2008}}</ref> and [[ramen]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jun/18/ramen-japan-national-dish|title=Ramen: Japan's super slurpy noodles|access-date=5 June 2011 | location=London|work=The Guardian|first=Justin|last=McCurry|date=18 June 2010}}</ref> The de facto national liquor is {{transliteration|ja|[[sake]]}}.<ref name="blog.ratestogo.com">[http://blog.ratestogo.com/best-national-drinks-i/ RatesToGo: ''Best National Drinks Part I''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091102165847/http://blog.ratestogo.com/best-national-drinks-i/ |date=2009-11-02}}</ref>

{{Nihongo|[[Mount Fuji]]|富士山|Fujisan}} is the national mountain of Japan. It is one of Japan's {{Nihongo|"[[Three Holy Mountains]]"|三霊山|Sanreizan}} along with [[Mount Tate]] and [[Mount Haku]]. It is also a [[List of Special Places of Scenic Beauty, Special Historic Sites and Special Natural Monuments|Special Place of Scenic Beauty]] and one of Japan's [[Monuments of Japan|Historic Sites]].<ref name="channelnewsasia.com">[http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/japan-s-mt-fuji-granted/720700.html]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627003540/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/japan-s-mt-fuji-granted/720700.html|date=27 June 2013}}.</ref> The summit is considered a sacred place since ancient times. As a national symbol of the country, Mount Fuji 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sunritz-hattori-museum.or.jp/masterpieces/index.html|title=収蔵品のご紹介 &#124; サンリツ服部美術館|website=sunritz-hattori-museum.or.jp|access-date=16 October 2019|archive-date=7 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307215353/http://www.sunritz-hattori-museum.or.jp/masterpieces/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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