A devastating earthquake hit Japan on March 11. The earthquake caused a destructive tsunami and that swept through northeast Japan. It also damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and radioactivity leaked into the air and sea. Major affected areas are Tohoku and north Kanto region, such as Miyagi, Iwate, Fukushima and Ibaraki prefectures.
Disaster also affected Kanto region, including Tokyo. Infrastructure was partially paralyzed and aftershocks has been occurring again and again.
Western Japan doesn't suffer from the disaster. Although the media repetitively emphasizes catastrophe in northeast Japan, many areas are peaceful.
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But most Japanese people, including those who live in western Japan, don't think the disaster as somebody else's problem. Many of them felt great sympathy for victims and evacuees. Many of them do what they can to help victims and evacuees. A lot of organizations launch fund raising campaign. Large numbers of people cooperate to save electricity. But unfortunately, some people who live in safe regions hoard essential goods.
I live in western Japan. So, I didn't face the disaster. Most people around me live their lives as usual. But some people seem to hoard mineral waters and dry-cell batteries. Some essential goods and emergency supplies are sold out in most shops. Economic activities contract because supply chain partially based on northeast Japan is damaged. On the other hand, many organizations, including local governments, local broadcasting stations, etc. conduct fund raising campaign.
2011年3月28日月曜日
2011年3月17日木曜日
Japan in Japanese is Nihon or Nippon
Japan is an exonym. In Japanese Nihon or Nippon.
[History]
In earlier times, my country's name was Yamato or Oyamato, because the government was located in Yamato region, western Japan.
About the sixth century, the name Nihon and Nippon began to be used. Nihon or Nippon originally means the far eastern country where the sun rises first.
In 1299 Marco Polo first introduced Japan to Europe as Zipangu in his book Books of the Marvels of the World. It is said that Marco Polo heard the pronunciation of Nihon Koku or Nippon Koku (Koku means nation) in language of Beijing as Zipangu. That's the origin of an exonym Japan.
[Which is correct: Nihon or Nippon?]
So, which is correct, Nihon or Nippon? The answer is both are correct. There are no legal bases for name of the country in Japan. Both are commonly used. But externally, Nippon was usually used. In compound word, Nihon is likely to be used (e.g. Nihon go).
[Usage of Nihon]
Nihon go (Japanese)
Nihon Kai (the Sea of Japan)
Nihon shu (Sake)
[Usage of Nippon]
Nippon ichi (number one in Japan)
Gabmare Nippon! (Go, Japan!)
Dai Nippon Teikoku (Empire of Japan)
[Cases both Nihon and Nippon are OK]
Nihon jin or Nippon jin (Japanese people)
Nihon Koku Kenpou or Nippon Koku Kepou (The Japanese Constitution)
Nihon Rettou or Nippon Rettou (the Japanese Archipelago)
Nihon Ginko or Nippon Ginko (Bank of Japan) *
* A phrase "Nippon Ginko" is printed on Banknotes of the Japanese yen. So, clerks of the BOJ tend to say Nippon Ginko. But many Japanese people also commonly say "Nihon Ginko." Bank of Japan Act doesn't state which is correct.
[History]
In earlier times, my country's name was Yamato or Oyamato, because the government was located in Yamato region, western Japan.
About the sixth century, the name Nihon and Nippon began to be used. Nihon or Nippon originally means the far eastern country where the sun rises first.
In 1299 Marco Polo first introduced Japan to Europe as Zipangu in his book Books of the Marvels of the World. It is said that Marco Polo heard the pronunciation of Nihon Koku or Nippon Koku (Koku means nation) in language of Beijing as Zipangu. That's the origin of an exonym Japan.
[Which is correct: Nihon or Nippon?]
So, which is correct, Nihon or Nippon? The answer is both are correct. There are no legal bases for name of the country in Japan. Both are commonly used. But externally, Nippon was usually used. In compound word, Nihon is likely to be used (e.g. Nihon go).
[Usage of Nihon]
Nihon go (Japanese)
Nihon Kai (the Sea of Japan)
Nihon shu (Sake)
[Usage of Nippon]
Nippon ichi (number one in Japan)
Gabmare Nippon! (Go, Japan!)
Dai Nippon Teikoku (Empire of Japan)
[Cases both Nihon and Nippon are OK]
Nihon jin or Nippon jin (Japanese people)
Nihon Koku Kenpou or Nippon Koku Kepou (The Japanese Constitution)
Nihon Rettou or Nippon Rettou (the Japanese Archipelago)
Nihon Ginko or Nippon Ginko (Bank of Japan) *
* A phrase "Nippon Ginko" is printed on Banknotes of the Japanese yen. So, clerks of the BOJ tend to say Nippon Ginko. But many Japanese people also commonly say "Nihon Ginko." Bank of Japan Act doesn't state which is correct.
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