JAPAN -THE COUNTRY THAT YOU ARE NEVER FARTHER THAN 70 MILES FROM THE SEA/OCEAN.

Write down everything that is in BOLD and yes, the statement above, about

Japan, is in bold :)

JAPAN• Japan’s population is

approximately 126 million people.

• Japan is made up of 4 major islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu

• Japan is slightly smaller than California ~ population: 39.56 million people

REGION • Lies in the Ring of Fire ~

earthquakes & volcanic eruptions

• Earthquakes = possible Tsunamis (huge sea waves)

• Climate: Northern region: humid continental Southern region: humid subtropical

Major Cities / Population: • Tokyo (8.3 million people) - capital of Japan.

Tokyo is considered a Megalopolis - huge supercity

• Yokohama (3.6 million) - most important port & country’s commercial center

• Japanese has standard of living comparable to the USA

• Space is limited in Japan ~ they practice intensive cultivation, growing crops on every available piece of land

• Sunlight law - Nisshoken ~ “right to sunshine” - governs the height (5-10 story buildings) and shape of buildings (slant roof vs flat roof)

HISTORY OF JAPAN

• Clans in Japan since 400 CE

• from 1100’s - 1860’s Samurai warriors and Shoguns ruled the country

• Shoguns - were military dictators of Japan during the period from 1185-1868 CE

HISTORY OF JAPAN• Samurai warriors were the warriors. Their main weapon and

symbol was the sword. Samurai would train and believe that their swords were actually part of their soul.

• Women were also samurai’s and they fought in combat, as well.

• Japan kept people out of their country until the USA, because of trade, forced them to open their borders in 1853

• 1941, December 7th ~ Japanese attack Pearl Harbor • After WWII, Japan was in ruins and with financial aid from

the U.S., we helped them rebuild

TRANSPORTATION• Bullet Train - aka Shinkansen • now they have Maglev trains - magnetic levitation - broke a speed record in April

of 2015, reaching a speed of 603 km/h (304mph) = about 6 miles per minute (1 mile per 10 seconds).

• In 2027, there will be tracks that will take people from Tokyo to Nagoya - 5 hours by car - it will only be 40 minutes by Shinkansen

JAPAN - TODAY• Japan has some of the most

innovative technology -including Qoobo (coming in June of 2019)

• Major companies: Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan

• Sumo wrestling & Baseball are major sports

• clothing: some wear traditional Kimonos, some wear t-shirts & jeans

CULTURE • Women in Japan are in

charge of the household; they will work, but for less money.

• Religion - Buddhism & Shinto (a religion that focuses on nature, history, & ancestry)

• Education & Family are both VERY important to the culture

MT. FUJIThe tallest mountain in Japan (12,380 feet). It is a symbol of Japan, and it is a sacred sight for people of Shinto

KABUKI THEATERSghostly white faces, eerie sound effects and random yells from the crowd. A 400-year-old art form that was entertaining to commoners; it was known as “people’s theater.”