10 unusual facts about10 unusual facts about 日本国日本国

Kazarina OlgaKazarina Olga

It was customary in ancient Japan It was customary in ancient Japan for women to blacken their teeth for women to blacken their teeth

with dye as white teeth were with dye as white teeth were considered ugly. This practice considered ugly. This practice persisted until the late 1800's. persisted until the late 1800's.

Snowmen in Japan are Snowmen in Japan are made of two large snowballs made of two large snowballs instead of three. instead of three.

Some traditional Japanese Some traditional Japanese companies conduct a morningcompanies conduct a morning

exercise session for the exercise session for the workers to prepare them for workers to prepare them for

the day's work. the day's work.

相撲 Younger sumo-wrestlers are Younger sumo-wrestlers are

traditionally required to clean and traditionally required to clean and bathe the veteran sumo-wrestlers at bathe the veteran sumo-wrestlers at their wrestling “stables”…including all their wrestling “stables”…including all the hard-to-reach places.the hard-to-reach places.

On average, it takes about 7-10 years of On average, it takes about 7-10 years of intensive training to become a fugu (blowfish) intensive training to become a fugu (blowfish) chef. This training may not be needed in the chef. This training may not be needed in the future as some fish farms in Japan are future as some fish farms in Japan are producing non-poisonous fugu.producing non-poisonous fugu.

芸者

Geisha means "person of Geisha means "person of the arts" and the first geisha were the arts" and the first geisha were actually men. actually men.

 In the past men might shave In the past men might shave their heads to apologize.their heads to apologize.

蕎麦 Noodles, especially soba Noodles, especially soba

(buckwheat), are slurped loudly (buckwheat), are slurped loudly when eaten. It is often said when eaten. It is often said slurping symbolizes the food is slurping symbolizes the food is delicious, but the slurping also delicious, but the slurping also serves to cool down the hot serves to cool down the hot noodles for eating. noodles for eating.

  

Christianity comprises less Christianity comprises less than 10% of the Japanese than 10% of the Japanese populationpopulation

Instead of “Ohayo Gozaimasu” (good morning), Japanese

youngsters often say “Oha!”