Japan A country with its roots in tradition and its present in “the West”.

Traditional Japanese art and modern Japanese comics. any similarities?

Culture of Japan

Japan’s most popular sport is baseball.

Baseball! Although Sumo wrestling and other sports are very popular, baseball is the national sport! From where & when did baseball arrive in Japan and other East Asian countries like South Korea?

Coca-Cola Light Coca-Cola had to change the product Diet Coke to Coke Light while expanding to Japanese markets. “Diet” is Japanese refers to Japan’s legislative body…the Japanese government did not want to seem like it was endorsing Coke Diet Coke is referred to as Coke Light in every country around the world now, except for the US Green Tea Coke

What do you notice about the population density of Japan? What prevents people from living in the other parts of Japan?

Remember 70% of Japan is Mountain

Japan has little arable land. Note the small farm plots and nearby mountains.

Japan and California Japan is slightly smaller than California Yet is has nearly 125 million people while California has only 33 million.

How does Japan’s population density compare to the United States?

Overcrowding With little land left for burying the dead, most are cremated in Japan today.

What is happening to the population of Japan (look at 2002 and 2050)? What does this tell you about their development (developed vs. developing)? *write down if Japan is an example of a developed or developing country.

National GNP of Japan What has happened over the last few decades?

Japan is one of the few “nation-states” in the world. What does this mean. Over 98% of the people of Japan are Japanese. You can’t become a naturalized Japanese citizen. You must be born of Japanese parents.

Many photos used were taken by Mr. Black of Cy-fair HS on his Japan trip. He stayed with a Japanese family. Note grandmother lives with them (respect for elders).

With little open space, note the tennis courts on top of buildings of Tokyo.

Rooftop soccer field!

Rooftop gardens in Tokyo

Because of space limitations, the Japanese have actually perfected “hay trees.” (so they don’t have to grow hay in giant fields.). No, not really! They cover trees in the winter with hay so they won’t freeze

Service trucks as well as cars are smaller than USA vehicles.

Japanese gas station. What is missing? No gas pumps. There are hoses that lower to fill the cars tanks.

Very little space for golf. Most just go to driving ranges that often include heated booths.

A great idea. Capsule hotels for men who don’t have time to travel hours home at night then back the next morning.

Capsule Hotels Capsule hotels

Like most of Japan, vending machines are in capsule hotels to provide those little “necessities” you might not have with you.

Those who have homes have little or no yard space. Smaller gardens have smaller plants like Bonsai trees. This is the garden of the real Mr. Miyagi of Karate Kid fame. Not! Mr. Sandefur jokes.

Japanese bathrooms are also space efficient. Water in the bathtub might be used by more than one person (note cover.)

Japanese homes have sliding doors to maximize space.

While “American” style toilets are becoming more common in Japan, be prepared….

Just in case you were wondering…

You can find just about anything you need in a vending machine in Japan. Even beer.

Vending machines

Vending Machines

Kobe Beef

Japan is one of the world’s largest exporters of higher priced goods. In the 50’s and 60’s, Japanese goods were considered shoddy. Who does that sound like today?

The memorial at ground zero in Hiroshima where the first atomic bomb was detonated.

The level of development of the Japanese people can be seen in the following inventions. Societies with HIGH standards of living have extra wealth to develop and spend on items such as these.

Why would it benefit people in Japan to have square watermelon?

Butter in a stick

Noodle Cooler

A time to rest on crowded subways.

As countries become wealthier, people can spend more on “indulgences.” *I seriously had the idea for this invention in college!