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Japan and the World Map

By , About.com Guide

Japan and the world map

I like looking at the map of the world. I like thinking about the countries I’ve never been to and dream of visiting someday. The first time I came to North America, I was surprised to see that Japan is on the far right side of the map. It felt very strange. Japan is always located at the center of the map that I grew up with . It is probably common to place one’s own country in the center of a world map. It was interesting to realize that the world can be seen in so many different ways. What is map of the world like in your country?

Japanese Translation

日本と世界地図

私は世界地図を眺めるのが好きです。行ったことのない国のことを考えるのが好きだし、いつかそこに行けるといいなあと夢見たりします。初めて北アメリカに来たとき、日本が世界地図の右端にあるのを見てびっくりしました。とても変な感じがしたものです。私が見慣れた地図では、日本はいつも真ん中に位置していました。たぶん自国を世界地図の真ん中に位置づけるのは普通のことなのでしょう。世界はいろんな見方ができるのだなあと認識することができて興味深かったです。あなたの国の世界地図はどうですか。

Note: The translation is not always literal.

Beginner's Phrases

I like looking at the map of the world.

  • Watashi wa sekaichizu o nagameru noga sukidesu.

  • わたしは せかいちずを ながめるのが すきです。

  • 私は世界地図を眺めるのが好きです。

Learn More

Check out my "Around the World with Katakana" lessons to learn how to write the names of countries in katakana.

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