1. Unit 3: Japan: From Isolation to Adaptation

2. Unit 3: From Isolation to Adaptation
ELOs: General Outcomes
8.1.1: I can explain how time and geographic location shape a society’s worldview.
8.1.3: I can explain how types of governments and decision making show a society’s worldview.
8.1.4: I can explain how a society’s worldview molds individual citizenship and identity.

3. ELOs: Specific Outcomes
8.1.5: I can explain the effects of isolation during the Edo period.
Chapter 12
1. How did the physical geography of Japan affect its worldview?
Chapter 13
How did the changes resulting from isolation affect Japan economically, politically and socially during the Edo period?
2. How did the shogun use the feudal system and the hierarchical social classes to maintain control of Japan?
Chapter 14
1. In what ways did Japan isolate itself from the rest of the world?
How did isolation during the Edo period lead to changes in Japan?

4. 8.1.6: I can explain the effects that rapid adaptation had on traditionally isolated Japan during the Meiji period.
Chapter 15
What were the motivations for the radical changes in Japan’s model of organization during the Meiji period?
2. How did Japan adapt to changes brought on by the transition from feudal to modern models of organization?
3. How did the changes resulting from adaptation affect Japan economically, politically and socially during the Meiji period?
Chapter 16
In what ways did changes resulting from isolation in the Edo period compare to changes resulting from adaptation in the Meiji period?
2. What challenges emerged for the Japanese in maintaining traditional cultural aspects of their society while undergoing rapid change?

5. Shaping a Unique Worldview
Chapter 12
Shaping a Unique Worldview

6. Chapter 12: Shaping a Unique Worldview In What Ways does Physical Geography Contribute to Shaping a Worldview?
Words to Know
Ainu
Arable
Archipelago
Assimilation
Homogeneous
Monsoon
Rituals
Stoic
Tsunami

7. Words to Know Ainu: Japan’s indigenous people
Arable: land suited for farming or agriculture
Archipelago: a long chain of many islands
Assimilation: forcing a group of people to acquire the characteristics of the majority
Homogeneous: a group of people who are similar in nature and in character
Monsoon: strong winds in Asia, blowing from the south-west in the summer
Rituals: a celebration or ceremony observed with regularity (i.e. every year on the same day, every Sunday…)
Stoic: describes a person who can control their emotions and endure difficult circumstances with patience
Tsunami: a strong, destructive wave caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions on the ocean floor

8. Go to page 4 of your booklet.
Izanagi & Izanami
Go to page 4 of your booklet.
Read the origin story on page 261. In many societies origin stories include important clues about how people identify themselves and their culture.
What does Japan’s origin story say about the Japanese worldview?
What other origin stories can you think of?

9. Japan consists of a series of islands (archipelago).
Only about 18% of the country is level enough for agriculture and settlement.
More than 127 million people live in an area that is about 60% the size of Alberta.
The habitable areas of Japan with high population density are mainly along the coast.

10. The 8 Main Regions of Japan
See this map on page 4 of your booklet!

11. Record this information at the top of page 5 in your booklet.
Topography of Japan
A large portion of Japan is covered by:
MOUNTAINS!!!
Record this information at the top of page 5 in your booklet.

12. Geography = Isolation
Despite the fact that Japan has neighbouring countries such as Korea, China and Russia, it isolated itself from those countries and the rest of the world for many years.
Read page 266 and explain the connection between Japan’s isolation and its geography. Use the chart on page 5 of your booklet to record the information!
Also answer: Are there any places in Canada that are isolated because of geography? List as many examples as you can think of and explain the specific challenges faced by those places.

13. Section 2: How Can Nature Influence Worldview?
Fill in the blanks on page 6 of your booklet!
Section 2: How Can Nature
Influence Worldview?
Japan’s natural landscape has always been a source of great pride.
Many traditional Japanese rituals and ceremonies are linked to the natural world.
For example, cherry blossoms are the most beloved flowers among the Japanese.
As a result, many festivals and celebrations are held during the blooming of the
cherry blossom trees.

14. Cherry blossoms represent many things to the Japanese, such as:
new beginnings
beauty
the shortness of beauty and life

15. Haiku A haiku is a traditional form of Japanese poetry.
A haiku follows a very specific format:
3 lines
usually about nature
1st line has 5 syllables, 2nd line has 7 syllables, 3rd line has 5 syllables
Temple bells die out.
The fragrant blossoms remain.
A perfect evening!

16. Shinto: The Way of the Spirits
Fill in the blanks on page 6 of your booklet!
Shinto is the ancient religion of Japan.
Shinto is based on the belief that sacred spirits take the form of objects in nature such as mountains, trees and stones.
Amaterasu (sun goddess) is considered to be the most important Kami (god).
Humans become Kami when they die and are honoured by their families.
Matsuri celebrations occur throughout the year to please and celebrate the Kami.
Shinto does not have a founder and there are no religious laws. It is for these reasons that many people believe that Shinto is a cultural practice rather than an organized religion.

17. Jidai Matsuri in Kyoto, Japan.
Gion Matsuri in Kyoto, Japan.
Yuki Matsuri, Japan.

18. The Dark Side of Nature
Nature in Japan can be beautiful and calm one minute, and frightening and violent the next.
Examples of this include earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis and typhoons.
The people of Japan have become stoic when it comes to natural disasters. They simply start over and rebuilt as soon as the danger is over.
Fill in the blanks on page 7 of your booklet!

