クレスト日本語コーナ 

Crest Nihongo Corner

Did you know that the nickname “Land of the Rising Sun’ comes from the meaning of the Kanji (Chinese characters) for Japan?

Kanji was introduced from China to Japan around the year 800 by Japanese monks who studied in China to learn the Chinese  writing system. The Japanese name for Japan, ‘Nihon’ can also be pronounced ‘Nippon’ (as on the Japanese Olympic jerseys). 

It is written   日本.     日 means ‘Sun’ and 本 means ‘origin’. Hence, the Land of the Rising Sun (Origin of the sun). Why do you think that China gave Japan such a name? Your sons know!