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Official name: Japan
Capital city: Tokyo
Official language: Japanese
Population: 126 974 628 (estimated in 2002)
Government: a constitutional monarchy (there's a Royal Family) with a parliamentary government; the people vote to elect members of parliament
Head of government: Prime minister
Head of State: Emperor Akihito
Go here to listen to Japan's National Anthem http://www.niceflag.com/midi/anthems/japan.mid
Religion: the main religions are Shinto and Buddhism
Area: 377 801 square kilometres
Highest mountain: Mount Fuji 3776 metres
Money: yen
Agricultural products: rice, pigs, chicken, tea, fruit, tobacco, potatoes and other vegetables, fish.
Manufactured goods: electrical goods, cars, machinery, iron and steel products, chemicals, textiles, paper, ship building.
Sports: baseball, volleyball, table- tennis, tennis, skating and basketball are popular
Traditional sports are judo, karate, kendo and sumo.
Read the kidcyber page about Judo here.
Some
information about Sumo wrestling
Japanese Sumo wrestling is
one of the oldest martial arts in Japan. Sumo wrestling began
as a part of the Shinto religion about 1500 years ago. The wrestling
matches were dedicated to the gods in prayers for a good harvest.
The Rules
Sumo wrestling matches begin with a traditional
ceremony. The wrestlers, each accompanied by two assistants march
in and perform bows, stamp their feet and other rituals before
the contest begins. Wrestlers then try to push or throw their
opponents out of the ring which is known as the dohyo or
try to push the opponent down onto the mat. The wrestler who first
touches the floor with something other than the soles of his feet
or leaves the ring before his opponent, loses.
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source in your bibliography like this:
Japan (2003). [Online], Available:
www.kidcyber.com.au
updated March 2003