The ancient name for Japan was Wa it was also once called Yamato(倭), which is the name of the clan who united Japan. The Yamato Dynasty is the only dynasty in all recorded Japanese history. The name we call Japan comes from Marco Polo. The Japanese call their country Nihon or Nippon (日本). All both names mean the same thing, origin of the sun.

Japan's indigenous religion is Shinto, which is a loosely related set of folk beliefs. It is a nature based religion. The main deity is Amaterasu(天照皇大神) the sun goddess. It is her descendants who became the emperors of Japan. For a list of Japanese gods and goddesses see this site.

Japan is interesting because there has only been one dynasty-the Yamato Dynasty--in all of recorded history. This is because there is a pattern where a new group obtains power but instead of getting rid of the system already there they just build on top of that and created a system of indirect rule. For most of Japan's history the emperors did not actually rule the country but instead served as a figurehead. It was not until the Bakumatsu (幕末)--which is dated from around 1850 or 1853-1868--that the cult of the Emperor took rise. Before, if the emperor didn't do what those with real power wanted, or different factions were trying to gain power, the emperor could be easily replaced or assassinated. He was little more than the head Shinto priest. The indirect rule could be complicated depending on how many layers which were in existence: there was the emperor; then there could be several retired emperors; then there were regents; then there were shoguns; and then at different times there were the regents of the shoguns. Even after the Bakumastu, the Emperor had no real power. The power after 1868 lay in oligarchy.

Japan has a unique and fascinating history and culture. It is true that they borrow things from other cultures, however they integrate it and come back with something uniquely Japanese.