Japan's Geography Notes
Mt. Fuji
Japan's most famous volcano
Hydroelectric power
(More than any other country in Asia) what Japan uses its rivers for
In feudal Japan, what was the role of the samurai?
*"those who serve" *protected individual families and their land *similar to knights *Bushido code--required service until death
What are the two religions of Japan?
*Buddhism *Shintoism
In Pre-feudal Japan, what was the trade/economy like?
*For the most part--no trade *self-sustainable economy *traded with China, only a little bit
What's Japan's geography like? 6
*Islands *mountains *volcanoes *forests *typhoons *earthquakes
What was Tokugawa Ieyasu known for?
*Isolating Japan from the world for the next 200 years *moves capital to Edo, AKA Tokyo
Where do Japan imperialize?
*Korea *Siberia *China *places in Pacific Ocean
How does the geography impact Japan?
*Lack of resources *isolation *disasters *dense population *most cities on coast
What was the new Japanese government like? M.R.
*a representative government *new leaders *had a legislative body, congress, or parliament
In pre-feudal Japan, what was the Japanese culture?
*adopted a lot of Chinese customs *most important thing was family *patriarchy
What is Shintoism like?
*animistic *only native to Japan *focuses on spirits of nature, ancestors, and Japan's history
What was the economy like in M.R.?
*became industrialized for first time *Japan soon caught up with everyone else in 2nd industrial revolution
What was the Tokugawa period known for/
*domestic peace *Unity *Isolation *Growth(culture, population, economy)
What were the results of the migrations of Daiymo?
*growth in trade, town, arts, and culture due to amount of mandated travel *led to building of roads, new cities, increase in luxury goods
in feudal Japan, what was the role of the daimyo?
*heads of rich families *hired men to fight for them (samurai)
Before 400 CE, what was the government like? 3
*not centralized *no emperor or government *clans ruled separate areas of Japan
before 400 CE, what was the connection's in Japan like?
*very isolated *no connection to outside world
What are two effects that being surrounded by water has had on Japan?
1. It has isolated Japan and discouraged invasions 2. Helped Japan develop a unique culture
What are two major effects of Japan's mountainous terrain on the people of Japan?
1. It is difficult to farm 2. Most of the population lives along the coast
When was Imperialistic Japan?
Late 1800s to 1940s
Hokkaido
Least populated of the 4 major islands
Plains
Most of Japan's population lives on these
What is the name of Japan's highest mountain?
Mount Fuji
What increases due to militarism, imperialism, and government satisfaction?
Nationalism which leads to WWII
Russia
Nearest Asian nation to Japan
What were the major changes during the Meji Restoration?
1. Japan studied foreign ways and governments 2. Modernized the military 3. improved schools 4. began to industrialize
What is made in the Meiji Restoration?
New constitution was made describing a new government
Who helped with Japan's unification? 3
1. Oda Nobunaga 2. Toyotomi Hideyoshi 3. Tokugawa Ieyasu
Mainstreet
Nickname for inland area that links 3 of Japan's major islands
70 miles
No place in Japan is more than this distance from the ocean
About 50%
Percent of Japan that's covered in forests
80-85%
Percent of Japan that's mountainous
70%
Percent of Japan's industry that's located along a 320 mile corridor from Tokyo-Yokohama to Osaka-Kobe
About 90%
Percent of Japan's petroleum that comes from the Middle East
Cotton, wool, iron, and petroleum
Resources they must import
Who did Japan fight in the Russo-Japanese war?
Russia
What is Seppuku
Samurai ritual suicide
Environmental pollution
Serious threat to the high density industrialized Japan
What is the traditional religion of Japan?
Shintoism
What is feudalism in Japan?
Shogun gave land to the Daimyos (nobles) in exchange for their loyalty and service in times of war.
Under 3 acres
Size of the average farm (40% are less than 1.5 acres)
When was Meiji Japan?
Starts in 1868
What were things that stayed the same in government M.R.?
Still an emperor, and government still centralized
What are two ways Japan has obtained natural resources
1. Trading 2. Imperialism
What are some of the Natural Disasters that Japan experiences?
1. Volcanoes 2. Earthquakes 3. Tsunamis 4. Typhoons
Japan has a long jagged coastline so it has:
1. excellent harbors and became a center for trade 2. lots of fishing and seafood
What are Japan's river good for?
1. hydroelectric power 2. irrigation
From China, Japan adopted:
1. system of writing 2. architectural styles (pagoda) 3. tea ceremony 4. Buddhism
When was Feudal Japan?
1100 CE to 1500 CE
When was the unification of Japan?
