Japan, Japanese Islands, Japanese Archipelago(noun)

a string of more than 3,000 islands to the east of Asia extending 1,300 miles between the Sea of Japan and the western Pacific Ocean

Japan, Nippon, Nihon(noun)

a constitutional monarchy occupying the Japanese Archipelago; a world leader in electronics and automobile manufacture and ship building

japan(noun)

lacquerware decorated and varnished in the Japanese manner with a glossy durable black lacquer

japan(verb)

lacquer with a durable glossy black finish, originally from the orient

japan(verb)

coat with a lacquer, as done in Japan

Japan(ProperNoun)

An island nation in the Pacific Ocean, located the east of China, Korea and Russia.

japan(Noun)

A hard black enamel varnish containing asphalt.

japan(Noun)

Lacquer ware.

japan(Verb)

To varnish with japan.

Japan(noun)

work varnished and figured in the Japanese manner; also, the varnish or lacquer used in japanning

Japan(adj)

of or pertaining to Japan, or to the lacquered work of that country; as, Japan ware

Japan(verb)

to cover with a coat of hard, brilliant varnish, in the manner of the Japanese; to lacquer

Japan(verb)

to give a glossy black to, as shoes

Japan

an island empire of the N. Pacific, lying along the E. coast of Asia, and separated from Corea and Primorsk by the Sea of Japan, consists of Honshiu (31,000), Shikoku (3,000), Kyushu (6,000), Yezo (314), and 4000 small islands; though not of volcanic origin, the islands are the most mountainous in the world, have many volcanoes and sulphur springs, and are subject to earthquakes; they are very picturesque, and have peaks from 8000 to 12,000 ft. high; the rivers are too swift for navigation; the coast, not much indented, has yet some good harbours; the valleys are well wooded, but the soil not very fertile; temperature and climate are various; nowhere is the heat intense, but in some parts the winter is very cold; there is much rain, but on the whole it is healthy; the chief industry is agriculture; farming is careful and intelligent; rice, cereals, pulse, tea, cotton, and tobacco are raised, and many fruits; gold, silver, all the useful metals, coal, granite, some decorative stones are found, but good building-stone is scarce; the manufacture of porcelain, lacquer-work, and silk is extensive, and in some artistic work the Japanese are unrivalled; the chief ports are Yokohama (143), on the E. of Honshiu, which has grown up since 1854, when the country was opened to trade; and Hyogo (143), on the S. coast of the same island, where are also shipbuilding yards; the chief exports are tea, silk, and rice; imports cotton, woollen, iron goods, and chemicals; the Japanese, sprung from an ancient union of Tartars with Ainos and with S. Malays, are a kindly, courteous, law-abiding folk, with highly developed artistic tastes; education is compulsory, and well provided for; religion is Shintoism and Buddhism, but Christianity is gaining rapid ground; the government is in the hands of the Mikado, who rules now with the aid of ministers and two houses of parliament; education, government, army, and navy—indeed the whole modern civilisation of the country—is on Western lines, though until 1853 foreigners were excluded; a civil war in 1867-68 effected the change from the old feudalism, and the amazing success of Japan in the war against China in 1894 has proved that the new civilisation is no mere veneer; the capital is Tokyo (1,162).