Japan is a very beautiful and fascinating country, but it seems a lot of people only know the barest minimum of facts related to this ancient culture. It's time to remedy that, and teach you that …
日本，一个美丽而迷人的国度。不过很多人对日本的传统文化却鲜有了解，接下来我们就一起看看日本有哪些任性的风俗...
10.Eating Raw Horse Meat Is Perfectly Normal in Japan
10.生吃马肉很正常
Many of us would cringe at the thought of eating horse meat, especially if it's raw and cold. But in Japan, raw horse meat, also called basashi, is considered a delicacy and is served in many restaurants. Eating raw horse meat is not a recent fad popularized by a celebrity or an innovative chef, though — it's been practiced by the Japanese for many decades now.
一听到吃马肉，而且还是生冷的马肉，我想大多人肯定都不由得浑身一机灵。但是对于日本人而言，生马肉可是人间美味，很多餐厅都有这道菜。生吃马肉可不是因为某位名人或某位大厨一时的创新而带来的最新潮流，它在日本已经有几十年历史了。
Before you dismiss the idea of trying basashi, know that it's much healthier than pork and beef, and is less prone to E. coli contamination. It is very high in protein yet low in calories, and is rich in Linoleic Acid. Aside from that, eating horse meat may possibly prolong your life. A demographic statistics published in 2013 showed that the residents of the Nagano prefecture had the highest life expectancy in Japan: 80.88 years for men and 87.18 for women. Their secret: eating horse meat.
先别急着将生马肉拒之门外，它可比猪肉和牛肉还要健康呢，而且也不易感染大肠杆菌。此外，马肉富含蛋白质和亚麻油酸，卡路里含量低，而且还有延年益寿之功效。根据2013年公布的人口统计数据，长野县的男性平均寿命80.88，女性平均寿命87.18，是日本平均寿命最高的县。想知道他们长寿的秘诀？吃马肉！
9.1,500 Earthquakes Hit Japan Every Year
9.平均每年地震1500次
Though Japan is a very beautiful country, it is also quite deadly, not because of its crime rate (it's actually one of the safest countries in the world), but primarily because it's one of the world's most earthquake-prone areas. It experiences 1,500 earthquakes every year. Thankfully, most of these quakes are just tremors. Japan is no stranger to devastating earthquakes. It has experienced several catastrophic quakes in the past that has led to the destruction of billions of dollars worth of properties and the death of thousands of people.
日本虽然美丽让人神往，但有时却也致命得让人望而却步。这倒并不是说日本犯罪率高（因为日本算是世界上最安全的国家之一），而是因为日本是世界上地震最频发的地区。日本平均每年会发生1500多次地震，不过好在震幅往往都不大，不会造成太大影响。但是，日本过去也曾遭受过几次大地震，造成数十亿的财产损失和数千人丧生。
Japan's geographical location is the primary factor as to why it's prone to earthquakes. It is situated on top of four massive tectonic plates. When these plates move, earthquakes are produced. In 2011, these tectonic plates had a massive movement that resulted into a catastrophic event. Considered as the strongest and biggest earthquake in Japan, the Tohoku Earthquake of 2011 had a magnitude of 9.0. Though it was the strongest and the biggest, the Tohoku Earthquake was not the deadliest in Japan's history. It only killed around 29,000 people. Surprisingly, Japan's deadliest earthquake, the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, only had a magnitude of 7.9, and yet it killed 142,800 Japanese residents.
日本频发地震的主要原因在于其地理位置。日本处于四大地质板块的交界处，任何一个板块的移动都会引发地震。2001年，由于地质板块移动，日本列岛东北方向遭受里氏9.0级大地震，是日本有史以来震级最大、最强的一次地震，不过其伤亡人数并不是日本之最，只造成大约29,000人丧生。相较之下，1923年发生的关东大地震，虽然震级只有7.9，却造成142,800人丧生，是日本历史上造成死伤人数最多的地震。
8.Japan Is Home to the World's Craziest Vending Machines
8.街头到处都是自助贩卖机
The Japanese people love vending machines. In fact, there are around 5.52 million of them scattered throughout the country. Over the years, these machines have greatly evolved from being practically convenient to extremely bizarre. In most countries, vending machines typically sell snacks like chips, gums, candies, sodas, and chocolates. However, the Japanese seemed to have combined the practicality of vending machines with their love for innovation and bizarre everything.
