According to legend, the creation of the archipelago of Japan was the result of the divine union of the sibling-gods, Izanagi and Izanami. Lying along the north-westernmost edge of the Pacific Ocean, this ancient nation consists of four main, and well over a thousand smaller, islands. Dominating almost two thirds of the landscape are chains of richly forested mountains, many of which are volcanic, intersected by torrential rivers, hot-springs and crystal-clear lakes. In no small way, this insular setting has played a crucial role in moulding the cultural identity of the Japanese nation.
