People
Murasaki Shikibu
Kyoto, Japan
A lady-in-waiting at the Heian imperial court in Kyoto, she wrote The Tale of Genji, often called the world's first novel.
Active: Around 1000 CE · Known for: Author of The Tale of Genji
Japan: leaders, famous people, culture and history
30 places on the atlas covering people, history, architecture, language, culture, festivals, folklore and crafts. Highlights include Murasaki Shikibu, Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Himeji Castle and Japanese.
See Japan on the map Etiquette guide
What is on the atlas
- People Murasaki Shikibu, Katsushika Hokusai, Hayao Miyazaki, Akira Kurosawa and 3 more
- History Hiroshima Peace Memorial
- Architecture Himeji Castle
- Language Japanese and Ainu
- Culture Japanese tea ceremony, Sushi, Sumo, Onsen bathing and 1 more
- Festivals Hanami, Gion Matsuri, Sapporo Snow Festival, Tanabata and 2 more
- Folklore The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, Tōno Monogatari and Kabuki
- Crafts Nishijin textiles, Origami, Washi paper, Arita porcelain and 1 more
Who leads Japan?
| Emperor | Naruhito |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister | Sanae Takaichi |
Office-holders as of July 2026. Governments change, so check Japan’s official government website for the latest. Full list of heads of state and government.
Famous people from Japan
- Hokusai woodblock artist
- Murasaki Shikibu author of The Tale of Genji
- Matsuo Basho haiku master
- Akira Kurosawa film director
- Tokugawa Ieyasu founder of the Tokugawa shogunate
- Osamu Tezuka manga pioneer
- Hayao Miyazaki animator
A short, well-known selection rather than a ranking. People pinned on the map appear in the cards below.
Etiquette tips for Japan
- Greeting A slight bow is the standard greeting. Business cards (meishi) are offered and received with both hands, then read, not pocketed at once.
- Dining Do not stick chopsticks upright in rice or pass food from chopsticks to chopsticks. Say itadakimasu before eating.
- Home Take off your shoes at the genkan (entrance) and use the slippers provided. Toilet slippers are separate.
People in Japan
People
Katsushika Hokusai
Sumida, Tokyo, Japan
Born in what is now Sumida in Tokyo, he created The Great Wave off Kanagawa, one of the most recognised images in world art.
Lived: 1760–1849 · Known for: Ukiyo-e artist
People
Hayao Miyazaki
Tokyo, Japan
His hand-drawn films, including My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away (Academy Award, 2003), are known for nature, flight and kindly spirits.
Born: 1941 · Known for: Animator, co-founder of Studio Ghibli
People
Akira Kurosawa
Tokyo, Japan
His films such as Rashomon and Seven Samurai influenced directors across the world and introduced many Western viewers to Japanese cinema.
Lived: 1910–1998 · Known for: Film director
People
Shohei Ohtani
Oshu, Iwate, Japan
A rare two-way star who both pitches and hits at the highest level, he became a global name with the Los Angeles Angels and Dodgers.
Born: 1994 · Known for: Baseball player
People
Ichiro Suzuki
Kasugai, Aichi, Japan
A hitting star in both Japan and the major leagues, he broke the record for hits in a single season in 2004.
Born: 1973 · Known for: Baseball player
People
Yuzuru Hanyu
Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
A two-time Olympic champion in men's figure skating, admired for his grace and for landing a very difficult jump in competition.
Born: 1994 · Known for: Figure skater
History in Japan
History
Hiroshima Peace Memorial
Hiroshima, Japan
The ruined Genbaku Dome stands near the centre of the atomic bombing. The surrounding park and museum are dedicated to remembering the victims and calling for peace.
Date: 6 August 1945
Architecture in Japan
Architecture
Himeji Castle
Hyōgo, Japan
Nicknamed the White Heron Castle, it is the best preserved of Japan's original castles and was never destroyed by war or fire.
Built: Present form 1601–1609 · Style: Japanese castle
Language in Japan
Language
Japanese
Tokyo, Japan
Japanese is written with three scripts used together: Chinese-derived kanji and the two syllabaries, hiragana and katakana.
Say hello: こんにちは (Konnichiwa) · Script: Kanji, hiragana, katakana
Language
Ainu
Shiraoi, Hokkaido, Japan
Ainu, the language of the Indigenous people of Hokkaido, is classed by UNESCO as critically endangered. The Upopoy centre in Shiraoi works to promote it.
Say hello: Irankarapte · Script: Katakana or Latin
Culture in Japan
Culture
Japanese tea ceremony
Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
A choreographed ritual of preparing and serving powdered green tea, shaped by ideas of harmony, respect and calm. Uji is a historic tea-growing area.
Tradition: Chanoyu or sado
Culture
Sushi
Tokyo, Japan
Edo-style nigiri developed in Tokyo as a quick street food. Today it ranges from supermarket packs to long omakase meals.
Tradition: Vinegared rice with fish or other toppings
Culture
Sumo
Ryōgoku, Tokyo, Japan
Sumo is wrestling steeped in Shinto ritual, with salt purification and formal ceremonies. The main tournaments in Tokyo are held in the Ryōgoku Kokugikan hall.
Tradition: Ritual wrestling
Culture
Onsen bathing
Beppu, Ōita, Japan
Japan sits on volcanic land with thousands of hot springs. Bathers wash thoroughly first and then soak without clothes in a shared bath. Beppu has more springs than any other Japanese city.
Tradition: Hot-spring baths
Culture
Ramen
Fukuoka, Japan
A noodle soup of Chinese origin that Japan adapted into many regional styles. Fukuoka's Hakata ramen has a rich pork-bone broth and thin noodles.
