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Bundle 58: A Complex Coastline

Japan boasts a complex coastline, and as these essays show, that's for better and for worse. The numerous capes jutting out into the sea have caused disastrous shipwrecks, one of which exposed inequity that sparked outrage in Japan. But this island nation also abounds in winding beaches, and those gentle curves have influenced the designs of everything from pottery and furniture to family crests. The endpoints of the main islands beckon to tourists who want to visit the southernmost point, for instance. The outline of one cape as seen from space even gave rise to a popular song.
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崎
headland
JOK: 1297
Learn about a kanji that appears in many place names. Discover etymologies for both “Nagasaki” and “Miyazaki,” and see which noodle dish originated in one of these prefectures. Also examine the surnames of several celebrities, including an animator, a few authors, an entertainer whose perpetual tan inspired a new color, and a dissolute poet who wore only a tuxedo or pajamas.
浜
seashore
JOK: 1743
Why did the Japanese once cling to poles in the sea in hopes of curing disease? Where can you ride camels in Japan or nest in a hole on a hot beach in order to heal? Find out about all this, plus beach rituals, beach-inspired literature, and a sandbar-inspired pattern that has influenced designs of everything from tables to cakes. Also enjoy photos of the prettiest beaches in Japan.
浦
inlet
JOK: 1785
See how 浦 conveys all that is beautiful about untouched seashores. Learn the folktale of Taro Urashima. Find out how people use 浦 to say that their hometowns have changed beyond recognition. And become acquainted with a word that features the "water" radical four times!
岬
headland
JOK: 1840
Learn about the 16 extremities of the four main islands, and see why Japan has a whopping 5,503 lighthouses. Find out how a powerful novel and a shipwreck changed Japan and how another shipwreck bonded Japan and Turkey. Learn the various kanji for cape names, and see why the 山 radical in 岬 can be a misfit. Discover the locations of coral reefs in Japan and capes in your body!
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