According to legend, the creation of the archipelago of Japan was the
result of the divine union of the sibling-gods, Izanagi and Izanami.
Lying along the north-westernmost edge of the Pacific Ocean, this
ancient nation consists of four main, and well over a thousand
smaller, islands. Dominating almost two thirds of the landscape are
chains of richly forested mountains, many of which are volcanic,
intersected by torrential rivers, hot-springs and crystal-clear lakes.
In no small way, this insular setting has played a crucial role in
moulding the cultural identity of the Japanese nation.
