The purpose of this page is to give a brief overview of Japanese culture, as it was and as it is. The target audience is, for the most part, those who are new to their studies of Japan and who wish to learn a little about many different categories dealing with the country. We have covered as much information as possible without making it overwhelming, and hope that our goals have been accomplished, and that our page will truly be of assistance to those who should happen to find it.

The introduction section provides the most basic information. It includes this page, how to find information on our site, biographical information of the team members, and as an introduction to the country itself, sections on national symbols and geography. The national symbols page is a short one that introduces some of the elements which Japanese people have chosen as best representing their culture. The geography page includes some places of interest, geographical trivia facts, and a map, among other things.

The politics section covers much more than its name indicates. The pages on history are the most detailed on the site; there are a total of nine, covering the history of Japan from its origins until the present year of 2000. Leaders, wars, and reforms are among the many things covered in this part. The government and economy pages provide overviews of exactly what their names suggest.

The language section is a short introduction to both the written and spoken languages of Japan. The writing systems page introduces the reader to the three writing systems currently in use. The pronounciation guide is essential to anyone wishing to learn Japanese, concise though it may be. The other two pages, on foreign influence and useful phrases, both introduce the reader to a few words and phrases that he or she may find useful.

The arts & entertainment section covers a small, but widespread, part of the activities available in Japan. The first page, television, uses specific examples to illustrate the variety of shows available in the country. The music section talks about JPOP, Japanese music that is heavily influenced by Western styles and popular both in Japan and in the U.S. The karaoke page discusses this famous pasttime in depth.

The lifestyles section covers the things that, important as they may be, were not appropriate to one of the above sections. Their names are all self-explanatory: food, fashion, holidays, and religion.

The remaining section, credits, provides a chance for further exploration of the content discussed in the pages of this site.