JapanLand of the Rising Sun

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

Map of Japan

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.

Key Vocabulary

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

Samurai Warriors in Art

Japan’s Early Years

Borrowed much of their culture from China and Korea (cultural diffusion)

ArchitectureLanguageWriting (characters)ArtPhilosophy

Early Japan was very isolationist, and was controlled by powerful military leaders (shoguns) from 794-1867.

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

Tokugawa Shogunate

Little pigs, little pigs let me in…

In 1853, American naval Commodore Mathew Perry delivered letter to the Japanese governmentLetter urged Japan to open up it’s ports to western trade or be destroyed in one years time

End of IsolationismWhen Perry returned, Japan agreed to the demands realizing they were greatly outmatched.

Major social, political, and economic reforms began

The Meiji Restoration begins

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)

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

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 resourcesIn the 1920s and 1930s, Japan brutally conquers much of China and many other pacific Asian islands.Ex. “Rape of Nanking”

WWII JapanMember 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

Post WWII Japan

Emperor admits to being merely a human, not a god

U.S. ControlDemilitarize-Could not raise an army or make war

Democratize-U.S. creates a constitution which transformed Japan from an Empire to a Parliamentary Democracy

Macarthur and Emperor Hirohito

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