Japan conducted a recount of its islands and determined that it has 7,000 more islands than previously believed. The Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) used digital mapping to discover that Japanese territory has 14,125 islands, which is more than twice the number of 6,852 islands listed in the official record since a 1987 report by Japan’s Coast Guard.
The GSI emphasized this week that the revised island count resulted from improved surveying techniques and more detailed maps, and did not alter the total land area under Japan’s jurisdiction. The GSI noted that there is no globally agreed method for counting islands, but it adhered to the same size threshold as the earlier survey conducted 35 years ago.
This involved counting all natural land formations with a circumference of at least 100 meters (330 feet). The updated count does not encompass any artificially created or reclaimed land.
The Japanese secrets to a longer life
Find a purpose
Discovering your ikigai, a concept closely linked to the long life expectancy in Japan, means finding a reason for being or something that makes life fulfilling. Japanese individuals are acutely aware of the importance of identifying their ikigai in order to maintain a sense of purpose and enjoyment in life, whether it be raising their children or pursuing a hobby that brings them satisfaction and fulfillment.
Enough is enough
The residents of Okinawa Island in Japan, where many people live for more than a century, adhere to the Hara hachi bu approach to eating, which involves stopping eating when they are approximately 80% full. The belief is that consuming only the necessary amount of food, rather than overeating, can potentially delay cellular aging.
Small change
According to Sarah Harvey, author of the book “Kaizen: The Japanese Method for Transforming Habits, One Small Step at a Time,” Kaizen is a reliable technique to help individuals overcome unhealthy addictions. The term Kaizen, which means “good change” in English, emphasizes that making small, gradual changes is essential in creating permanent habit transformations, rather than resorting to drastic measures.
Go down to the woods
The well-known Japanese custom of shinrin-yoku, also known as “forest bathing,” involves completely immersing oneself in a natural setting and engaging as many senses as possible, such as listening to the rustling of leaves and smelling the damp earth. This practice has been demonstrated to lower stress levels and alleviate feelings of depression.
Maintaining harmony
Neuroscientist Ken Mogi, the author of “The Way of Nagomi,” defines nagomi as a Japanese custom that is often referred to as the key to a peaceful existence, involving a sense of balance, comfort, and serenity in one’s mind and heart. The notion of nagomi suggests that it is preferable to avoid confrontations that may lead to decisive outcomes at all costs. Mogi explains that attaining a state of nagomi can alleviate stress, tension, and discord.
The islands surrounding Japan have been at the center of numerous territorial conflicts. Tokyo disputes Moscow’s control of the southern Kuril Islands, which Japan refers to as the Northern Territories. This disagreement has its roots in the aftermath of World War II when Soviet troops captured the islands from Japan.
Japan also asserts a historical claim to the uninhabited Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which it administers. However, China has repeatedly contested Japan’s assertion of sovereignty over the islands. Additionally, Japan and South Korea have been involved in a 70-year-old dispute over the sovereignty of a group of islets located in the Sea of Japan, which Seoul refers to as Dokdo, and Tokyo calls Takeshima.
FAQs:
- What are some of Japan’s most popular islands?
Kyushu, Honshu, Yakushima Island, etc
- Who is the Prime Minister of Japan?
Fumio Kishida
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