1. an archipelago – a “chain” of islands 4 main –Hokkaido –Honshu –Shikoku –Kyushu over 3000 smaller islands island chain is over 1,200 miles long

2. area: island chain is over 1,200 miles long about the size of the state of California about the same northern latitude (distance from the equator) as California 377,835 square kilometers

3. formed by volcanic action 70% covered with mountains tallest peak: Mt. Fuji only 20% suitable for agriculture

4. Isolated: sea is a natural barrier stops most invaders –(Mongol invasions in 1200’s AD stopped by storms) closest neighbor is Korean Peninsula

5. Japan: Only 20% of land (near coast) suitable for farming major crops: –rice –wheat –tobacco –fruit –vegetables

6. Japan: few natural resources imports: –99.9% of its oil –96.3% of its gas –94.7% of its coal best resource: the ocean

7. located along the Pacific “Rim of Fire”: over 1,500 earthquakes per year –cause tsunamis (tidal waves) 60 of 150 volcanoes are active –more than ½ of worlds active volcanoes

8. Population: 127,000,000 less than ½ the United States pop. BUT the area of the U.S. is 25 times larger than Japan. Japan square miles: 145,840 U.S. square miles: 3,790,000

9. weather: vulnerable to typhoons (Pacific hurricanes) monsoons (long periods of rain)