Japan Location Geography Climate, Lecture notes of Geography

Download Japan Location Geography Climate and more Lecture notes Geography in PDF only on Docsity! Page 1 of 6 Japan Location Japan is an island chain located in Eastern Asia between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan. It is east of the Korean Peninsula at 36°N, 138°E. Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku are the four largest islands. These islands extend over 2,000 km in total length, but are only about 300 km in width. Geography Japan is made up of four major and over 4,000 smaller islands. The total area of Japan is roughly the same size as California. More than half of the main island of Honshu is mountainous and two-thirds is forested. This leaves only 13% of the land arable. The islands of Japan are located on three tectonic plates, which meet just southwest of Tokyo. Therefore, earthquakes are a major concern. Thousands of people died in the last major earthquake, the Great Hanshin, in 1995 in Kobe. There are also many volcanoes as a result of Japan’s location on the plates. The most famous is the dormant Mt. Fuji, which is the highest point of Japan. Climate The climate can vary greatly from north to south. The north is cool temperate, while the south is more tropical. There are four distinct seasons in Japan. The summer is usually hot and humid. There is a rainy season in June and July, which the Japanese call tsuyu. September is usually when typhoons occur. The northern part of Japan, as well as along the Japan coast and in the central mountain areas, can receive large amounts of snowfall during winter. Page 2 of 6 History Japan is a very ancient land with a history reaching back thousands of years. The earliest history books, the Kojiki and Nihon shoki, indicate that the first emperor was crowned in 660 BC. He was a descendant of the Sun goddess, the most important of Shinto goddesses. It is believed that all other emperors have descended from him. Japan’s first Constitution was written in 604 AD. It was during this time that Buddhism was introduced into Japan from the Eurasian continent. From the end of the twelfth century to the middle of the nineteenth century, the samurai, or warrior class ruled Japan. At the beginning of the seventeenth century, Japan entered into a period of isolation for more than 200 years under the rule of Tokugawa Leyasa. All contact with other countries was cut off except with China and the Netherlands until Commodore Matthew Perry visited in 1853. Japan then began to open up to the U.S. and European countries. Eventually a new governmental system, that centered on the Emperor, was established and the focus shifted to becoming socially, economically, and politically more “Western.” Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941 bringing the US into WWII. The US dropped the first and last atomic weapons ever used in war on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945. Important Dates Important dates on the Japanese calendar are: January 1 through 3 - New Year (Shogatsu), the most important holiday of the year; Second Monday in January - Coming of Age (seiji no hi), celebration of all young people who will turn 20 that year (this is considered adulthood - allowed to vote, drink and smoke); February 11 - National Foundation Day; March 3 - Doll’s Festival (or Girls’ Festival; Hina Matsuri), families with daughters wish them long and happy lives; March 21 - Spring Equinox Day, families visit gravesites; Golden Week - several national holidays within seven days: April 29 - Green Day, Page 5 of 6 Food Sushi is probably the most well known Japanese food by Americans. It is a common misconception that sushi is just raw fish. Sushi is actually anything that contains rice and sushi vinegar. Sashimi is the word for raw fish. One way of preparing sushi is with sashimi on top. Wasabi is a hot, horseradish condiment sometimes eaten on sushi. Because Japan is an island nation, it makes sense that seafood is an important part of the Japanese diet. Rice is eaten with almost every meal in Japan and has been for over 2,000 years. In addition to rice, noodles like soba and udon are also common. Tempura is also a popular dish, which is seafood or vegetables coated with a flour batter and fried. Okonomiyaki is cooked like a pancake but prepared like a pizza. It is made with a cabbage dough crust and topped with meat, mushrooms, seaweed, squid, etc., then fried on a griddle. This is especially famous in Hiroshima, where it is served with fried noodles. Of course, the soybean is extremely important to Japanese cuisine. Soy sauce, tofu, and miso (usually in miso soup) are common in Japanese dishes. Natto is fermented soybeans that taste just about as good as they sound! Landmarks One of the most popular structures in Japan is the gate or torii that stands in the water in front of the Itsukushima Shrine, which is on an island about one hour from Hiroshima. This bright orange torii, built in the 12th century, is often used to represent Japan in photos. Another beautiful Shinto shrine is the Kinkakuji, or “Golden Pavilion” built in 1394 in Kyoto. There are many Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples scattered across Japan. Another important place in Japan is the city of Hiroshima, which was bombed at the end of WWII. The people of Hiroshima hope that the Peace Memorial Park and Museum will spread the Page 6 of 6 message of peace throughout the world. Mt. Fuji, which is near Tokyo, is probably the most famous natural landmark of Japan. The best way to travel between many of the major cities in Japan is on the Shinkansen, or bullet train. As the name implies, this train can reach speeds of nearly 190 miles per hour. Traditions There are many traditions in Japan that are distinctively Japanese. The traditional dress of men and women is the kimono. It is a very expensive silk robe worn with a belt called an obi. Kimonos are now worn for only special occasions such as weddings, funerals, and tea ceremonies. The tea ceremony is a ritual of preparing and drinking tea that has been strongly influenced by Zen Buddhism. Each important movement must be memorized. The green tea is called matcha. A sport that is distinctively Japanese is sumo wrestling. This originated as religious performances for Shinto gods. The basic rules are that the first of the two men to leave the ring or touch a part of his body (other than his foot) to the ground loses. Today the sport is followed on television by many Japanese fans. Another Japanese tradition is origami – the art of folding paper. The crane is one of the most popular; it is said that folding 1000 paper cranes will make a wish come true. Emily Adams