1500s CE
When did Tokugawa Ieyasu live?
1543-1616
When was Tokugawa Japan?
1603-1868 CE
When was WWII Japan?
1940s
When was post-WWII Japan?
1940s to today
How long was Japan closed to trade?
214 years
How much of Japan's topography is mountains and hills?
85%
What is an archipelago?
A country made up of a group of islands.
7.5
A land reform program forbids ownership of more than this many acres, except on Hokkaido
What is a figurehead?
A ruler without any real power.
1,500 miles
About how long Japan is from its north to southern point
190-200
About how many volcanoes that are on the islands of Japan
128 million
Approximate population of Japan
3000-4000
Approximately the amount of islands that make Japan
When was Pre-feudal Japan?
Before 1100 CE
Farmland
Besides mineral resources, Japan has a scarce amount of this
What culture strongly influenced Japan?
China
Who did Japan fight in the Sino-Japanese war?
China
What European idea did the Japanese dislike?
Christianity
Jan 17, 1995
Date of when the worst earthquake in Japan since 1948 hit Kobe, Japan's most important port
TRUE / FALSE Japan has access to many natural resources
FALSE
TRUE / FALSE Japan's river are good for transportation.
False
80% of Japan's population lives on this island.
Honshu
Georgia
If placed along the western coast of the US, Japan would stretch from Maine to this state
What did the increase in military result in?
Japan becoming imperialistic
High-Value added
Japan has emphasized these products (typical resource short nations, in which human skill represents the value of the finished product)
Shipbuilding and automobile production
Japan ranks #1 in the world in this
Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu
Japan's 4 main islands (north to south)
TRUE / FALSE: As a country, Japan has one of the highest population densities in the world.
TRUE
TRUE / FALSE: Japan an archipelago.
TRUE
Plum
Term for the rainfall that occurs in June and July and is needed for Japan's rice cultivation
What is the practice of having step-like areas of flat farm land built on hillsides called?
Terrace Farming
Who was Matthew Perry?
The American general who was sent to Japan and forced them to open their ports to allow American ships to obtain coal and water for their steam ships.
40-100 inches
The amount of rainfall Japan receives yearly
What was the policy that prevented anyone from leaving or entering Japan called? And what did it state?
The closed-country policy 1. Banned Christianity 2. expelled foreigners
Kanto Plain
The largest plain (around Tokyo)
Mongols ; 13th
The only people who threatened to invade Japan prior to WWII in this century
How did the people feel about M.R. government changes?
The people were satisfied with the new government and changes
About 75%
The percent of Japan's population that lives on the main island Honshu
1923
The year the Tokyo-Yomohama area was devastated by an earthquake in which some 143,000 people died
Sub sea earthquakes
These can cause tsunamis, which can reach 600 mph and 100 ft high in height
Natural disasters
These plague Japan as it sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire
California
U.S. state the Japan is about the same size as
Sea
Vital to Japan because of climate, commerce/fishing, and trade
Industry
What Japan is the third largest producer of electronics
Nippon
What the Japanese call their nation
Fish/Seafood
What the Japanese eat a lot of in their diet
What is imperialism?
When a strong nation takes over a weaker nation
What are monsoons?
Winds that bring wet or dry seasons
Tokyo
Worlds second largest city/Capital of Japan
What was the Meji Restoration?
a period of time when Japan modernized and industrialized
After 400 CE, what emerges for the first time?
an emperor: 1185-Minamoto Yoritoma
before 400 CE, what was the way of life?
farming
What is abolished in the M.R.?
feudalism and samurais
What was pre-feudal Japan?
first era in history of Japan before 1100 CE
What did Japan increase in the M.R.? Why?
increased its military during the Meiji Restoration in order to protect itself from Western nations
What is a shogun?
military dictators of feudal Japan
What is the main food crop grown in Japan?
rice
What did the Tokugawa period mark?
start of more modern era
What did Oda Nobunaga do?
started the unification of Japan
What was emphasized in the M.R.?
technology, science, and math in schools
Who was Tokugawa Ieyasu?
the Daimyo leader who united all of Japan (Tokugawa Shogunate - ruling dynasty)
What were the migrations of the Daimyo?
the daiymo would be forced to to go edo for months and the shoguns would spoil them. The daiymo served as reps of their section of Japan
What was the code of Bushido?
the samurai code of conduct
What was Emperor Mutsuhito's goal for Japan?
to make Japan stronger by modernizing
What did Toyotomi Hideyoshi do?
tried to expand and unify Japan by force
What is a daimyo?
warlords of feudal Japan
What are samurai?
well trained, highly skilled warriors
