Japan and North and South Korea

Japan

North Korea

South Korea

Physical Geography

Japan is an archipelago made-up of over 4,000 islands of volcanic origin. The 4 main islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku. Honshu is the largest and contains 80% of Japan’s population. Both North and South Korea are located on the Korean Peninsula, separated by the 38th Parallel.

Japan’s Geology

Mount Fuji Erupting volcanoesJapan is very mountainous. Located within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” Japan has around 170 volcanoes, of which 75 are active. Mt. Fuji (12,388’), a landmark and symbol of Japan, is classified as an active volcano with a low risk of eruption.

Japan’s EarthquakesPlate tectonic activity contributes to around 7,500 earthquakes yearly in Japan, more than any other country in the world. Earthquakes occurring offshore sometimes cause giant waves, or tsunamis.

Japan’s government prepares the people for earthquakes. Despite this some have been devastating, such as the 1995 Kobe quake, which killed over 5,500, and the 1923 Tokyo quake, which leveled the city and killed over 105,000.

Typhoons

Typhoon winds Damage from a typhoon.

Monsoons (seasonal shifts in winds) affect seasons in Japan., develop over the Pacific Ocean from late summer tTropical hurricanes, or typhoonso early fall. Typhoon winds can reach over 140mph and cause enormous damage. In 1281, the “divine winds” (kamikaze) of a typhoon devastated the ships of Kublai Khan’s Mongol fleet as they prepared to invade Japan.

Japanese History and Culture

Emperors, Samurai, and Isolation

Emperor’s Palace, KyotoSamurai

Commodore Perry and his “Black Ships”

Japan’s emperors have reigned over Japan in differing capacities for 1500 years. The Samurai were the military, or warrior class. Japan, isolated from Europe until Portugal arrived in 1543, was forced open to trade by the U.S in 1853.

Emperor Hirohito

Japan and World War II

Lack of natural resources, particularly oil and iron ore, contributed to Japan seeking them elsewhere. Japan developed a mighty military(militarism) and began claiming territories outside Japan (imperialism). When WWII began, Japan sided with the Axis Powers, including Nazi Germany. On Dec. 7, 1941 (“A date which will live in infamy”), Japan attacked the U.S. at Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii. The surprise attack crippled the U.S. Naval fleet early in the war.

Battleship The U.S.S. Arizona The Arizona Memorial

Atomic Bombs Two U.S. atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of 1945 led the Japanese to surrender, ending WWII.

U.S. Occupation

From 1945-1952, the U.S. army occupied Japan. Japan became a democracy, the emperor’s and the military’s powers were reduced, and the country and the economy were rebuilt.

QUICK WRITE:

Was the United States of America justified in dropping the two atomic bombs on Japan?

Capitalism and the “Economic Miracle”Following WWII, Japan rapidly grew into one of the wealthiest and most developed countries in the world. Japan’s economy is based heavily on foreign trade. Japan specializes in high-tech industries, such as computers and automobiles. In the past, the government has acted to protect Japanese industries by imposing tariffs (import taxes) and quotas (fixed limits) on import goods.

Japan’s PeopleOver 127 million people live in Japan, a country with the land size of California. Japan’s population density is 830 per sq. mi. (CA. is 217). Japan has a very homogenous (uniform) society, where around 99% are of Japanese ancestry. About 80% of the people live on the island of Honshu. Most live in large, crowded cities, like Tokyo (capital), Yokohama, Osaka, and Nagoya.

Religions of Japan

The most common faiths in Japan are Buddhism and Shinto. Buddhism, adapted from China, teaches people to seek spiritual enlightenment by overcoming selfishness and living modestly. Early Japanese inhabitants followed Shinto, which worshipped the forces of nature and the spirits of dead ancestors. Japan also has been influenced by Confucianism, including respect and loyalty to elders and those in authority, and benefiting the common good.

Japanese CultureSushiSumo Wrestling

JudoRock Garden

Bonsai

SOUTH KOREA

NORTH KOREA

Korean Flags

KOREAN HISTORY 한국의 역사

• Japan and Korea have had a close history. Japan conquered Korea and controlled it until after WW2

• The US & USSR split Korea along the the 38th parallel

• The North invaded the South

• A truce was called and technically the two countries are still at war

Climate 명 . 기후 ; 풍토• North Korea has Humid Continental

• South Korea has Humid Subtropical

LANDFO

RMS

•600 MILE LONG PENISULA600 MILE LONG PENISULA•COSTAL PLAIN ON THE WEST COAST / POPULATIONCOSTAL PLAIN ON THE WEST COAST / POPULATION•HILLS AND LOW MOUNTAINSHILLS AND LOW MOUNTAINS•BORDERED BY YELLOW, EAST CHINA AND SEA OF JAPANBORDERED BY YELLOW, EAST CHINA AND SEA OF JAPAN

Korean Population 한국의 인구North Korea has a population of 23 million and a population density of 497 per sq. mi.

South Korea has a population of 49 million and a population density of 1,274 per sq. mi. Seoul, the capital city, has over 10 million people. South Korea is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.

ECO/EDU/FOOD/RELIGION• NORTH: COMMAND• SOUTH: MARKET• NORTH: STRICT COMMUNIST IDEALS

– LIMITED HIGHER EDU– WORK IS PART OF SCHOOL

• SOUTH: WESTERN STYLE EDU• RICE IS A STAPLE PIZZA HUT KOREA• NORTH: STATE CONTROLLED (ALLOWS)• SOUTH:

BUDDHIST/CONFUSCIANISM/CHRISTIANITY

Governments of N. & S. KoreaNorth Korea dictator Kim Jong-il….is DEAD!

Son is BMOC

Kim Jung UnSouth Korea’s type of government is a republic. The leaders of the country are elected by the population.

North Korea is a communist dictatorship with Kim Jong- Un as the totalitarian dictator. He took over leadership of the country when his father died in 2011.

Korean War, 38th Parallel, DMZBetween 1950-1953, a war was fought between North Korea and South Korea. The Korean War ended in a cease-fire. The line separating the two countries is the 38th Parallel.

DMZNORTH

• PYONYANG

SOUTH

DIFFERENCES

DIFFERENCES