1. Land of the Rising Sun

3. Facts and Geography  Location: Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan/East Sea, east of the Korean Peninsula. Capital: TokyoKorean  Ethnic Make-up: Japanese 99%, others 1% (Korean 511,262, Chinese 244,241, Brazilian 182,232, Filipino 89,851, other 237,914)

5. Facts and Geography  Composed of 4 major islands and several thousand smaller ones  Only accessible by sea until early part of the 20 th century  Insularity made Japan relatively immune to large-scale immigration and invading foreign armies.  Natural isolation was instrumental in the development of Japan’s cultural distinctiveness and self-image.

6. Facts and Geography  As a result of the country being closed to outsiders until the mid-nineteenth century the Japanese developed ambivalence toward foreigners.  Demographic separation and geographic isolation “produced in the Japanese a strong sense of self-identity and also an almost painful self- consciousness in the presence of others.”

7. Facts and Geography  The Japanese uncertainty toward foreigners continues today as evident in contemporary attitudes toward immigration.  In 2010 survey of over 2,000 voters, “65 percent of the respondents opposed a more open immigration policy.”

8. Tokugawa Era (What It Is)  lasted 250 years (1603-1867)  government imposed national seclusion led by a (shogun) military-style governor  - ruled over four main classes of people: samuri, farmer, merchant, and artisan  - this government created codes to abide by for those under its rule  - basically, told all people how to do everything and anything  - done to ensure “external peace and internal group stability”  - this era occurred after debilitating civil wars  - goal was to unite and prosper

9. Tokugawa Era (How it Shaped Modern Japan)  created strong bonds between classes  -those living around castles depended on those in charge for protection  -in return they provided loyalty  -the strong loyalty continues to this day in schools, work areas, and in- groups

10. Collectivistic Society  shaped by need not a want  mountain ranges in Japan forced people to live closer to the limited coast or valleys  labor intensive crops, feudal class system, and need for communal assistance kept people together  being removed from the community served as a form of punishment  -evident in post-WWII rebound  -Japan lost most of what it achieved during WWII  -the strong sense of self, discipline, and ability to endure hardships brought Japan to its current state  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t19kvUiHvAE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t19kvUiHvAE

12. Social Issues in Modern Japan  Demographic changes  Immigration issues  Risk Management  Japan has world’s highest percentage of elderly population (over 65).  Increased longevity  Rising marriage age  Severely falling birthrate