Japan

Geography Archipelago – a chain of islands 4 Main Islands Over 3,000 islands total Honshu – largest and the most populated

Pacific Ring of Fire Located on fault lines with many volcanoes Typhoons – Pacific Ocean storms like hurricanes

Land & Climate 80% Mountains 20,000 people/sq mile – Honshu 360 people/sq mile – New York Long growing season: Terrace Farms, rice, fish Moderate climate because of warm ocean currents

Resources & People Few mineral resources Japan must import iron, coal, oil Almost no ethnic minorities One language, one identity Outsiders can be discriminated against

Japan: Early History

Early Society Groups of families lived in clans Tenno Dynasty – Japan’s first and only family dynasty Korea brought language and religion to Japan Government, philosophy, art, and literature borrowed from China

Japanese Feudalism Similar to European feudalism Emperor rules People owed loyalty to those above them Samurai – Warrior knights Shogun – chief general of the army Shogun had more power than emperor Daimyo – Great Samurai Bushido – code of conduct for samurai

The Way of the Samurai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmJwBV_iJRQ

Arrival of Europeans Portuguese – first to reach Japan 1600s persecution of foreigners Foreigners expelled Japanese who left could not return Cannot build ocean going vessels Two ships per year could trade with Japan 1800s Japan began to reopen its ports

Religion Shinto – Ancient Japanese belief system Link between people and nature Confucianism and Buddhism arrived from China

Japan Becomes a World Power

1800s Japan, like China, signed unequal treaties with western nations USA and European nations won the right to trade in Japan 1868 marked the end of Shogun rule in Japan

Meiji A Japanese emperor replaced the Shogun Reforms changed Japan Strong Central Government ended feudal system Parliament formed, based on Germany European style courts and laws adopted Education grew Military expanded Goal of the Meiji was to make Japan equal to Western Powers

Economic & Social Changes Students were sent all over the world to learn new technology Focus on ports, weapons, transportation, & communication systems Government tax money and private wealth built Japan’s economy, Zaibatsu Outlawed feudalism Samurais could not wear swords Movement from rural to urban Education required Voting rights increased

Japanese Expansion Japan’s rapid modernization made them an Asian power Defeated Chinese and Russians in war, early 1900s Gained valuable natural resources Coal Oil Iron

Extreme Nationalism Military leaders gained power because of Great Depression, late 20s early 30s The Japanese saw this as a return to the time when Samurai led Japan National goal was to free Asia from western imperialism

WWII in Asia Japan began expanding in 1930s Attack on China 1937 Empire expanded to include many south Asian nations by 1942 US cut off oil and trade to Japan; Japan bombed Pearl Harbor 12/07/1941 Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended WWII in Asia Surrender occurred August 14, 1945

Enola Gay – plane that dropped the 1st atomic bomb

Bocks Car – dropped 2nd atomic bomb

Hiroshima Before (top) and After (bottom)

Hiroshima & Nagasaki Industrial centers on Honshu island Hiroshima – August 6, 1945 80,000 dead 4 sq miles flattened Nagasaki – August 9, 1945 40,000 dead Surrender occurred five days later

Japan Today

1st 10 questions How did Japan change immediately after WWII? What American general led the reform efforts in Japan? What freedoms did all Japanese gain through their constitution? Why did the emperor remain? When did the occupation of Japan end? How has family life changed since WWII? How have women’s lives changed since WWII? What changes have come about in education? How have western influences changed Japan? What war helped stimulate the growth of the Japanese economy?

Last 10 questions Why were Japanese factories successful compared to American factories? What setbacks have the Japanese faced? What industries exist in Japan today? Why have Japanese businesses been successful? What challenges does Japan face in the future What is pacifism? Why has Japan began to use their military again? How has Japan helped developing nations? Describe Japan’s relationship with China Describe Japan’s relationship with Russia?