"Nihon koku"
The official Japanese-language name is Nippon koku or Nihon koku (State of Japan). From the Meiji Restoration (Lost of Shogun and restoration of Emperor Meiji, refer: sjsu.edu ) until the end of World War II, the full title of Japan was the "Empire of Greater Japan" (Dai Nippon Teikoku)
The Map of Japan
Japan (or Nihon) is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, China, Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south. The kanji that make up Japan's name mean "sun origin", and it is often called the "Land of the Rising Sun"
Nisshōki
This is the national flag of Japan. It is a white rectangular flag with a large red disc representing the sun in the center. This flag is officially called Nisshōki (sun-mark flag) in Japanese, but is more commonly known as Hinomaru (circle of the sun). The Japanese flag was officially adopted on February 27, 1870.
Red Sun Disc represents sun goddess 'Amaterasu', founder of Japan and ancestor of its emperors. It symbolizes bright future for Japan.
White represents honesty, integrity and purity of Japanese people.
JAPANESE HOLIDAYS 2016
December 31 to January 3: New Year
January 1: New Year (Shogatsu)
January 11: Coming of Age Day (Seijin no hi)
February 11: National Foundation Day (Kenkoku kinenbi)
March 3: Doll’s Festival (Hina matsuri)
March 21: Spring Equinox Day (Shunbun no hi)
April 29 to May 6: Golden Week
April 29: Showa Day (Showa no hi)
May 3: Constitution Day (Kenpo kinenbi)
May 4: Greenery Day (Midori no hi)
May 5: Children’s Day (Kodomo no hi)
July 18: Ocean Day (Umi no hi)
August 11-16: Obon
August 11: Mountain Day (Yama no hi)
Sep 19: Respect for the Aged Day (Keiro no hi)
September 22: Autumn Equinox Day (Shubun no hi)
October 10: Health and Sports Day (Taiiku no hi)
November 3: Culture Day (Bunka no hi)
November 23: Labor Thanksgiving Day (Kinro kansha no hi)
December 23: Emperor’s Birthday (Tenno no tanjobi)
December 31 to January 3: New Year
January 1: New Year (Shogatsu)
January 11: Coming of Age Day (Seijin no hi)
February 11: National Foundation Day (Kenkoku kinenbi)
March 3: Doll’s Festival (Hina matsuri)
March 21: Spring Equinox Day (Shunbun no hi)
April 29 to May 6: Golden Week
April 29: Showa Day (Showa no hi)
May 3: Constitution Day (Kenpo kinenbi)
May 4: Greenery Day (Midori no hi)
May 5: Children’s Day (Kodomo no hi)
July 18: Ocean Day (Umi no hi)
August 11-16: Obon
August 11: Mountain Day (Yama no hi)
Sep 19: Respect for the Aged Day (Keiro no hi)
September 22: Autumn Equinox Day (Shubun no hi)
October 10: Health and Sports Day (Taiiku no hi)
November 3: Culture Day (Bunka no hi)
November 23: Labor Thanksgiving Day (Kinro kansha no hi)
December 23: Emperor’s Birthday (Tenno no tanjobi)
December 31 to January 3: New Year
JAPANESE HOLIDAYS 2017
December 31 to January 3: New Year
January 1: New Year (Shogatsu)
January 9: Coming of Age Day (Seijin no hi)
February 11: National Foundation Day (Kenkoku kinenbi)
March 20: Spring Equinox Day (Shunbun no hi)
April 29 to May 7: Golden Week
April 29: Showa Day (Showa no hi)
May 3: Constitution Memorial Day (Kenpo kinenbi)
May 4: Greenery Day (Midori no hi)
May 5: Children’s Day (Kodomo no hi)
July 17: Ocean Day (Umi no hi)
August 13-17: Obon
August 11: Mountain Day (Yama no hi)
Sep 18: Respect for the Aged Day (Keiro no hi)
September 22: Autumn Equinox Day (Shubun no hi)
October 9: Health and Sports Day (Taiiku no hi)
November 3: Culture Day (Bunka no hi)
November 23: Labor Thanksgiving Day (Kinro kansha no hi)
December 23: Emperor’s Birthday (Tenno no tanjobi)
December 31 to January 3: New Year
January 1: New Year (Shogatsu)
January 9: Coming of Age Day (Seijin no hi)
February 11: National Foundation Day (Kenkoku kinenbi)
March 20: Spring Equinox Day (Shunbun no hi)
April 29 to May 7: Golden Week
April 29: Showa Day (Showa no hi)
May 3: Constitution Memorial Day (Kenpo kinenbi)
May 4: Greenery Day (Midori no hi)
May 5: Children’s Day (Kodomo no hi)
July 17: Ocean Day (Umi no hi)
August 13-17: Obon
August 11: Mountain Day (Yama no hi)
Sep 18: Respect for the Aged Day (Keiro no hi)
September 22: Autumn Equinox Day (Shubun no hi)
October 9: Health and Sports Day (Taiiku no hi)
November 3: Culture Day (Bunka no hi)
November 23: Labor Thanksgiving Day (Kinro kansha no hi)
December 23: Emperor’s Birthday (Tenno no tanjobi)
December 31 to January 3: New Year
