JAPAN

THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What role does Japan’s geography play through out the

history of Japan? 

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: To understand important factors of Japanese geography.

 

NipponNippon -- -- ““Land of the Rising Land of the Rising SunSun””

JAPAN

• The people call it Nippon (“source of the sun”)

• The capital is Tokyo• Japan is an archipelago - a

chain of islands• There are 4 major islands

and 3,000 minor• Comparative Distance

from Land– Japan - 115 Miles– Great Britain - 21 Miles

Japan and the United Japan and the United StatesStates

Japan by SatelliteJapan by Satellite

PEOPLE

• Japan is homogeneous there are also no ethnic minorities

• The Japanese have a strong sense of national identity

JapanJapan’’s Population Densitys Population Density

Population Population ComparisonsComparisons

61126

1,250

7 40

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

Population in Millions

ThailandJapanChinaHong KongSingapore

The 4 Major Islands

• Volcanic Islands

• Hokkaido- in the north; the most isolated

• Honshu - largest and the most populated

• Shikoku - southeast

• Kyushu - furthest south; closest to Korea

• Inland Sea - used for trade

LAND AND CLIMATE

• Japan is about the size of Montana

• 4/5 of the islands are mountainous

• The lowlands are densely populated 20,000 people per square mile

CLIMATE

• Japan is humid continental and humid subtropical

• The winters are moderate and the summers are warm

• The islands receive plenty of rain for crops

• The main crop is rice but not enough is grown to feed the entire population

Kansai International Airport

• Opened in 1994 in Osaka Bay; Man-made island

RESOURCES

• Fish is a major part of the diet

• Japan has few natural resources

• Japan’s desire for natural resources was one cause of their support for the Germans in WWII.

• It must import raw materials

• Japan depends on world trade

Very Mountainous: Very Mountainous: Little Arable LandLittle Arable Land

JapanJapan’’s Land Area and s Land Area and UtilizationUtilization

Rice FarmerRice Farmer’’s s Farmhouse:Farmhouse:Okutsu Town, Okayama Okutsu Town, Okayama PrefecturePrefecture

Terrace Farming of Terrace Farming of RiceRice

The Japanese Farm The Japanese Farm the Seathe Sea

TokyoTokyoFish MarketFish Market

Different Climates and Seasons Different Climates and Seasons in Japanin Japan

FallFall WinterWinter

SpringSpring SummerSummer

Mt. Fuji

• Active Volcano• 12,388 Ft. High• Called Fuji-San by the

Japanese• Summit believed to be

sacred. Forbidden to women until the 1860s.

Mt. FujiMt. Fuji

Mt. Aso -- Active Mt. Aso -- Active VolcanoVolcano

The country lies on the Ring of Fire

Japan experiences 1,500 tremors a year and has 150 volcanoes (60 active)

Global Tectonic PlatesGlobal Tectonic PlatesJapan -- On the Japan -- On the ““Fire RimFire Rimof the Pacificof the Pacific””

Japanese Earthquakes: Japanese Earthquakes: 1961-19941961-1994

Ginza Ruins After The Great Ginza Ruins After The Great Kanto Earthquake -- Tokyo, Kanto Earthquake -- Tokyo, 19231923

Over 100,000 dead!Over 100,000 dead!

Kobe Earthquake -- January Kobe Earthquake -- January 17, 199517, 1995

► 7.2 Richter 7.2 Richter scalescale

► 5,500 deaths5,500 deaths

Kobe Earthquake -- January Kobe Earthquake -- January 17, 199517, 1995

JapanJapan’’s Sub-Oceanic s Sub-Oceanic TrenchesTrenches

Tsunamis – Tidal Tsunamis – Tidal WavesWaves

Earthquake/Tsunami March 11, 2011

Tsumani - 23 ftEarthquake - 8.9 -9.0

Fast Travel Throughout Fast Travel Throughout JapanJapan

ShinkansenShinkansen::Bullet TrainBullet Train Bullet Train Bullet Train

National LinesNational Lines