japan

¹

[ juh-pan ]

noun

1. any of various hard, durable, black varnishes, originally from Japan, for coating wood, metal, or other surfaces.
2. work varnished and figured in the Japanese manner.
3. Japans, a variety of decorative motifs or patterns derived from Asian sources, used on English porcelain of the 18th and 19th centuries.

adjective

1. of or relating to japan.

verb (used with object)

, ja·panned, ja·pan·ning.

1. to varnish with japan; lacquer.
2. to coat with any material that gives a hard, black gloss.

Japan

²

[ juh-pan ]

noun

1. Japanese Nihon, Nippon. a constitutional monarchy on a chain of islands off the eastern coast of Asia: main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. 141,529 sq. mi. (366,560 sq. km). : Tokyo.
2. Sea of Ja·pan, a marginal sea bounded by North Korea, the Far Eastern mainland of Russia, the Russian island Sakhalin, Japan, and South Korea: largely enclosed from the Pacific Ocean and seldom affected by tides. East Sea ( def ), Korean East Sea ( def ).

Japan.

³

abbreviation for

1. Japanese.

Japan

¹

/ dʒəˈpæn /

noun

1. an archipelago and empire in E Asia, extending for 3200 km (2000 miles) between the Sea of Japan and the Pacific and consisting of the main islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu and over 3000 smaller islands: feudalism abolished in 1871, followed by industrialization and expansion of territories, esp during World Wars I and II, when most of SE Asia came under Japanese control; dogma of the emperor's divinity abolished in 1946 under a new democratic constitution; rapid economic growth has made Japan the most industrialized nation in the Far East. Official language: Japanese. Religion: Shintoist majority, large Buddhist minority. Currency: yen. Capital: Tokyo. Pop: 127 253 075 (2013 est). Area: 369 660 sq km (142 726 sq miles) Japanese namesNipponNihon

japan

²

/ dʒəˈpæn /

noun

1. a glossy durable black lacquer originally from the Orient, used on wood, metal, etc
2. work decorated and varnished in the Japanese manner
3. a liquid used as a paint drier

adjective

1. relating to or varnished with japan

verb

1. tr to lacquer with japan or any similar varnish

Japan

1. Island nation in the northwest Pacific Ocean off the coast of east Asia , separated by the Sea of Japan from Russian Siberia , China , and Korea . The Japanese archipelago includes four major islands (Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku) as well as many smaller islands. Its capital and largest city is Tokyo .

Notes

Although a world leader in shipbuilding, electronics, and automobile manufacture, Japan's economy suffered a severe slump during the 1990s.

Called the “Land of the Rising Sun,” Japan is symbolized by a red sun on a white background.

Japan's ports were first opened to Western traders in the sixteenth century but were closed in the seventeenth century. Japan remained in virtual isolation until the 1850s, when an American naval officer, Matthew C. Perry, persuaded the government to reopen trade with the West.

Another symbol (see also symbol ) of Japan is Fujiyama, also called Mount Fuji, a volcano whose symmetrical snow-capped peak has been the object of countless pilgrimages, poems, and paintings. It has not erupted since 1707.

Suffering from overcrowding, lack of natural resources , and the influence of powerful military factions, Japan pursued an aggressive policy of expansion in China during the 1930s, ultimately resulting in a military alliance with Germany and Italy to form the Axis powers in World War II . ( See also Hiroshima (see also Hiroshima ), Pearl Harbor , and Douglas MacArthur .)

Imperial Japan was organized on a feudal system ( see feudalism ), characterized by the samurai (the warrior class , which eventually became landed gentry) and the shogun (the hereditary administrative leader). The emperor, believed to be divine, was the ceremonial leader. Japan is a constitutional monarchy today.

Other Words From

• ja·panner noun
• unja·panned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of japan¹

First recorded in 1605–15; special use of Japan

Origin of japan²

First recorded in 1570–80 as Giapan; from Malay Jăpung, Japang, from Middle Chinese; Nippon ( def )

Example Sentences

Japan’s health minister, Katsunobu Kato, speaking to reporters later Sunday, said the situation in japan is “just about to hit an acceleration phase.”

From Seattle Times

Mr Steele wrote: "Informed we will have to do another 2weeks quarantine back in blighty although japan has set me free as all ok."

From BBC

The objects were often “japanned” — covered with glossy black coating, decorated with gold and mother-of-pearl.

From New York Times

At uniqlo in japan they actually give you a plastic for your head before you try your clothes to avoid stain.

From Time

He lighted the shank of candle in the japanned candlestick and regarded the bed—as spineless as a hammock and covered with a dirty patchwork quilt, the cotton batting spilling from the edges.

From Literature

Related Words

• coating
• glaze
• lacquer
• stain
• varnish