"Japan" vs. "Made in Japan": Which Term Is Older?

"Japan" is vastly older—by over a millennium.

• Japan (Nihon/Nippon 日本): Indigenous name adopted **early 7th century CE** (Asuka period). *Nihon* = "sun origin" (land of the rising sun). Appears in Chinese records (Tang dynasty) and Japan's own *Nihon Shoki* (720 CE).
• "Made in Japan" (日本製): Mandatory export marking **introduced 1890** (Meiji 23) under the **Foreign Trade Ordinance** to comply with Western customs requirements (e.g., U.S. McKinley Tariff Act 1890).

Historical Arc

1. Pre-1890: Exports marked by producer/region (e.g., "Satsuma," "Kutani," "Arita") or not marked.
2. 1890–1921: "Made in Japan" (often handwritten/stamped).
3. 1921–1941: U.S. required "Japan" or "Made in Japan" in English.
4. 1945–1952: "Made in Occupied Japan" (SCAP mandate).
5. 1952–present: "Made in Japan" / "Japan" / "日本製" per destination country rules.

The word **Japan** itself derives from Mandarin *Cipangu* (Marco Polo) → Malay *Jepang* → Portuguese *Japão* → English *Japan*—but the *native* name *Nihon* is 1,300+ years older than the export label.