Japan is an island nation in Asia and is often called Land of the Rising Sun. It consists of over 6,000 islands, though the four largest islands make up 97% of Japan’s land area. Japan was ruled by feudal shoguns who ruled in name of the Emperor from the twelfth century until 1868. In 1853, a United States fleet pressured Japan to end its period of isolation and trade with the West. Tokyo is Japan’s capital and most populous city. During World War II, the United States bombed Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki after Japanese aircrafts bombed the US naval base at Pearl Harbor. Japan has a long history of art and literature; The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter is considered Japan’s oldest narrative.