Nihon, more commonly known today as “Japan,” is one of the most well-known cultures in the globe. From its rich history, to its technological advancements, and yes, anime, Nihon has made its presence known to the point where nearly everyone around the world is studying their language and culture. Much of Nihon’s ancient history before its establishment as an independent nation is sadly lost to the erosion of time, but there is one point in the land’s history that marks the beginning of economic and cultural growth. According to the countries lore, the establishment of Nihon began with their first monarch: the legendary Emperor Jimmu, who is said to be the descendant of the goddess of the sun, Amaterasu, conceived by her grandson, Ninigi, and a descendant of the storm god, Susanoo. When he became of age, he launched a military expedition from Hyüga, eventually capturing Yamato, which became the central capital of his power.

The people of Nihon have officially marked the 11th of February as “National Foundation Day,” celebrating the establishment of their country through the actions of their first emperor. Since then, Nihon has gone through many cultural changes and growth that basically created their own identity. Much of their history remained peaceful and tranquil until the arrival of Portuguese traders in the 16th century. Their arrival established trade of Nihon’s culture to the west for the very first time in centuries. Their use of European weaponry solidified the power of Oda Nobunaga, a daimyō of the Sengoku period, who used military force to assassinate other daimyōs at that time.

^{The Sakura in Cinema}

Moving forward in the late 1800s, film had made its way to Asia; which led to the release of the first public film exhibition in India. Following this, the art of cinema soon reached Nihon in 1897, leading the people to study the magic behind the silver screen. The first-ever Japanese releases were that of supernatural films, “Jizo the Spook” and “Resurrection of a Corpse” by Shirō Asano, which was then followed by a documentary film in 1899 titled “Geisha no Teodori.” Soon after in 1909, the first Japanese film production studio would be built called “Yoshizawa Shoten,” which quickly became an economic boon to Nihon society. Following in its wake, other studios such as Shochiku and Taikatsu would be built, leading to the rise of prominent names in Nihon such as Kenji Mizoguchi, Masao Inoue, and Thomas Kurihara.

^{From the Ashes}

As time moved on, Nihon would eventually form an alliance with the Axis Powers of World War II (WWII) and send their military forces to engage the Western Allies. Surely you know that Nihon surrendered after the war, but what you probably don’t know is why they surrendered. On August 6, 1945, the flying American Superfortress, Enola Gay, dropped one of the first atomic bombs, designated “Little Boy,” on the island of Hiroshima, the death toll being 90,000 – 140,000. Since the conclusion of the war, Nihon began to rebuild and regain much of what had been lost, eventually being caught up with the rest of the world as far as technological advancements and achieving amazing creative feats; most notably the creation of Japanese animation (anime) and becoming icons of the modern era by retaining their own individuality. Their culture started off with military expansion and lived in peace for centuries before the eventual arrival of outside influences, now Nihon has become a nation of prominence that inspires and captivates all who visit these blossoming lands.

https://theableshow.com/nihon-the-sakura-in-fill-bloom

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