日本人钟爱自助贩卖机。日本全国大概有5, 520,000个自助贩卖机，不管在哪里，都能看到它们的身影。贩卖机以前卖的都是为方便人们生活的一些实用商品，但如今却在奇异争怪的路上一去不回头。大多国家的贩卖机一般只出售零食，比如薯片、口香糖、糖果、苏打饮料和巧克力等。但是在日本，岛国人民充分发挥创新精神，贩卖机的商品既实用，又让人有些匪夷所思。
In Japan, it's perfectly normal for vending machines to sell fresh eggs, bags of rice, and even fresh bouquets of flowers. If these aren't enough to amuse you, they also sell toilet paper, condoms, umbrellas, fish baits, and even porn magazines. Crazy, yet oddly convenient.
日本自助贩卖机种类繁多，有卖新鲜鸡蛋、袋装大米和鲜花的，还有卖卫生纸、避孕套、雨伞、鱼饵的，甚至还有色情小说的自助贩卖机。真是只有想不到，没有做不到啊，虽然听着有点奇怪，但确实很便利。
7.Slurping When Eating Soups or Noodles Is Perfectly Normal in Japan
7.吃面喝汤声响要大
In the Western world, people are expected to eat their food without making any unnecessary noises. Creating sounds like slurping when eating soups or noodles is considered inappropriate and rude. However, in Japanese society, it is the complete opposite. Slurping is perfectly normal and acceptable, even when done in public. In fact, slurping is highly encouraged.
在西方国家，人们都觉得吃东西时不应该发出不必要的声音，而且吃面或喝汤时发出声音很不礼貌。但在日本却截然相反，日本人觉得吃面的声音越大越好，尤其是在公共场合。
So, why do the Japanese make pig-like sounds when eating hot soups and noodles? In Japan, slurping is considered as a sign of appreciation and approval. It means that you find the soup or noodles you're eating so delectable, you want to get it in your mouth as quickly as possible, and by any means necessary. In other words, slurping is a highly accepted way of complimenting the cook for doing a great job.
为什么日本人在喝热汤或吃面时要发出像猪一样的声音呢？日本人觉得吃饭发出声音是对食物的一种赞美和肯定，声音大就说明食物好吃，所以想尽可能快的吃干净，哪怕是不顾形象、狼吞虎咽发出声响。吃东西的时候发出很大声音其实也是对厨师的一种肯定。
6.Baseball Is Very Popular in Japan
6.棒球在日本很火
Sumo might be the national sport of Japan, but baseball is the most loved and most popular. Known as Yakyu in Japanese, baseball was introduced to Japan by an American teacher named Horace Wilson. In 1873, under the supervision of Mr. Wilson, the first baseball game in Japanese history was played at the Tokyo University, back then it was known as Kaisei Gakko. Since then, yakyu has become Japan's most loved team sport.
虽说相扑是日本“国技”，但是棒球才是最受日本国民欢迎的运动。日语中，棒球发音为“yakyu”，这项运动是由美籍教师霍雷斯·威尔森首次引入日本的。1873年，在威尔森的监督指导下，日本历史上第一次棒球比赛在东京大学拉开帷幕。自此之后，棒球便广泛传播，成为日本最受欢迎的一项运动。
Japan has two professional baseball leagues: the Pacific League and the Central League. Aside from these two pro leagues, baseball is also played in various high schools and universities throughout the country. Also, baseball tournaments featuring high school teams are quite famous and highly anticipated for. In fact, their games are even broadcast on national television.
日本有两个职业棒球联盟，即太平洋联盟和中央联盟。除了这两个职棒联盟，日本很多高中和大学也有自己的棒球队。在高等学校举行的棒球锦标赛也很有名，甚至会在日本国家电视台进行现场直播，备受关注。
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