As you may know, (but probably not), I've been writing a lot of random Jetko fanfics, one of them being set in the modern world.

Well, I've been having trouble deciding whether Zuko should be Chinese or Japanese (no offense to other Asian cultures, it's just that China and Japan are the only two eastern countries I know anything about), and I've now decided that he is in fact Japanese. And, being the complete dork that I am, I have some very good reasons as to why that is so.

1. Japan consists of over three thousand islands. A look at the Avatar world map shows that the Fire Nation also mostly consists of islands.

2. The majority of Japan's islands are mountainous, many of them volcanic, just like the Fire Nation.

3. It's located on the "Pacific Ring of Fire" for god's sake!

4. The Greater Tokyo area of Japan is the world's largest metropolitan area, and if anyone hasn't noticed, there seem to be an excess of Fire Nation soldiers for the small amount of land that is the Fire Nation.

5. Japan is a world leader in technology and machinery, where as the Fire Nation is a leader of such in the Avatar world.

6. Japan has a history of influence from the outside world followed by long periods of isolation, where as the Fire Nation was once peaceful with all other nations, but now isolates itself.

7. Japan has a constitutional monarchy. The Fire Nation has a much stronger monarchy, but a monarchy non-the-less.

8. Japanese samurai warriors (depending on the time period) were some of the most well trained and successful soldiers in the world. The Fire Nation soldiers seem to be doing pretty well when compared to most of the other nations.

9. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, (war between Japan and China during and before WWII), Japan captured a vast majority of Chinese land before China formed alliances with other nations and defeated Japan. The Fire Nation has already conquered a vast majority of the other nations, and unless an alliance is reached, their screwed.

10. Japan's size in comparison to China is very, very small, yet they still advance in a number of subjects when compared to China. The Fire Nation is itsy-bitsy compared to the earth kingdom, but it continues to over-ride it on almost every occasion.

And that is my logic as to why Zuko would be Japanese in our world!