Japanese refer to their country as 'Nippon' or 'Nihon.' These two names have their origin in the words 'the place from where the sun rises' which were used by Prince Shotoku, the famous early seventh-century Japanese ruler, in speaking of his country in a letter he sent to China. The meaning of 'place from where the sun rises' was translated into a pair of Chinese characters that came to be used to indicate the name of the country in writing. At first the characters were read in the Japanese way as 'Yamato.' The words 'Nippon' and 'Nihon' used today were adopted in the Nara period.

Presently, either of these two ways of reading is used. There are no legal basis or general rule to distinguish them. However, 'Nippon' is used for example, at international sport games and for postage stamps. There are two widely held explanations regarding the origin of 'Japan' and similiar names used in the European languages.

According to one of these, these names come from 'Zipangu' or 'Jipangu,' which are Portuguese attempts at pronouncing 'Jihpenkuo,' the name used for Japan in northern China.

The other has it that they come from the Dutch 'Japan' taken from 'Yatpun,' the name of Japan used in Southern China.

'Japan' has been chosen as the formal name designating the country in the English Language. I don't know by who or when. Or why.

hemos sez: Theories also say that the name Japan came from the Italian name, Zipangu, given to the country by Marco Polo in the 1200's.