Japan1

10 unusual facts about 日本国

Kazarina Olga

It was customary in ancient Japan for women to blacken their teeth with dye as white teeth were considered ugly. This practice persisted until the late 1800's.

Snowmen in Japan are made of two large snowballs instead of three.

Some traditional Japanese companies conduct a morning exercise session for the workers to prepare them for the day's work.

相撲 Younger sumo-wrestlers are traditionally required to clean and bathe the veteran sumo-wrestlers at their wrestling “stables”…including all the hard-to-reach places.

On average, it takes about 7-10 years of intensive training to become a fugu (blowfish) chef. This training may not be needed in the future as some fish farms in Japan are producing non-poisonous fugu.

芸者

Geisha means "person of the arts" and the first geisha were actually men.

In the past men might shave their heads to apologize.

蕎麌 Noodles, especially soba (buckwheat), are slurped loudly when eaten. It is often said slurping symbolizes the food is delicious, but the slurping also serves to cool down the hot noodles for eating.

Christianity comprises less than 10% of the Japanese population

Instead of “Ohayo Gozaimasu” (good morning), Japanese youngsters often say “Oha!”