Japan

Japan is a country made up of a collection of islands in Eastern Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies off the eastern coast of the Asian continent and stretches from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and the Philippine Sea in the south.

Appearance
 Female version 
 * '''[[File:C262B352-79AC-4EFB-9F84-FFE60C4EE74D.png|thumb|144px|Courtesy of Ironically See

Serious side of Japan]]''' Japan is the only country with a cat attribute, which reflects the crazy side of its culture and reminds of a Nekomimi/Neko-chan (girl with cat's ears) or a Kitsune. She usually wears a sailor school uniform, including black loafers, long white socks, short navy blue skirt, with a white top and a little red scarf.

Japan may also be shown wearing a type of business suit.

She is also sometimes represented wearing a kimono (in its different version such as the yukata, relax version, or the furisode, worn usually for the tea ceremony) with geta ( sort of shoes made of wood), sometimes with a katana.

 Male version 
 * ''' [[File:BA5C3D0E-4792-4DF4-9B1F-D82BB3531930.png|thumb|left|170px|Male Japan

Courtesy of Ironically See]] '''

In this version, Japan has no cat attributes and wears more normal clothes. He represents the serious and shy side of the country, more close to reality than what anime shows. He's also represented with a military suit of the samurai.

Personality
Japan is very polite and courteous. They may be portrayed by the fandom, "fangirling", cosplaying, trying to act "cute", being loud and extroverted, but often they also have a very serious and hardworking side. They often have an issue with overworking themselves to exhaustion and are often serious. Possibly due to the fact of them suffering from the guilt of World War II and even being suicidal.

Due to this they are often very stressed and may even lash out at other countries with real countries. Possibly even with a concealed katana, due to how paranoid they are.

In reality, Japan is very introverted and often force themselves to be social.

Interests
Japan loves all their pop-culture items such as manga, anime, and other types of Japanese media. Which they also enjoy creating.
 * Manga
 * Anime
 * Drawing
 * Animation
 * Consuming Tea
 * Sculpture
 * Calligraphy
 * Onsen
 * Travel
 * Writing Haiku
 * Bonsai Making
 * Flower Arranging
 * Baseball

Since America showed them baseball they have been in love with the sport and have even beaten America in some games. .

When they have the time to have a break they enjoy drinking tea to calm down, under cherry blossom trees. They just really like the setting due to the trees reminding them of their childhood and the falling of the petals calming.

They also like making short poetry called Haiku, which has three lines, one with five syllables, one with seven, and then finally another line with five. Japan sometimes challenges their friends to make Haikus on the spot laughing when they fail.

Another hobby of theirs are creating Bonsai. An art form that uses cultivation practices to create tree-like bushes in small containers. In addition, Japan also enjoys arranging flowers. Also known as "Ikebana". Sadly Japan usually cannot do these activities due to how busy they are.

Flag meaning
The flag is named "Hi no maru" but also "Nisshōki". The red circle represents the goddess of the sun Amaterasu.

Others symbols
The National Day of Japan is related to the birthday of the Emperor, so it often changes. At this moment it is the 23 of February. The fact Japan has an emperor while it is not an empire is one of its particularities' unique qualities.

Other items that represent the country are

Nicknames
"The Land of the Rising Sun" comes from the way Japanese people call their country "Nihon" or "Nippon", which you can write in kanji (one of the forms of writing of the language):日本, here 日 means "sun" and 本 means "origin". The origin of the expression would date back to the letter written by the prince Shotoku to the Chinese emperor: "from the Son of Heaven in the land where the sun rises to the Son of Heaven in the land where the sun sets.".

