What do the japanese call themselves?

The Japanese call themselves 日本人 (Nihonjin). This literally translates to "Japan person".

It's important to note that:

* Nihon is the formal way to refer to Japan in Japanese.

* Nippon is a more poetic and slightly more archaic term for Japan, but it's still commonly used.

* Japanese is the English word for people from Japan.

So, while "Nihonjin" is the most direct translation of "Japanese people," both terms are widely understood and accepted.