Imperial Amphora

15 Apr, 2008 in art pottery by admin

Imperial Amphora

Weights & Measures in Japan

Like every nation on Earth except Liberia, Myanmar and the United States, Japan relies on the metric system for most of its weights and measures. While you may be used to the antiquated and difficult British Imperial system used in the U.S., the fact is that anyone who can add, subtract, multiply and divide by tens will have a very easy time with weight conversion the "metric way." Weight conversion charts that can fit into your purse or wallet are easy to get and fairly inexpensive; alternatively, you may prefer a weight conversion calculator, which can be purchased from many sources for around $50 or so.

In any case, anyone who is considering a journey to Japan will do well to have access to weight conversion table in order to facilitate metric weight conversion tasks.

A Short History of Weights and Measures

If you find the old style system of pounds and ounces confusing, the one thing you can say about it is that such weight conversions are at least consistent. In the old days, weights and measures were based on arbitrary factors that were not at all consistent. Biblical scholars will recall such units as the "cubit" or the "talent." The former was equivalent to the distance between a man's elbow and the tip of his middle finger; the latter was a measure that was equal to the volume of an amphora, the size of which could vary from one region of the Mediterranean to another. The inconsistencies and difficulties involved with these types of weight conversions should be obvious.

Although more complicated than the metric system, the old Japanese shakkan-ho standard of weights and measures - still used in the sake (rice wine) manufacturing industry - is remarkably consistent. The base unit is known as sho, which is the standard size for a bottle of sake - just short of two liters, which a weight conversion chart or weight conversion calculatorwill show you is roughly equivalent to half a gallon.

Buying Food and Drink in Japan

Whereas food and drink in the US is sold in pounds and ounces, grocers in Japan deal in grams, kilograms and liters for all measurements other than sake. A kilogram is equal to 2.2 U.S. pounds, and a gram is 1/1000th of this amount. Understanding this will make your weight conversion tasks much easier, whether or not you have a weight conversion calculator or a metric conversion chart with you.

About the Author

Susan Slobac is an avid supporter of extended learning. She is active in helping educators with an interest in teaching internationally, and her experience includes development of metric weight conversion curriculum.

Robin Guthrie - Amphora