Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south. The characters that make up Japan's name mean "sun-origin", which is why Japan is sometimes referred to as the "Land of the Rising Sun".

Japan is an archipelago of 6,852 islands. The four largest islands are Honshū, Hokkaidō, Kyūshū and Shikoku, together accounting for 97% of Japan's land area. Most of the islands are mountainous, many volcanic; for example, Japan’s highest peak, Mount Fuji, is a volcano. Japan has the world's tenth-largest population, with over 127 million people. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes the de facto capital city of Tokyo and several surrounding prefectures, is the largest metropolitan area in the world, with over 30 million residents.

There are two types of Japanese tradition dance: Odori, which originated in the Edo period, and Mai, which originated in the western part of Japan. Odori grew out of Kabuki drama and is more oriented toward male sentiments. Mai is traditionally performed in Japanese rooms instead of on the stage. It was influenced by the Noh Drama.

A variation of the Mai style of Japanese dance is the Kyomai or Kyoto Style Dance. Kyomai developed in the 17th century Tokugawa cultural period. It is heavily influenced by the elegance and sophistication of the manners often associated with the Imperial Court in Kyoto.

CHARACHAN ODORI

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TANCHAME

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TAN-KO BUSHI

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Tsuki ga deta deta tsuki ga deta
Uchi no oyama no ueni deta
Anmari entotsu ga takai node
Sazoya otsukisama kemutakaro
Sano yoi yoi

Anata ga sonoki de yuno nara
Omoi kiri masu wakare masu
Moto no musume no juhachi ni
Kaeshite kure tara wakare masu
Sano yoi yoi

Osatsu o makura ni neru yori mo
Tsuki ga sashikomu barak ku de
Nushi no kaina ni honnorito
Watasha dakare te kurashitai
Sano yoi yoi

Here comes the moon,
Over our mountain.
Is the chimney too high?
I wonder if smoke stings the moon,
Ah, Ah

If you want to leave me,
I'll give you up, let you go
If replace me in my youth,
I'll leave you,
Ah, Ah.

Then I will sleep with a pillow full of money,
I prefer to sleep in the barracks where the
moon shines in
With my darling, holding me his arms,
I want to have such a life,
Ah, Ah

TOKYO DONTAKU

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