19. Volcanoes
Mt. Asama

20. Typhoons
Typhoon Man-Yi

21. Earthquakes
Hokkaido, 1994
Kobe, 1995

22. Tsunamis

24. Section 3: A Self-Sufficient Country
Fill in the blanks on page 8 of the booklet!
Section 3: A Self-Sufficient Country
Despite its size and geographic challenges, Japan had relatively little trade with any other countries before 1853.
There were a few factors that allowed Japan to remain self-sufficient and prosperous for so many years. For example:
The land that was arable was very fertile.
Japan has a temperate climate with a dependable rainfall.
Japan’s winter is brief.
Japan has many forests, which provide wood for building and once provided fuel for fires.
Silkworms and cotton plants provide material for clothing.
The ocean provides a steady supply of fish.

25. Some Borrowing…
Fill in the blanks on page 8 of the booklet!
The Japanese have borrowed some elements of their culture from other cultures.
For example, the Japanese originally borrowed the Chinese system of writing, called kanji.
They later combined the Chinese characters with the Japanese language in a new system called kana.

26. Rice : Symbol of a Country
Fill in the blanks on page 9 of the booklet!
Traditionally, and still today, rice has been the food most associated with Japan and its culture.
Rice is not an easy crop to grow. It involves a labour intensive process and the success of the crop depends on the right amount of moisture.
Monsoons bring rain in the summer; if the monsoons don’t come, the rice crop will fail.
In the past, rice was an important part of Japan’s economy. Rice production determined the value of land, and a person’s worth was determined by the amount of rice he/she could produce.
Did you know? When you say “Did you eat?” in Japanese, the direct translation is “Did you eat rice?”! This shows you how important rice is to the people of Japan!

27. Rice Paddies

28. Other Staple Foods
Other than rice, there are three staple food sources in Japan.
Fish (protein)
Seaweed (vitamins and mineral salts)
Soy (protein and other important nutrients)

29. A Homogenous Society
Fill in the blanks on page 10 of the booklet!
Despite the geographical barriers in Japan, the people have long thought of themselves as a homogenous society.
The sea contributes greatly to this worldview, as most of the population lives along the coast, using the sea to communicate and trade with one another.
Ideas, beliefs and values were also exchanged along the way.

30. The Ainu
Fill in the blanks on page 10 of the booklet!
This indigenous group has lived in the northern part of Japan for several thousand years.
The Ainu had their own separate society and territory, but eventually the Japanese began to take over Ainu lands.
There were many conflicts and wars of resistance, but eventually the Ainu territory was taken over and has become present day Hokkaido.
The Japanese government instituted polices that forbid the Ainu from speaking their language, practicing their customs and restricted where they could live. These government policies are an example of ________________.
assimilation

31. Canadian Connection
It is easy to see the connections between the Ainu and the many First Nations/Métis that are present in Canada.
To further enhance understanding of these groups you will complete a comparison chart on page 11 of your booklet highlighting the similarities and differences between the Ainu of Japan and the Métis of Canada.

32. Ethnic Group: The Métis
Social Studies 8
Japan: Chapter 12
“A Distinct People”
Ethic Group: The Ainu
Ethnic Group: The Métis
Origin
Geography
Language
Religion
Challenges
Use pages 269 and 279 to fill in the chart on page 11 of your booklet!

33. Ethnic Group: The Métis
Social Studies 8
Japan: Chapter 12
“A Distinct People”
Ethic Group: The Ainu
Ethnic Group: The Métis
Origin
Indigenous peoples of Japan.
Descendants of the Indigenous peoples of Canada and European fur traders (mostly French).
Geography
Live in the Northern part of Japan called Ezochi, which was renamed Hokkaido when the territory was taken over by Japan.
Live in the prairies, largely in the areas that are now Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta (Communities such as Red River, Batoche).
Language
Ainu originally, and now Japanese as well
Michif, First Nations languages, French and English.
Religion
Nature plays a dominant role: they believe that objects in nature are gods (kamuy).
The brown bear is one of the most important kamuy, and an annual celebration is held for it.
Mixture of Roman Catholic and First Nations (elements of nature are very important).
Chart continues on the next slide…. 

34. Challenges
Japanese tried to assimilate them: forbidden to speak their language or practice their customs, and had restricted land use.
Were denied status as an official minority group in Japan until 1997, when they launched a lawsuit, which eventually led to legislation that acknowledged their existence.
No apology was given for past wrongdoings and no help was given to allow them to regain their culture. Have established organizations to keep their culture alive.
In the 1800s, the Canadian government ignored the Métis when they asked for security for their rights.
The Government actively undermined their ability to survive (Pemmican Proclamation banned them from exporting buffalo meat, sent surveyors to divide the land against Métis customs, etc.).
Their demands were ignored by the government in these cases and others: Red River Resistance, Creation of the Province of Manitoba, Northwest Rebellion
Restricted land use.
Have established organizations to keep their culture alive.

35. Japan Here is the key for the map on page 2 of your booklet! HOKKAIDO
OSAKA
KYOTO
NAGOYA
YOKOHAMA
HIROSHIMA
FUKUOKA
SAPPORO
HONSHU
HOKKAIDO
SHIKOKU
KYUSHU N S E W
Sea of Japan
East China Sea
Pacific Ocean
Here is the key for the map on page 2 of your booklet!