1. Japan
Land of the Rising Sun

2. Geography Japan is an archipelago, a chain of four main islands.
Pacific in East, Sea of Japan in West
Water has provided protection; Led to isolation
Moderate temperatures
Mountainous; most people live near water

3. Map of Japan

4. Geography Cont…
Because they are an island nation with limited resources, Japan relies heavily upon trade today (90% of their oil is from OPEC nations)
This lack of resources caused Japan to imperialize China prior to WWII in the 1930s.

5. Key Vocabulary
Shinto-Belief in the worship of ancestors and nature (spirits in all things)
Feudalism-Strict and rigid social structure of Japan
Bushido Code- Code of behavior for samurai warriors; like chivalry in Europe during Middle Ages

6. Samurai Warriors in Art

7. Japan’s Early Years
Borrowed much of their culture from China and Korea (cultural diffusion)
Architecture
Language
Writing (characters)
Art
Philosophy
Early Japan was very isolationist, and was controlled by powerful military leaders (shoguns) from

8. Tokugawa Shogunate (1603-1869)
Last Shogunate
“Age of Shoguns and Samurai”
Unified most feudal fiefdoms throughout Japan
Characterized by traditional culture: Dress, music, kabuki theater, poetry, art, & the tea ceremony.
Ends when Emperor Meiji takes control in 1867

9. Tokugawa Shogunate

10. Little pigs, little pigs let me in…
In 1853, American naval Commodore Mathew Perry delivered letter to the Japanese government
Letter urged Japan to open up it’s ports to western trade or be destroyed in one years time

11. End of Isolationism
When Perry returned, Japan agreed to the demands realizing they were greatly outmatched.
Major social, political, and economic reforms began
The Meiji Restoration begins

12. Meiji Restoration: 1867-
Period starting in 1867 when Japan rapidly modernized, westernized, and militarized.
Foreign trade increases
Japan uses western military leaders to build a modern Japanese military (samurai tradition ends)

13. Meiji Restoration cont…
Restoration proved successful when Japan defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904
Japan is now a force to be reckoned with in the 1900s.

14. Imperialist Japan
Due to rapid industrialization in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, Japan realized that they must acquire foreign territory gain access to new resources
In the 1920s and 1930s, Japan brutally conquers much of China and many other pacific Asian islands.
Ex. “Rape of Nanking”

15. WWII Japan Member of Axis powers (along with Germany & Italy)
Pulled U.S.A. into WWII with bombing of Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941
Surrendered to U.S.A. following the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug. 6 & 9, 1945

16. Post WWII Japan Emperor admits to being merely a human, not a god
U.S. Control
Demilitarize-Could not raise an army or make war
Democratize-U.S. creates a constitution which transformed Japan from an Empire to a Parliamentary Democracy

17. Macarthur and Emperor Hirohito

18. Modern Japan
Today, Japan is a world economic power with a very favorable balance of trade
Japan exports more than they import, mostly technology, cars, and electronics
Much of Japan’s success today can be attributed to its well trained workforce and excellent educational system.