Organizations and Affiliations

 * African Development Bank (AfDB) (nonregional member)
 * Asian Development Bank (ADB)
 * Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
 * Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT)
 * Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (dialogue partner)
 * Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum (ARF)
 * Australia Group
 * Bank for International Settlements (BIS)
 * Colombo Plan (CP)
 * Council of Europe (CE) (observer)
 * East Asia Summit (EAS)
 * European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
 * Energy Charter
 * European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) (observer)
 * Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
 * Group of Five (G5)
 * Group of Seven (G7)
 * Group of Eight (G8)
 * Group of Ten (G10)
 * Group of Twenty Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors(G20)
 * Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
 * International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
 * International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
 * International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
 * International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
 * International Criminal Court (ICCt)
 * International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol)
 * International Development Association (IDA)
 * International Energy Agency (IEA)
 * International Energy Charter
 * International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)
 * International Finance Corporation (IFC)
 * International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
 * International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)
 * International Labour Organization (ILO)
 * International Maritime Organization (IMO)
 * International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO)
 * International Monetary Fund (IMF)
 * International Olympic Committee (IOC)
 * International Organization for Migration (IOM)
 * International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
 * International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM)
 * International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
 * International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO)
 * International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
 * Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
 * Latin American Integration Association (LAIA)
 * Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
 * Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)
 * Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
 * Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD)
 * Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) (partner)
 * Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
 * Organization of American States (OAS) (observer)
 * Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) (partner)
 * Paris Club
 * Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
 * South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) (observer)
 * Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI) (observer)
 * United Nations (UN)
 * United Nations Conference on Trade and Development(UNCTAD)
 * United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)
 * United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization(UNESCO)
 * United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
 * United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
 * United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
 * United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
 * Universal Postal Union (UPU)
 * World Confederation of Labour (WCL)
 * World Customs Organization (WCO)
 * World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)
 * World Health Organization (WHO)
 * World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
 * World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
 * World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
 * World Trade Organization (WTO)
 * World Veterans Federation
 * Zangger Committee (ZC)

Yayoi period
The Yayoi period (or 弥生時代 Yayoi Jidai) dated 1000 BC - 300 AD. This period started at the beginning of the Neolithic in Japan, continued through the Bronze Age, and towards its end crossing into the Iron Age.

Some have argued that the period previously classified as a transition from the Jōmon period should be reclassified as Early Yayoi. Although the beginning date of this transition is debatable, the range is estimated ranging from the 10th to the 6th centuries BC.

The Yayoi period includes the appearance of new Yayoi pottery styles and the start of intensive rice agriculture in paddy fields. A hierarchical social class structure dates from this period and originated in China. Techniques in metallurgy based on the use of bronze and iron were also introduced from China to Korea and over to Japan in this period.

The Yayoi culture flourished from southern Kyūshū to northern Honshū. Modern Japanese are mostly descendants of the Yayoi people.

Kofun period
This period started in 250 and it is taking its name from the funeral hummock, in the shape of a lock and surrounded by water, dedicated to the person who had power.

During this period was created the political regime Yamato under the control of a lord who had control of the regions Honshu and Kyushu and founded a kingdom. The Kami (divinities) had a lot of importance to them, but also for the numerous clan who were born and had their own protective Kami as the Soga, the Katsuraki and the Heguri.

With time the Yamato deleted the clans and took the agricultural lands. They started to unite the land by developing n central administration and a court.

This period marks the birth of Japan as a state.

Asuka period
This period started around the years 538 and its name comes from the first capital of the Yamoto kingdom sometimes (the court was moving). During this period the country opened its frontiers to the Korean, which brought Buddhism (at the middle of the 6th century), Korean knowledge, and Chinese culture. In this period the country changed his name Wa (倭) to Nippon (日本).

The links with China become stronger under the dynasty Soga which changed the country by being largely inspired by the Chinese politic and education.

But the dynasty Soga is eradicated and the country enters in an era of political instability and war and loses its commerce with Korea. After that, the clan Fujiwara implement the reforms Taika which implement the first penal code in the country and taxes. One system of government is implemented in every region.

Nara period
This period started around the year 710.

Heian period
This period started around the year 794.

Kamakura period
This period started around the year 1185.

Muromachi period
This period started around the year 1336.

Aduchimomoyama period
This period started around the year 1573.

Edo period
This period started around the year 1603.

Meiji period
This period started around the year 1868.

Taishō period
This period started around the year 1912.

Shōwa period
This period started around the year 1926.

Heisei period
This period started around the year 1989.

Reiwa period
This period started around the year 2019.

China
The two countries have always had a very taut relation and fought many times, the most recent is the second Sino-Japanese war from 1937 to 1945 (so WW2). They're not at the point to make a war today but they're still rivals. Even if Japan is now considering collaboration rather than competition and has made the first move.

