What was the original name of Japan?
Solution
There are two original names of Japan, depending on what we mean by “original”:
- Yamato: This is the earliest known name used within Japan itself, referring specifically to the area around the Nara basin.
- Wa: This name was used by China to refer to Japan around the 3rd century AD. It’s not a name the Japanese used for themselves, but it’s an early external reference.
