1. JAPAN LAND OF THE RISING SUN

2. FACTS  Continent of Asia  Capital of Japan is Tokyo  Population of Japan is 127,463,611 (July 2006 est.)  Japan Climate varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north.  Terrain mostly rugged and mountainous

3. FACTS (CONT’D)  Ethnic Groups - Japanese 99%, others 1% (Korean 511,262, Chinese 244,241, Brazilian 182,232, Filipino 89,851, other 237,914)  Religions - observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)  Language - Japanese

4. TOKYO – CITY OF 12 MILLION PEOPLE

5. TOKYO TOWER Actually taller than the Eiffel Tower

6. Hanami means “flower viewing” commonly referring to cherry blossom viewing

7. The Japanese garden embodies their values, cultural beliefs, and religious principles.

8. JAPAN’S SHINKANSEN (BULLET TRAINS) REACH SPEEDS OF OVER 300 MPH

9. FOOD PRESENTATION IS A WORK OF ART

10. SHRINES AND TEMPLES OF JAPAN Inspired by two of the most widely practiced religions in Japan: Shintoism and Buddhism

11. HIROSHIMA, JAPAN On the morning of August 6, 1945 the United States Army Air Forces dropped the nuclear weapon “Little Boy” on the city of Hiroshima. Three days later, the bomb “Fat Man” was dropped over Nagasaki, Japan. It is estimated that over 200,000 people died as a result of the bomb and its after-effects. The role of the bombings in Japan’s surrender during World War II has been the subject of much debate.

12. ATOMIC DOME STRUCTURE LEFT STANDING AS IT DID THAT DAY AS A REMINDER

13. CHILDREN’S PEACE MEMORIAL The Statue of Sadako (also known as The Children's Monument) stands in the center of Hiroshima's Peace Park surrounded by millions of paper cranes sent from people around the world. It was built in 1958 with donations from Japanese school children. At its base a plaque reads: This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the world.

14. SADAKO AND THE THOUSAND PAPER CRANES Sasaki Sadako-san was exposed to the radiation when she was only 2 years and 8 months old. She was diagnosed with acute leukemia, blood cancer at the age of 12. Sadako-san kept folding paper cranes without sleep at night. Because she believed Japanese popular belief that when a person folds 1,000 paper cranes her dream comes true. Her dream was to live. But in vain, she died after she had struggled to live in a hospital for 9 months.

15. Chains of oragami cranes sent from around the world to Hiroshima Statue dedicated to Sadako

16. JAPAN A truly unique and beautiful country that is rich in history and diverse in culture. THE END