Indonesia
In 1942 the Japanese Empire attacked Dutch East Indies (which is the name for Indonesia during Dutch colonization) which was a Dutch colony and encouraged Indonesia and encouraged him to have a nationalist speech, so they were seen as a liberator. But fast their relation got worse because Indonesians people were persecuted. It stopped when the Japanese Empire was defeated in 1945, even if soldiers helped Indonesia into its war for its independence against the Netherlands. In the middle of the '50s, the two countries started to talk about war reparation and signed in 1958 the Agreement on Compensation which marked the start of their diplomatic relationship. Today the relationship between the country is good, they are good trade partners and Japan is a major donor of development aid to Indonesia.

Malaysia
Their relation started in the 15th century as Japan having trade with Malacca Sultanate. But their relationship starts deteriorating at 8th December 1941,1 day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. As the Japanese Empire attack Straits Settlement (which is the name for British Malaya at that time), British Raj, Australia, British and Malay soldiers try their best to defend British Malaya but fail as Japanese Empire soldier have more soldier. This causes them to retreat to Singapore to make one last stand. Failed, Straits Settlement is now on the hand of the Japanese Empire. At first, people see Japanese soldiers as their liberator, however, it appears to be not. In 1945, the Japanese Empire surrender to Allies. Their relationship returns positive in 1957. Afterward, they became trading partners.

Serbia
In 1882 Japan recognized Serbia as an Independent State in the congress of Berlin, their first diplomatic relation began in 1882. During WW2 the two countries were in opposite camps, their relation was at its lowest point. Japan has exported a lot of products to Serbia since the dissolution of Yugoslavia (but was also an important trading partner of Yugoslavia and they had a really good relationship) and is one of most important Asian trader of Serbia.

South Korea
Their relationship is somewhat up and down, due to the fact that they've had some issues in the past when it comes to WWII that haven't been resolved, but they're okay and share a lot in common. Recently, however, there have been traded disputes that have started a trade war between the two countries, and their relations are currently at their lowest point.

Geography
Japan is an archipelago of 377 944 km2situated in East Asia and composed of 6,852 islands, but only 480 have inhabitants. The four most important are: The country is sadly known for his numerous natural disasters due to its position near four tectonic plates: Philippines Sea plate, Eurasian plate, Pacific plate and North American plate (not sure for the last one).
 * Honshū
 * Hokkaidō
 * Kyūshū
 * Shikoku

Family
with the Netherlands:
 * China — stepmother
 * Netherlands — actual wife (depends on the person, only with Japan's male version)
 * United States — husband (depends on the person, only with Japan's female version)
 * South Korea — stepson
 * North Korea — stepson

with the USA:
 * Germany — father-in-law
 * Australia — stepson
 * New Zealand — stepdaughter
 * United Kingdom — father-in-law
 * NATO — stepson
 * United Nations — stepson/stepbrother

Friends

 * France — "Really love your culture! It's amazing! Your language is also studied here in my country."
 * Germany — "My old friend/father-in-law! You were a close friend of mine."
 *  Kazakhstan
 * Canada
 * Serbia
 * Spain — "My mother-in-law. She's a really kind person! Although she was a bit too close on him. They really like my culture and visit my country."
 * Portugal — "First European friend to land in my country! You've shown me a lot of things. But I'm upset that you tried to take control of my land! Well, we're really close now. You're also my best friend!" '('depends on the person, some will consider him as Japan's husband)
 * Greece — "We both have a thing for cats. Moreover, I've known them in Ancient times"
 *  Bangladesh — "Ah, my amazing step-twin. Why can't we be one nation?"
 * Turkey
 * Italy — "They've switched side with the Allies. Well, can't blame them. Also, you're my trading partner and a good friend!"
 * Australia — "We both love anime. He's really funny and helped me a lot. I appreciate it"


