Ancient Japan

Where in the world is Japan? The next couple of slides are a comparison of the countries that we will be visiting. Notice how small all are compared to China.

-Japan is an archipelago (chain of islands) -Located about 100 miles off the Asian mainland Four major islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu,Shikoku en.wikipedia.org

Islands Hokkaido Honshu Shikuku Kyushu The next couple of slides are a comparison of the countries that we will be visiting. Notice how small all are compared to China. Shikuku Kyushu

Japan is much smaller than the United States.

Japan is slightly smaller than California, but it has almost 4 x as many people. http://www.smgov.net/farmers_market/images/california%20map.jpg http://www.nanzan-u.ac.jp/English/campus/img/map_japan-nagoya.jpg

Lack of farmable land Agriculture The most striking feature of Japanese agriculture is the shortage of farmland. The land under cultivation constitutes just 12 percent of the total land area. The next couple of slides are a comparison of the countries that we will be visiting. Notice how small all are compared to China.

In Japan they use Terrace Farming due to the mountainous geography of the Islands. Terrace farming: a farming method which uses “steps” that are built into a mountain or hillside

The surrounding seas have both protected and isolated Japan The surrounding seas have both protected and isolated Japan. It was close enough to the mainland to learn from Korea and China, but far enough away to keep the Chinese from trying to take over globalsherpa.org

This permitted Japan greater freedom to accept or reject Chinese influences. At times, the Japanese sealed themselves off from foreign influences, choosing to go their own route. adventurefinder.com

The seas that helped Japan preserve its identity also served as trade routes. The Inland Sea was an especially important link among various Japan islands. thehaikuguru.com

The seas also offered plentiful food resources The seas also offered plentiful food resources. The Japanese, like the Koreans, developed a thriving fishing industry. glendalecommunitycollege.wordpress.com

The Japanese use the ocean and seas to make money instead! The next couple of slides are a comparison of the countries that we will be visiting. Notice how small all are compared to China.

Japan’s volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis

The “Ring of Fire” This region is known as the “Ring of Fire” because The next couple of slides are a comparison of the countries that we will be visiting. Notice how small all are compared to China. This region is known as the “Ring of Fire” because of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions

Japan’s Volcanoes The next couple of slides are a comparison of the countries that we will be visiting. Notice how small all are compared to China.

Kobe Earthquake -- January 17, 1995 -7.2 on Richter scale, over 5,000 deaths The next couple of slides are a comparison of the countries that we will be visiting. Notice how small all are compared to China.

Kobe Earthquake -- January 17, 1995 The next couple of slides are a comparison of the countries that we will be visiting. Notice how small all are compared to China.

triggers a massive tsunami March 11, 2011: an earthquake in Japan triggers a massive tsunami

Underwater earthquakes can launch killer tidal waves, called tsunamis, that sweep over the land without warning, wiping out everything in their path. guardian.co.uk weatherwizkids.com

The Tsunami hits

The effect: thousands of people were killed, buildings were destroyed, and many were displaced.

The Japanese came to fear and respect the dramatic forces of nature The Japanese came to fear and respect the dramatic forces of nature. Today, as in the past, soaring Mount Fuji, with its snowcapped volcanic center, is a sacred symbol of the beauty and majesty of nature. bestplacevacation.com

Mount Fuji Mount Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan, standing at 12,380 feet It is an active volcano, sitting on a "triple junction" of tectonic activity It is only 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Tokyo, Japan's capital and largest city. In fact, the last time Mount Fuji erupted, in 1707, volcanic ash fell on Tokyo! Mount Fuji is the single most popular tourist site in Japan, for both Japanese and foreign tourists. More than 200,000 people climb to the summit every year, mostly during the warmer summer months.