Japan ( "Nippon" or "Nihon" ; formally "" or "Nihon-koku", meaning "State of Japan") is a sovereign island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies off the eastern coast of the Asian mainland and stretches from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the southwest. 

The kanji that make up Japan's name mean "sun origin". 日 can be read as "ni" and means "sun", while 本 can be read as "hon" or "pon" and means "origin". Japan is often referred to by the famous epithet "Land of the Rising Sun" in reference to its Japanese name. Japan is a stratovolcanic archipelago consisting of about 6,852 islands. The four largest are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku, which make up about ninety-seven percent of Japan's land area and often are referred to as home islands. The country is divided into 47 prefectures in eight regions, with Hokkaido being the northernmost prefecture and Okinawa being the southernmost one. The population of 127 million is the world's eleventh largest. Japanese people make up 98.5% of Japan's total population. Approximately 9.1 million people live in the city of Tokyo, the capital of Japan. 

Archaeological research indicates that Japan was inhabited as early as the Upper Paleolithic period. The first written mention of Japan is in Chinese history texts from the 1st century AD. Influence from other regions, mainly China, followed by periods of isolation, particularly from Western Europe, has characterized Japan's history.
When do they think Japan was inhabited?
What type of research did they use to establish this?
When is Japan first noted in writing?
Where was it found?
Where is Japan located?
which ocean is it in?
What is the formal meaning of Japan?
How is it often referred by?
What is that in reference to?
How many islands does it include?
How many islands make up 97% of Japan?
What are they?
What are they referred to as?
How many people live in Tokyo?
Is it the captial?
How many regions does Japan encompass?
Is it divided up even further?
Into what?
What is the most northern region?
the Upper Paleolithic period.
Archaeological research indicates that Japan was inhabited as early as the Upper Paleolithic period.
Archaeological
Archaeological research indicates that Japan was inhabited as early as the Upper Paleolithic period.
1st century AD.
The first written mention of Japan is in Chinese history texts from the 1st century AD.
Chinese history texts
The first written mention of Japan is in Chinese history texts
East Asia
Japan ( "Nippon" or "Nihon" ; formally "" or "Nihon-koku", meaning "State of Japan") is a sovereign island nation in East Asia
Pacific
Located in the Pacific Ocean
sun origin
The kanji that make up Japan's name mean "sun origin"
Land of the Rising Sun
Japan is often referred to by the famous epithet "Land of the Rising Sun"
its Japanese name.
Japan is often referred to by the famous epithet "Land of the Rising Sun" in reference to its Japanese name.
about 6,852
Japan is a stratovolcanic archipelago consisting of about 6,852 islands.
four
The four largest are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku, which make up about ninety-seven percent of Japan's land area
Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku
The four largest are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku
home islands.
often are referred to as home islands.
Approximately 9.1 million
Approximately 9.1 million people live in the city of Tokyo
Yes
Tokyo, the capital of Japan.
eight
The country is divided into 47 prefectures in eight regions
Yes
The country is divided into 47 prefectures in eight regions
47 prefectures
The country is divided into 47 prefectures in eight regions
Hokkaido
Hokkaido being the northernmost prefecture