also: にっぽん
noun
The country name; にほん is the everyday reading, while にっぽん is used in formal, official, or emphatic contexts.
日本は島国です。
Japan is an island nation.
にっぽんの代表として頑張ります。
I will do my best as a representative of Japan.
Standard kanji spelling; the most common reading is にほん.
Alternate reading used in formal contexts, sports chants, and official names; less common in everyday speech.
From Middle Chinese 日本 (nyit pwonX, literally 'sun origin'), referring to the country's eastern position relative to China. The reading にほん reflects a regular sound change from earlier にっぽん, which is preserved in formal usage.