January 2002 QUESTIONS
- (Amanda)
What percentage of land in Japan is mountainous?
About 75% of Japan's land is mountainous. For more information on Japan's geography, go to the Nature and Climate section of Explore Japan.
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(Kharisma)
What is the background of the name Japan?
 Japanese people call their country Nihon or Nippon. Japan is the English name for the nation. The word Japan derives from the word Jipang, which was the name given to Japan by the Italian merchant and traveler Marco Polo. This word, in turn, was based on the southern Chinese pronunciation of the two Chinese characters for "Nihon," which are shown in this picture.
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(Ming)
What is a koto?
 A koto is a traditional Japanese muscial instrument. It is a plucked zither with 13 strings that is shaped like a half tube. To find out more about the koto and try your hand at playing a virtual koto, go to our Virtual Culture section.
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