1. Introduction
Japan is one of the most unique and interesting countries in the world, with a rich culture and history that has been shaped by centuries of foreign influence. Itās no surprise, then, that even its name has an interesting origin story. In this article, weāll explore why Japan is called Japan in English and how its name has changed over time.
2. Early Japanese History
The history of Japan dates back to at least the 8th century BCE when it was inhabited by a people known as the JÅmon. This group was eventually replaced by the Yayoi people who brought with them new technologies such as rice cultivation and metalworking. The Yayoi period saw the rise of powerful clans such as the Yamato and their eventual unification of Japan in the 3rd century CE under Emperor Jimmu.

3. Chinese Influence on Japanās Name
The Chinese had a major influence on early Japanese culture, particularly in terms of language and writing systems. During this period, China referred to Japan as āWa,ā which translates to āpeaceful country.ā This name was used by Chinese writers until around the 6th century CE when it was replaced with āNihonā or āNippon,ā which translates to āorigin of the sun.ā
4. The Origin of the Word āJapanā
The word āJapanā first appeared in English in 1577 when Francis Xavier wrote a letter referring to āthe kingdom of Japonā while visiting Nagasaki during his mission to spread Christianity throughout Asia. It is believed that Xavier got this name from Portuguese traders who had visited Japan and adopted it from Nihon or Nippon, which were already being used by Europeans at that time to refer to Japan.
5. The Name āJapanā in Other Languages
In other languages, such as French, German and Spanish, Japan is referred to as āJaponā or similar variants derived from Portuguese tradersā adaptation of Nihon/Nippon. In Russian, however, it is referred to as āYaponiyaā which originates from Dutch tradersā adaptation of Nihon/Nippon into their own language which became known as Yapoon or Japoon before eventually becoming Yaponiya in Russian.
6. The Adoption of the Name āJapanā in English-Speaking Countries
By the 19th century, āJapanā had become widely accepted among English-speaking countries as a common way to refer to this Asian nation due to its prevalence among European traders during earlier centuries. It was also popularized through literature such as James Clavellās novel Shogun (1975) and through various translations of Japanese works into English during this period such as Lafcadio Hearnās Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things (1904).
7. Japanās Official Name Today
Today, Japanās official name is āNippon-kokuā (ę„ę¬å½) which means āState/Country of Japanā but it is still commonly referred to simply as āJapanā both domestically and internationally due largely due its popularity among English-speaking countries since at least 1577 when Francis Xavier first used it in a letter he wrote about his mission there..
8. Conclusion
In conclusion, we can see that there is an interesting story behind why Japan is called what it is today in English-speaking countries ā an adaptation taken from Portuguese traders who visited during earlier centuries combined with its prevalence among European traders before eventually becoming widely accepted among English-speaking countries during the 19th century onward due largely due its popularity through literature such translations into English from Japanese works like Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things (1904).
9 References
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Clavell, J., 1975 Shogun [Novel]. New York: Dell Publishing Co., Inc..
Hearn L., 1904 Kwaidan: Stories And Studies Of Strange Things [Book]. London: C & J Temple Ltd..
Kato K., 2017 A History Of Early Japanese Society [Book]. Tokyo: University Of Tokyo Press Ltd..
Why do we call Japan Japan?
The origin of the name Japan is not clear but scholars believe it may come from the Malay japung or Chinese word for land of the rising sun. Historians say that the Japanese called their country Yamato in their early history and that they started using Nippon around the seventh century.
What do they call Japan in Japan?
While the Japanese today commonly refer to their country as Nihon or Nippon early texts used Oyashima (the Thai island) or Yamato (written with the Chinese characters vii and wa).
What did China call Japan?
å (å from Japanese Chinese å Eastern Han Chinese: *ŹwÉi > *ŹuÉi > Middle Chinese: ŹuÉ > Pinyin: WÅ) is an old Japanese name attested by foreign sources (so names like Busan and Penglai are not considered legendary or legendary.))
What does China call itself?
The name China contains several modern and historical terms in various languages āāfor Standard Mandarin the national language of the East Asian country ZhÅngguó (äøå/äøå Central country).
How did China get its name?
The name China is derived from the Sanskrit Sena (derived from the name of a Chinese family pronounced Chin) which was translated by the Persians and apparently spread through trade along the Silk Road.
What do you call a girl in Japan?
Una is one of the more common and simplified terms used to refer to women and is often used in official documents and forms when designating a persons gender.