1. Geography of Japan

2. Geography Shapes Life in Japan
Japan is an island nation surrounded by water (duh)
Japan is made up of 4 main islands:
Kyushu (most southern)
Shikoku (smallest)
Honshu (largest and most populous)
Hokkaido (farthest North)

5. The islands of Japan are really the top of undersea mountains and volcanoes.

6. Because of the rough terrain, farming occurred on the flat coastal plains. Only about 20 percent of the land in Japan is flat and it is found near the coast.

7. Because of this unique Geography, people lived near the coasts.

8. As a result, seafood became a staple of people’s diets.

9. Japan’s isolation also contributed to the development of a unique culture.
The Japanese were separated from the rest of Asia.
This allowed Japan to develop a culture very different from those in other parts of Asia.
This sense of separation is still an important part of Japanese culture.

10. BUT, Japan wasn’t totally isolated:
Korea and China are both fairly close (Korea approx. 100 miles and China approx. 400 miles away)
These short distances allowed the older cultures of Korea and China to influence the new culture of Japan.

11. Wrap up
How does our local Geography influence our daily lives?

12. Can anyone identify where this picture was taken?