Is there a specific time to pronounce 日本, にほん/にっぽん?


Are the two used completely interchangeably or are there specific situations
where one might be used more than the other? For example I've never heard 日本語
said にっぽんご.




**[EDIT]** I only 'heard' that にっぽん was overused during WWII to encourage
patriotic feelings. After Jesse Good comment I tried findind document backing
up this but as I didn't found anything it's probably better not to remember
this point !

Also I remembered that Japan was officialy read as にっぽん according to the
Government, I haven't had time to check it yet but this [link linsting words
who are mainly read as にほん or にっぽん](http://hiramatu-
hifuka.com/onyak/nippon.html) tends to say the two form are reckognize by the
government.

Finally, I find Tim answer better than my original answer, so I adwise you to
scroll down if it still appear after mine.

**[ORIGINAL ANSWER]**

From what I heared, 日本 was read にっぽん but was 'overused' during WWII to suggest
patriotism toward the country. In order to take distance with this meaning,
people switch to a softer reading which is にほん.

Still, 日本 is still 'officially' read as にっぽん, but from what I observed people
will mostly prefer the softer version except if you want to explicitly affirm
your attachment toward the country, some simple example could be a footbal
match, some really 'official' context (I'm mostly thinking of politicians,
such as the right orientied parties you can find on saturday in Shibuya).

So I think you will mostly never be wrong using にほん in normal cases. And if
you find yourself wanting to cheer for Japan (as a team) feel free to use にっぽん
if you feel like it.

There is probably other situation to use にっぽん but I prefer to base me reply on
situation I actually saw happen.




**[EDIT]** I only 'heard' that にっぽん was overused during WWII to encourage
patriotic feelings. After Jesse Good comment I tried findind document backing
up this but as I didn't found anything it's probably better not to remember
this point !

Also I remembered that Japan was officialy read as にっぽん according to the
Government, I haven't had time to check it yet but this [link linsting words
who are mainly read as にほん or にっぽん](http://hiramatu-
hifuka.com/onyak/nippon.html) tends to say the two form are reckognize by the
government.

Finally, I find Tim answer better than my original answer, so I adwise you to
scroll down if it still appear after mine.

**[ORIGINAL ANSWER]**

From what I heared, 日本 was read にっぽん but was 'overused' during WWII to suggest
patriotism toward the country. In order to take distance with this meaning,
people switch to a softer reading which is にほん.

Still, 日本 is still 'officially' read as にっぽん, but from what I observed people
will mostly prefer the softer version except if you want to explicitly affirm
your attachment toward the country, some simple example could be a footbal
match, some really 'official' context (I'm mostly thinking of politicians,
such as the right orientied parties you can find on saturday in Shibuya).

So I think you will mostly never be wrong using にほん in normal cases. And if
you find yourself wanting to cheer for Japan (as a team) feel free to use にっぽん
if you feel like it.

There is probably other situation to use にっぽん but I prefer to base me reply on
situation I actually saw happen.

