Japan

The Federal Republic of Japan, also known as Japan, is an East Asian nation consisting of Japan. It is surrounded completely by water. Japan has a total area of 377,915km², and a population of 150,570,000 people.

Etymology
The name for Japan comes from the kanji that make up it's name, which means "sun origin". The nation is often called the "Land of the Rising Sun".

History
Japan first appears in written history in the Chinese Book of Han. According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms, the most powerful kingdom on the archipelago during the third century was called Yamataikoku. Buddhism was introduced to Japan from Baekje, Korea and was prompted by Prince Shotoku, but the subsequent development of Japanese Buddhism was primarily influenced by China. Despite early resistance, Buddhism was prompted by the ruling class and gained widespread acceptance beginning in the Asuka period (592-710).

The Nara period (710-784) marked an emergence of the centralized Japanese state centered on the Imperial Court in Heijo-kyo (modern Nara). The Nara period is characterized by the appearance of a nascent literature as well as the development of Buddhist-inspired art and architecture. The smallpox epidemic of 735 to 737 is believed to have killed as much as one-third of Japan's population. In 784, Emperor Kanmu moved the capital from Nara to Nagaoka-kyo, then to Heian-kyo (modern Kyoto) in 794.

This marked the beginning of the Heian period (794 - 1185), during which a distinctly indigenous Japanese culture emerged, noted for its art, poetry, and prose. Murasaki Shikibu's, "The Tale of Genji", and the lyrics of Japan's national anthem, "Kimigayo", were written during this time.

Buddhism began to spread during the Heian era, chiefly, through two major sects, Tendai by Saicho and Shingon by Kukai. Pure Land Buddhism (Jodo-shu, Jodo Shinshu) became greatly popular in the latter half of the 12th century.

Feudal Era
Japan's feudal era was characterized by the emergence and dominance of a ruling class of warriors, the samurai. In 1185, following the defeat of the Taira clan in the Genpei War, sung in the epic Tale of Heike, samurai Minamoto no Yoritomo was appointed shogun by Emperor Go-Toba, and Yoritomo established a base of power Kamakura. After his death, the Hojo clan came to power as regents for the shoguns. The Zen school of Buddhism was introduced from China in the Kamakura period (1185-1333) and became popular among the samurai class. The Kamakura shogunate repelled Mongol invasions in 1274 and 1281, but was eventually overthrown by Emperor Go-Daigo. Emperor Go-Daigo was himself defeated by Ashikaga Takauji in 1336.

Geography
Japan is an archipelago consisting of about 6,852 islands. The four largest are Honshu (本州), Hokkaido (北海道), Kyushu (九州), and Shikoku (四国), which make up about 97 percent of Japan's total land area and often are referred to as home islands.