Question # 1

Describe what you think the geography of Japan is like? (i.e. is it desert-like, mountainous, flat, cold, etc.)

NipponNippon -- “Land of the Rising -- “Land of the Rising Sun”Sun”

Japan and the United Japan and the United StatesStates

Japan’s RegionsJapan’s Regions

Japan’s PrefecturesJapan’s Prefectures

Japan’s TopographyJapan’s Topography

BodiBodiesesofof

WateWaterr

Sea of Japan

Ishikari R.

Korean

Straits

Pacific Ocean

Inland Sea

Tone R.

Shinano R.

Kitani Mts.

Kitakami Mts.

Mikuni

Mts.

Chugoku

Mts.

Kyushu Mts. Mt. Fuji

MountMountainsainsAndAnd

PeaksPeaks

PlainPlainss

Kanto Plain

Nobi Plain

Ishikari Plain

Osaka Plain

IslanIslandsds

Hokkaido

Honshu

Shikuku

Kyushu

Okinawa

CountriCountrieses

RussiaChina

N. Korea

S. Korea

CitieCitiess Sappor

o

Hiroshima

Kobe Tokyo

Nagasaki

Kyoto

YokohamaNagoya

Osaka

FinaFinall

MapMapSea of Japan

Ishikari R.

Korean

Straits

Pacific Ocean

Inland Sea

Tone R.

Shinano R.

Kitani Mts.

Kitakami Mts.

Mikuni

Mts.

Chugoku

Mts.Kyushu

Mts.Mt. Fuji

Kanto Plain

Nobi PlainOsaka

Plain

Ishikari Plain

Hokkaido

Honshu

Shikuku

Kyushu

Okinawa

RussiaChina

N. Korea

S. Korea

Sapporo

Hiroshima

Kobe Tokyo

Nagasaki

Kyoto

YokohamaNagoya

Osaka

Fast Travel Throughout Fast Travel Throughout JapanJapan

ShinkansenShinkansen::

Bullet TrainBullet Train

Bullet Train Bullet Train National LinesNational Lines

Very Mountainous: Very Mountainous: Little Arable LandLittle Arable Land

Hells Lake Pool in Hells Lake Pool in BeppuBeppu

Mt. FujiMt. Fuji

Swift-Moving Rivers: Swift-Moving Rivers: Hydroelectric PowerHydroelectric Power

Japan’s Land Area and Japan’s Land Area and UtilizationUtilization

Japan by SatelliteJapan by Satellite

Mt. Aso -- Active Mt. Aso -- Active VolcanoVolcano

Shiranesan CalderaShiranesan Caldera

Global Tectonic PlatesGlobal Tectonic PlatesJapan -- On the “Fire RimJapan -- On the “Fire Rim

of the Pacific”of the Pacific”

Japan’s Sub-Oceanic Japan’s Sub-Oceanic TrenchesTrenches

Japanese Earthquakes: Japanese Earthquakes: 1961-19941961-1994

Ginza Ruins After The Great Ginza Ruins After The Great Kanto Earthquake -- Tokyo, Kanto Earthquake -- Tokyo,

19231923

Over 100,000 dead!Over 100,000 dead!

Kobe Earthquake -- January Kobe Earthquake -- January 17, 199517, 1995

► 7.2 Richter 7.2 Richter scalescale

► 5,500 deaths5,500 deaths

Kobe Earthquake -- January Kobe Earthquake -- January 17, 199517, 1995

Tsunamis – Tidal Tsunamis – Tidal WavesWaves

Japan and the United Japan and the United StatesStates

Japan’s Oceanic CurrentsJapan’s Oceanic Currents

Average Monthly Average Monthly Precipitation Precipitation in Three Citiesin Three Cities

PrecipitationPrecipitation

Average January Average January TemperatureTemperature

Average July Average July TemperatureTemperature

Different Climates and Seasons Different Climates and Seasons in Japanin Japan

FallFall WinterWinter

SpringSpring SummerSummer

Igawa Town on the Izumo Igawa Town on the Izumo PlainPlain

Rice Farmer’s Rice Farmer’s Farmhouse:Farmhouse:

Okutsu Town, Okayama Okutsu Town, Okayama PrefecturePrefecture

Terrace Farming of Terrace Farming of RiceRice

The Japanese Farm The Japanese Farm the Seathe Sea

TokyoTokyoFish MarketFish Market

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

Raw MaterialsRaw Materials

World Contributions to World Contributions to Global WarmingGlobal Warming

Japan’s Population DensityJapan’s Population Density

Japan’s Population Japan’s Population TrendsTrends

Population Population ComparisonsComparisons

61126

1,250

7 40

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

Population in Millions

ThailandJapanChinaHong KongSingapore

Japan’s Population Over Japan’s Population Over 65 65

versus the United Statesversus the United States

Japan’s Growing Japan’s Growing OlderOlder

Japan’s Age BreakdownJapan’s Age Breakdown

Under 15 years

15.8%

15 – 59 years 63.3%

60 and over years

20.9%

THE FIRST SETTLERS OF JAPAN

The First Settlers of JapanThe Yayoi

300 B.C. The Yayoi appeared.Organized into clans or group of families

related by blood and marriage.Introduced farming and metalworking.

The Yamato

500 A.D. a clan called the Yamato became strong enough to rule most of Japan.

Claimed to be descendents of the sun goddess and therefore had the right to rule.

The Yamato leader Jimmu took the title “emperor of heaven” and founded a line of rulers in Japan that has never been broken.

Yamato Period: 300-Yamato Period: 300-710710

Yamato Period: 300-Yamato Period: 300-710710

“Great Kings” era“Great Kings” era

Began promoting the Began promoting the adoption of Chinese adoption of Chinese culture:culture:

Confucianism.Confucianism. Language (Language (kanjikanji characters).characters). Buddhist sects.Buddhist sects. Chinese art & architecture.Chinese art & architecture. Government structure.Government structure.

Began promoting the Began promoting the adoption of Chinese adoption of Chinese culture:culture:

Confucianism.Confucianism. Language (Language (kanjikanji characters).characters). Buddhist sects.Buddhist sects. Chinese art & architecture.Chinese art & architecture. Government structure.Government structure.

Prince Shotoku: Prince Shotoku: 573-621573-621Prince Shotoku: Prince Shotoku: 573-621573-621 Adopted Chinese culture and Confucianism.

Buddhist sects allowed to develop.

Created a new government structure:

17 Article Constitution in 604.

Prince Shotuku’s Reforms

600 A.D. a Yamato prince name Shotoku took charge of Japan on behalf of his aunt, the empress Suiko.

Wanted a strong government like China. Created a constitution that gave all the power to the

emperor. Sent officials to China to learn from their brilliant

civilization. Brought back art, medicine, and philosophy-much of

which had been brought through Korea. Brought Buddhism to Japan.

Yamato began the Taika or Great Change.

He divided Japan into provinces.Shotoku’s reforms created Japan’s first

strong central government.

Horyuji Japan’s Oldest temple and the world’s oldest surviving wooden

building.

SAYONARASAYONARA