Tradition: Noodle soup
Festivals in Japan
Festivals
Hanami
Kyoto, Japan
People picnic beneath blooming cherry trees. The timing of the blossoms is closely followed in the news each spring.
Usually: Late March – April · Theme: Cherry blossom viewing · Months: March, April
Festivals
Gion Matsuri
Kyoto, Japan
One of Japan's most famous festivals, held through July with a procession of huge decorated floats through Kyoto's streets.
Usually: July · Theme: Float procession · Months: July
Festivals
Sapporo Snow Festival
Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Sculptors build enormous snow statues and ice carvings across Odori Park and other sites in the city.
Usually: Early February · Theme: Giant snow and ice sculptures · Months: February
Festivals
Tanabata
Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
People hang paper wishes on bamboo branches in memory of a legend of two star-lovers. Sendai's August celebration is one of the best known.
Usually: Early July to 7 August · Theme: Star festival · Months: July, August
Festivals
Obon
Kyoto, Japan
Families clean graves and light lanterns to welcome the spirits of ancestors. Kyoto ends the season with the Gozan no Okuribi bonfires on the hills.
Usually: Mid-August · Theme: Welcoming ancestral spirits · Months: August
Festivals
Shichi-Go-San (Seven-Five-Three)
Tokyo, Japan
Children aged three, five and seven are dressed in kimono and taken to shrines to give thanks for their health and growth.
Usually: 15 November · Theme: Shichi-Go-San · Months: November
Folklore in Japan
Folklore
The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter
Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan
A tale of a girl found inside a glowing bamboo stalk who later returns to the moon. Parts of the story are linked to the area around Mount Fuji.
Kind: Legend
Folklore
Tōno Monogatari
Tōno, Iwate, Japan
A town in northern Japan whose local tales, collected by Kunio Yanagita in 1910, feature kappa water imps, mountain spirits and house-guardian beings.
Kind: Folk tales
Folklore
Kabuki
Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
A stylised theatre with dramatic make-up, elaborate costumes and all-male casts. Plays run for hours at theatres like the Kabuki-za. It is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
Kind: Classical theatre
Crafts in Japan
Crafts
Nishijin textiles
Kyoto, Japan
The Nishijin district in Kyoto has produced woven silk for kimono and obi for centuries.
Craft: Woven silk brocade
Crafts
Origami
Kyoto, Japan
The art of folding paper into figures has a long history in Japan and has inspired mathematicians and engineers.
Craft: Paper folding
Crafts
Washi paper
Echizen, Fukui, Japan
Traditional Japanese paper made from the inner bark of plants such as kozo. Washi is strong, thin and used for art, screens and conservation. It is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
Craft: Handmade paper
Crafts
Arita porcelain
Arita, Saga, Japan
Japan's first porcelain was made in Arita in the early 17th century. Decorated wares were exported across Europe through the Dutch.
Craft: Porcelain
Crafts
Seki blades
Seki, Gifu, Japan
A town with about 800 years of swordmaking tradition that now makes knives, scissors and razors prized around the world.
Craft: Forged knives and swords
How to use this page
This page brings together the people who lead Japan today, a short selection of well-known people from Japan, and the 30 places pinned for Japan on the atlas. Use the buttons at the top to see Japan on the map, where you can filter by theme, read a short summary of each pin and follow the link to Wikipedia for the full article. To browse the same themes across the whole world, see the people page, history page, architecture page, language page, culture page, festivals page, folklore page and crafts page.
Questions about Japan
Who is the leader of Japan?
As of July 2026: Emperor: Naruhito; Prime Minister: Sanae Takaichi. Office-holders change, so check the official government site for the latest.
Who are some famous people from Japan?
Well-known people connected with Japan include Hokusai (woodblock artist), Murasaki Shikibu (author of The Tale of Genji), Matsuo Basho (haiku master), Akira Kurosawa (film director) and Tokugawa Ieyasu (founder of the Tokugawa shogunate).
Which famous people from Japan are pinned on the atlas?
People pinned for Japan include Murasaki Shikibu, Katsushika Hokusai, Hayao Miyazaki, Akira Kurosawa, Shohei Ohtani and Ichiro Suzuki. Open the map to read a short summary of each.
What festivals are celebrated in Japan?
Festivals on the atlas for Japan include Hanami, Gion Matsuri, Sapporo Snow Festival, Tanabata, Obon and Shichi-Go-San (Seven-Five-Three). Open the map for photos and links to read more.
What are famous landmarks and buildings in Japan?
Notable buildings and sites in Japan on the atlas include Himeji Castle. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
What are important historical places in Japan?
Historical places in Japan on the atlas include Hiroshima Peace Memorial. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
What languages and scripts is Japan known for?
Language entries for Japan on the atlas include Japanese and Ainu. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
What traditional crafts is Japan known for?
Traditional crafts from Japan on the atlas include Nishijin textiles, Origami, Washi paper, Arita porcelain and Seki blades. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
What food and customs is Japan known for?
Food and customs from Japan on the atlas include Japanese tea ceremony, Sushi, Sumo, Onsen bathing and Ramen. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
What folklore and music does Japan have?
Folklore and music from Japan on the atlas include The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, Tōno Monogatari and Kabuki. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
How can I explore Japan on the map?
Choose See Japan on the map above, or search for Japan on the atlas. You can filter by theme, drag the Time travel slider to see who was alive and what was standing in different centuries, and open any pin for a short summary and a link to the full Wikipedia article.
What etiquette should visitors know in Japan?
Greeting: A slight bow is the standard greeting. Business cards (meishi) are offered and received with both hands, then read, not pocketed at once. Dining: Do not stick chopsticks upright in rice or pass food from chopsticks to chopsticks. Say itadakimasu before eating. These are general customs, not legal advice.