In "Port #1" (Class #1) there are sixteen (16) basic kanji you can learn. This class is for fun, but it can also help you learn some basic Japanese kanji!

The first kanji is shown below. It's the kanji for "Japan." You should start to notice this kanji appearing in your travels, on the ship, and elsewhere. There are two parts to the kanji for Japan. First, look closely at the picture on the far left. It is of a bright sun rising up on the horizon. Also is a picture of a strong tree. In the center panel, you will see a red square with a line running through it. The Japanese don't draw a circle to represent the sun. Instead, they draw a rectangle with a center line.  This symbol means 'sun.' To help you remember, think of the line in the center as the equator. The next symbol is green and represents a tree. Can you imagine the basic shape being a tree? There is actually one difference between this symbol and the standard symbol for a tree. It is the short horizontal line at the bottom of the tree trunk. It represents the root. The 'root' or 'basis' of the tree, or simply basis.
The third panel shows both parts of the kanji together and in black. They work together to mean "Japan." Why is this? It's because Japan was called by China to be "The Land of the Rising Sun." Japan is to the east of China. The sun rises in the east. The sun rises where Japan is located to the Chinese. It is the basis of the country. It means "Origin of the Sun" or "Sun's Origin."

Also, an interesting fact: the word 'Japan' (日本) was assigned by early foreigners. The Japanese people themselves call their country "Nihon" or "Nippon" they never called their country Japan. But over time, it has become accepted.