Japan
The land of the rising sun. Let’s analyse that:
Between the VII and VIII A.D., Japan changed its name from 大和 (Yamato) to 日本 (Nihon or Nippon, as it was first pronounced with the Chinese reading on’yomi). The name 日本 (nihon) is formed by two kanji: the first 日(-ni) is the kanji for Sun. In ancient times, the same kanji was drawn as a circle, representing the Sun itself, with a stripe crossing the orb athwart (being one of the many solar storms, probably clearly visible at that time). The second kanji 本 (-hon) stands, in this case, as origin. It is said that, around 1300, Marco Polo, the famous Venetian traveller, called Japan “Cipangu”, from the old Chinese pronunciation of the word 日本國 (the last kanji being the term for ‘country/state’) and, after that, came the terms Jepang, Jipang, and Jepun from the Indonesians. It was only in the 16th century that the name was recorded in English as “Giapan“.
The eastern position of Japan, relative to China, gave it the epithet of “The land of the rising sun“.
Also the national flag, commonly known as 日の丸 (Hinomaru – meaning “ball of the sun”), represents the sun as a crimson ball in the centre on a white background. However, Japan has also another flag, used for military purposes, mainly for maritime self-defend force, symbolysing a crimson sun emanating sixteen rays. Needless to say that many countries in Asia consider that flag controversial, being related to Japanese war crimes, but that’s anohter story.
6th August 2013, 7:50 am.
My plane touched down at Narita Airport during an awfully hot summer morning. That was my first time in the Land of the rising sun. I still couldn’t believe it, one of my dreams was about to become reality. Little did I know, that was the first of many times to come. My passion for this country, and all things related, began when I was a kid and watched “The Karate Kid Part II” for the first time. Of course, I was amazed by the martial art, but mostly I was so eager to see all those old villages around the country (can you imagine the shock I was put through once I discovered that the movie was actually filmed in Hawaii?!). Needless to say, it was too late. The love had already bloomed.
Here’s a quick glimpse at all the places I saw during my first trip to Japan (the order is scrambled):
The same year, I went back to Japan also in winter, for NYE holidays and there, in Tokyo, I met a few people, the same people I now call dear friends.
From 2013 up to 2019, I’ve traveled to Japan at least twice a year (a couple of years, also three times) and visited so many places, that I don’t even recall precisely, and met so many other people, that my travels became more like I-want-to-see-my-freinds kind of trips.
I dove into the Japanese culture and traditions, rented Airbnbs instead of staying in a plain hotel, began to study the language and the story of that country, not to mention their sports. I also tried Kyūdō, which is the Japanese martial art of archery (incredibly difficult and completely different from the Olympic discipline).
To be continued…