1. Japan and the Koreas Preview Section 1: Natural Environments
World Geography Today
1/15/2019
Japan and the Koreas
Preview
Section 1: Natural Environments
Section 2: History and Culture
Section 3: The Region Today
Chapter Wrap-Up
Chapter 28

2. Section 1: Natural Environments
Read to Discover
What are the major landforms of Japan and the Koreas?
Which climates are found in the region?
What are some important resources in Japan and the Koreas?

3. Section 1: Natural Environments
Question
What are the major landforms of Japan and the Koreas?

4. Section 1: Natural Environments
Japan
Koreas
• Peninsula
• Hills and low mountains
• Coastal plain
• Yalu and Tumen Rivers
• Four major islands
• Mountains, coastal plains
• Volcanoes
• Many small islands
• Forests, mountains

5. Section 1: Natural Environments
Major Landforms
Japan
Four main islands and thousands of smaller ones
Mountains—70 percent of land; Japanese Alps the longest chain
Plains—Mainly on Pacific coast of Honshū
Nearly 200 volcanoes
Korea
Peninsula
Mainly hills and low mountains
Coastal plain in the west

6. Section 1: Natural Environments
Climates
Japan—Similar to U.S. east coast
Humid continental to the north; severe winters
Humid subtropical to the south; mild winters, warm and humid summers
Korea—Similar to Japan
Winter—Cold and snowy in North Korea; mild in South Korea
Summer—Warm and humid generally

7. Section 1: Natural Environments
Key Resources
Japan has limited mineral and energy resources and relies on imports. Nuclear and hydropower plants have helped.
Koreas import oil and gas, but have iron ore, copper, lead, and coal.
Forests are plentiful in Japan, but logging is strictly controlled. Much timber is imported.
Japan and Koreas are both rich in marine life.

8. Section 2: History and Culture
Read to Discover
What cultures influenced the early history of Japan and the Koreas?
What were some major events in the modern history of the region?
What are some notable features of Japanese and Korean culture?

9. Section 2: History and Culture
Question
What cultures influenced Japan and the Koreas during their early history?

10. Section 2: History and Culture Early Influences on Japan and Korea
The Koreas
• The Ainu
• Invaders from Asia
• China and Korea
• Portuguese traders
• Spanish and Dutch merchants
• Northern and central Asians
• China

11. Section 2: History and Culture
Early Cultural Influences
Asians invaded Japan around 300 B.C. and introduced rice farming.
Chinese invaded Korea in 108 B.C., leaving a strong cultural imprint.
Both China and Korea strongly influenced Japanese culture.
Europeans arrived in Japan in 1500s, but Japan resisted influence.

12. Section 2: History and Culture
Modern History
U.S. Navy arrived in Tokyo Bay in 1853; Japan began to open up to foreign influences.
Meiji Restoration of 1868 brought emperor back; he began modernization reforms.
Japan expanded Asian territory between 1895 and 1937 (Taiwan, Sakhalin, Korea, China).
Japan joined Axis Powers in 1940; surrendered in 1945, after atomic bombs.

13. Section 2: History and Culture
Modern History (continued)
Japan established democratic system after World War II.
Korea was divided after the war into communist North and democratic South.
Korean War (1950–1953) ended in truce, establishment of DMZ.

14. Section 2: History and Culture
Cultural Features
Strong Chinese influence
Each country dominated by a single ethnic group
Religion—Buddhism and Shintoism in Japan; Buddhism and Confucianism in Korea, but strong Christian influence in South Korea
Food—Rice is the staple food; raw fish popular in Japan; grilled meats in Korea

15. Section 2: History and Culture
Cultural Features (continued)
Education—Good schools, high literacy in Japan and South Korea; North Korea focuses on communist ideology
Customs—Strong Western influences, but traditions survive; focus on family, respect for elders
Art—Music, literature, theatre, dance, visual and decorative arts are strong traditions

16. Section 3: The Region Today
Read to Discover
What are some characteristics of Japan today?
How is life in North Korea different from life in South Korea?

17. Section 3: The Region Today
Modern Japan
Agriculture and industry are very efficient and productive.
Exports are a key to economic success, but Asian competition is growing.
Japan has many large cities; Tokyo-Yokohama is world’s largest urban agglomeration.

18. Section 3: The Region Today
Modern Japan (continued)
Most people are middle-class suburbanites; homes are small and expensive.
Western cultural influences are common: clothing, food, music, sports.
Society is getting older; women’s roles are changing.

19. Section 3: The Region Today
Question
What are the differences between life in North Korea and in South Korea?

20. Section 3: The Region Today
North Korea
South Korea
• Isolated, communist dictatorship
• Democratically elected government
• Large military
• Many rights and freedoms enjoyed by citizens
• Command economy
• Rapid economic growth
• Citizens’ lives tightly controlled
• Outside the capital, most North Koreans living in poverty
• Large urban middle class
• Export economy

21. Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas
World Geography Today
1/15/2019
Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas
1. What are Japan’s four main islands? Which is the largest and most populated?
2. Why might you find so many different species of birds in Japan and the Koreas?
3. During what period did Japan control the Korea Peninsula?
4. How are the Japanese and Korean written languages different?
5. What is agriculture like in North Korea?
Chapter 28