 * Bulgaria 


 * Costa Rica — "Give me bananas!"
 * Malta — "We're friends forever!"
 * Malaysia — "You like my culture too? That's great! You're also my trading partner! Forgive me for the occupation of your country "
 *  Mongolia — "The best friend, helped, and sent aid to me after the tsunami that hit my land hard."
 * Philippines — "A very close friend since Ancient times! My people really likes to visit your country! Apologise for the occupation of your country, I really am. Your people likes my culture and anime which makes me happy! I also can speak Filipino a little bit. Thank you for forgiving me."
 * Singapore — "Another trading partner!"
 * Thailand — "An ally during the war until they sided our enemies. At least you like my culture and anime! You're also my trading partner!"
 * Tunisia — “Who needs visas?”
 * United States ​​​​​​

Neutral

 * South Korea — "Although we have lots in common, our people hate each other, besides, our current relations are at their lowest points."
 * Algeria — "We're semi-good friends and fairly excellent partners, we both in love with Anime, Yay !!, You'll be one of my friends just if you stop bothering me with the late payment of your debts, well...., you don't always delay in paying them , some say it's my fault because I ordered you to pay them earlier than usual, but I'm not sure."
 * Vietnam — "I guess it's best to keep it neutral"
 * Russia — "You're too mean to be around me. I don't trust you at all! But your population likes my culture and anime."
 * Indonesia — "I'm terribly sorry for the occupation and massacre of your citizens during World War II. At least you love my cars, technology, brands, video games, anime and manga!"

Enemies

 * China — "I already apologized but you kept on beckoning me for more. Just what more do you want??"
 * North Korea — "You accidentally press the launch missile button and nearly nuked me. I don't like you, get out of my sight, or else, I'll try more nukes in your sea!"

Past Versions

 * Tokugawa Shogunate
 * Japanese Empire (enemy) — "I hate you...."

United States of America
The two had really hard times during WW2, but after the two nuclear bombs, Japan got under USA tutelage. The USA apologizes for the nukes on Japan and eventually, the two countries are in good relation and Japan is always ready for some baseball. The USA really appreciates Japan's pop culture.

France
Japan has a strange fascination with France. Japan is very interested in the sophisticated side of her culture (wine, castles) while France loves their pop culture (manga and anime). France is the second country consuming the most of manga after Japan themselves.

Greece
These two countries both share a love for cats, hinting to Greece's stray cat population. They have really good relationships strengthened by the fact they have the common point to be two very old civilizations and so are very interested in each other's culture. Their relation is good in every domain.

Thailand
They've had really good diplomatic relations for 130 years, and their first commercial relations started 600 years ago. Their royal families had been linked from a long time ago and Japan is the first foreign investor. They love visiting each other's landscape. Thailand is very inspired by Japan's culture.

China
China and Japan are separated by the East China sea. Because of this, Japan has been strongly influenced throughout history by China with its language, architecture, culture, religion, philosophy, and law. However, when Japan started trading with the West in the 19th century, this changed. Japan grew more westernized and started viewing China as an antiquated civilization, unable to defend itself against Western forces. According to the Chinese government, their relationship with Japan is strained because of the second world war. However, according to the Japanese government, it is the expansion of People's Liberation Army and its assertive actions that have been damaging their bilateral relations. In recent years, Japanese and Chinese people were asked to take a survey on their opinions on each other. 73% of Japanese people viewed Chinese influence negatively, and 90% of Chinese people viewed Japanese influence negatively. A 2014 survey showed that 85% of Japanese were concerned that territorial disputes between China and neighboring countries could lead to a military conflict. Despite all of this, Japan and China are both trying to deepen their relationship, which means that Japan-China relations have been moving in the direction of great improvement.

Philippines
The Philippines was the first country to experience Japanese Immigration (as early as the 12th century). Many Japanese fled to the Philippines in the 17th century to avoid the persecution. This was also one of the reason why the rulers of Japan isolated itself to prevent the people from escaping and eventually lost all contacts between the two countries. When Japan has turned into the Japanese Empire in search for more land. He was happy to see the Philippines until he noticed that Phil was under the American rule and a major ally of the United States. Which made Japan upset and had to take actions. After the II World War, the relations between the countries significantly warm through culture, industrial, economic and military ties and now closer than before. Japan would see Philippines as a best friend and a great ally while the other is the same.

Trivia

 * The representation of Japan in Countryhumans is mostly inspired by how the characters act in his / her pop culture. In reality, people see it more as a country of serious people working all the time.
 * The male version of Japan represents more the serious and shy side of the country.