May 2001 QUESTIONS
- (Jill)
How do I find out what year I was born in Japanese?
The Japanese system of counting years is called nengo. It involves
counting years from the beginning of the emperor's reign. This system
has been used since modern times. The current emperor's reign is called
Heisei, meaning "Attaining Peace." 2001 is the 13th year of Heisei,
which began in 1989. Previous eras were called Meiji (1868-1912; "Enlightened
Rule"), Taisho (1912-1926; "Great Righteousness"), and Showa (1926-1989;
"Enlightened Peace"). At this
site you can discover your birth year by the Japanese system.
-
(Adie)
How do students get marked (graded) in Japan?
In most schools, students are graded from 1 to 5 on their report cards
at the end of each term, with 5 being the best grade. Tests and exams
are usually scored out of 100. Right answers are usually marked with
a circle, while wrong answers are usually marked with a cross.
-
(Emily)
How fast does the Bullet Train go?
The series 300 Nozomi Shinkansen, or Bullet Train, operated by JR
Central can reach 270 kilometers per hour (about 168 miles per hour)
and travels from Tokyo to Osaka (553 kilometers, or 344 miles) in
two and a half hours. The series 500 operated by JR West, meanwhile,
can travel at 300 kilometers per hour (186 miles per hour) and connects
Tokyo with Hakata (1,175 kilometers, or 730 miles) in four hours and
fifty minutes. Find out more about the Shinkansen here.
-
(Josefina, Argentina)
When was the Japanese flag first created? Who created it?
There are various stories about when the hinomaru (meaning
"sun circle"), now the Japanese national flag, was first used. Many
historians think the flag, made up of a red circle on a white background,
first appeared during a war in the twelfth century. The flag was officially
adopted by Japan in August 1999, when the National
Flag and Anthem Law was enacted by the Diet (Japan's national
assembly).
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