Japanese Geography and Culture

The Land of the Rising Sun

• Amaterasu is the sun goddess.
• Emperors and rulers of Japan were considered divine descendants of Amaterasu.

Japan's Geography and Demographics

• Japan is approximately 60% the size of Alberta.
• The population was around 12 million in 1600.
• Mountains and steep valleys cover 80% of Japan.
• Only 18% of the land is suitable for agriculture.
• The population density was mainly around the coast.

Japan's Isolated Nature

• Japan consists of isolated islands.
• Rough seas made travel by water between Japan and the rest of Asia difficult.
• There are very few places to build harbors on the west side of Japan.

Adapting from Other Cultures

• Immigration to Japan is limited, even from Korea and China.
• Japan adapted the Chinese Kanji writing system and altered it by combining it with Kana.

Nature's Influence on Japanese Culture

• Japan experiences distinct and predictable seasons.
• Rituals mark the changes in seasons.
• Cherry blossoms are a significant part of Japanese culture, representing new beginnings and the beauty of life.
• Haikus are poems inspired by nature.

Nature and the Ainu People

• The Ainu are the Indigenous people of Japan.
• Elements of nature were viewed as gods, known as Kamuy.

Shinto: The Way of the Spirits

• Shinto is the ancient religion of Japan
• The religion values love and harmony with nature.
• Sacred spirits called Kami took the form of natural elements.
• Amaterasu is the most important Kami.
• Humans would become Kami after death.
• Matsuri is the festival to celebrate the Kami.

Shinto Practices and Beliefs

• Shinto does not have a founder or religious laws.
• The religion has borrowed aspects from Buddhism and Confucianism.
• Many households have small alters called butsudan.
• Larger places have shrines known as kamidana.

The Dark Side of Nature in Japan

• Japan is located where many continental and tectonic plates meet.
• This location makes Japan prone to earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and typhoons.
• People of Japan have become stoic in the face of natural disasters.

Japan's Self-Sufficiency

• Japan did not frequently trade with other countries.
• It had enough resources to provide for its needs and wants.
• A good climate with a longer growing season and lots of rainfall helped enable self-sufficiency.

Rice as a Symbol

• Rice was a crucial food for Japan, similar to poutine in Canada or hunter-gatherer food for the Aztecs.
• Growing rice was labor-intensive and required a lot of rain.

The Importance of Rice

• Rice crops would fail without monsoon winds and rains.
• The resulting famine would cause disruption and turmoil.
• The amount of rice a person could grow determined their wealth.
• Seafood and soy were also staple foods in Japanese diets.

Homogeneous Society

• Mountains running between countries created a natural barrier to trade and communication.
• The climate was cold in the north and mild in the south of Japan.
• The sea connected everyone, leading to trade, communication, exchange of ideas, beliefs, and values.

Homogeneity in Japan

• Japan prides itself on being homogeneous.
• The majority of the population lived on the coast.

The Ainu People

• The Ainu lived in northern Japan (Hokkaido) for thousands of years.
• The Japanese expanded and took over Ainu lands, forcing assimilation.
• The Ainu were given land to farm and turned into farmers as a traditional hunting/fishing society.

Japanese Flag Symbolism

• The flag represents the land of the rising sun.
• The sun played an important role in Japanese mythology.
• The sun was essential for the growth of crops and rice.