Description of People: Native Japanese people came mostly from ethnic groups like the Yamato, Ainu, and Ryukyuan people. Japanese people are often described as polite, punctual, and focused. They are known for being smart and hard working. They also follow a strict rank order determined by age. They believe that you must respect your elders.

Geography: Japan is an archipelago on the eastern edge of Asia. There are four main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. There are also nearly 4,000 smaller islands. Almost four-fifths of Japan is covered with mountains. The Japanese Alps run down the center of the largest island, Honshu. The highest peak is Mount Fuji, a cone-shaped volcano considered sacred by many Japanese. Three of the tectonic plates that form Earth's crust meet nearby and often move against each other, causing earthquakes. More than a thousand earthquakes hit Japan every year. Japan also has about 200 volcanoes, 60 of which are active.