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.  

Nippon -- “Land of the Rising Sun” 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 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 States 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 by Satellite The next couple of slides are a comparison of the countries that we will be visiting. Notice how small all are compared to China.

PEOPLE Japan is homogeneous there are also no ethnic minorities The Japanese have a strong sense of national identity

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

Population Comparisons The next couple of slides are a comparison of the countries that we will be visiting. Notice how small all are compared to China.

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: Little Arable Land 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 Land Area and Utilization The next couple of slides are a comparison of the countries that we will be visiting. Notice how small all are compared to China.

Rice Farmer’s Farmhouse: Okutsu Town, Okayama Prefecture The next couple of slides are a comparison of the countries that we will be visiting. Notice how small all are compared to China.

Terrace Farming of Rice The next couple of slides are a comparison of the countries that we will be visiting. Notice how small all are compared to China.

The Japanese Farm the Sea The next couple of slides are a comparison of the countries that we will be visiting. Notice how small all are compared to China. Tokyo Fish Market

Different Climates and Seasons in Japan Spring Summer The next couple of slides are a comparison of the countries that we will be visiting. Notice how small all are compared to China. Fall Winter

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

Mt. Aso -- Active Volcano The next couple of slides are a comparison of the countries that we will be visiting. Notice how small all are compared to China.

The country lies on the Ring of Fire

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

Global Tectonic Plates Japan -- On the “Fire Rim of the Pacific” The next couple of slides are a comparison of the countries that we will be visiting. Notice how small all are compared to China.

Japanese Earthquakes: 1961-1994 The next couple of slides are a comparison of the countries that we will be visiting. Notice how small all are compared to China.

Ginza Ruins After The Great Kanto Earthquake -- Tokyo, 1923 The next couple of slides are a comparison of the countries that we will be visiting. Notice how small all are compared to China. Over 100,000 dead!

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. 7.2 Richter scale 5,500 deaths

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.

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

Tsunamis – Tidal Waves The next couple of slides are a comparison of the countries that we will be visiting. Notice how small all are compared to China.

Earthquake/Tsunami March 11, 2011

Tsumani - 23 ft Earthquake - 8.9 -9.0

Fast Travel Throughout 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. Shinkansen: Bullet Train Bullet Train National Lines