Japan7th Grade UBD - Unit 4 - Modern Japan

Preview

Government- Japan is a democratic constitutional monarchy.

Economy-After World War II, Japan built a strong economy that competes with other industrial powers.

Society and Culture- Japan has an urban society that blends old traditions and Western influences.

             

            

Key Ideas- Government

After World War II, Japan adopted a new constitution approved by the United States.The constitution changed the status of the emperor and provided for democratic government.

Japanese have debated the wisdom of revising parts of the constitution. Japan’s government , however, has been stable and democratic.

The Emperor and the People

Before World War II, Japan’s constitution gave the emperor great power to rule Japan.

The emperor was considered to be a descendent of the sun goddess Amaterasu.

During the war, young Japanese were taught to sacrifice their lives for the emperor.

Eyewitness to HistoryReading Activity- Becoming Emperor

Key Term

Constitutional Monarchy- A government with a democratic constitution headed by a monarch as the symbolic leader.

International Peace DayVideo International Peace Day

The “No-War Clause” Article 9 Article 9 of the Japanese

constitution forces Japan to give up its right to make war. It also banned armed forces that could attack another country. Japan has only a small military force. Its job is to defend Japan from attacks. The Japanese today are mainly pacifists who oppose all war.

Key Term

Pacifist-Anyone who opposes all war.

Question

What is Article 9 in Japan’s postwar constitution? Why is it important?

Answer Article 9 is the “no-

war” clause in Japan’s constitution. It forces the Japanese to give up their right to make war. It also banned armed forces that could attack another country. Japan is only allowed to have a small military force. Their only job is to defend Japan from attacks.

Key Ideas- Economy

Japan took advantage of its human resources and opportunities in world markets to rebuild rapidly after World War II.

Japan has become an economic superpower, but its economy depends on world trade.

Discussion Question

Buying gifts during seibo is one of many Japanese traditions that foreigners are learning about. Why is it important for foreigners to understand Japanese society?

Possible Answer

Japan is a world economic power, and people wanting to do business there must understand its traditions.

Math Question

Japan is an island nation with a large population. If an area has 900 people per square miles, what would the total population be in an area of 30 square miles?

Math Answer

27,000 people

The Japanese Miracle In 1945, Japan was in

ruins. Allied bombers had smashed its cities, factories, roads, and railroads. Most people were close to starvation.

With American aid, Japan began to rebuild. Japan today is among the world’s most prosperous nations.

Japan has few slums.

Key Term

Economic Miracle-The phrase used to describe Japan’s remarkable recovery since 1945, when the country was in ruins after World War II.

The “Miracle” in World Affairs

Soon after World War II ended Japan received vital aid from the United States.

The United States wanted to help rebuild Japan and its economy because of the Cold War conflict between the United States and Communist powers in the Soviet Union and China. So the United States provided money and technology to rebuild Japan after the war.

Key Term

Japan Incorporated-Refers to the combination of government, business, and labor leaders in Japan who have cooperated to maximize that country’s greatest resource-its people- and created Japan’s global economic success.

“Strong but Weak”

Japan is an economic giant. Yet the Japanese are cautious about the future.

Japanese leaders worry about a nation that depends so heavily on world trade. Japan’s economy requires a world of peace and free trade.

Also without oil, Japanese industries could not operate.

Cherry Blossom FestivalVideo Cherry Blossom Festival

D.C. Cherry Trees

The government of Japan presented thousands of Oriental and Nanking Cherry trees to the United States in 1912 as a gesture of friendship between the two nations. The trees were planted in Washington, D.C.

D.C. Cherry Trees

Each April, Washington, D.C., holds a Cherry Blossom Festival that includes a lengthy parade of marching bands. High school bands face tough state competition in order to represent their state at this annual event.

Question

How did the United States help Japan achieve its “economic miracle”?

Answer

The United States provided money and technology to rebuild Japan after World War II.

Question

Despite Japan’s stand as an economic giant, many Japanese say that their country is weak. Why do they say this?

Answer

Japan’s industry depends on world trade. A change in trade policies or the outbreak of war could destroy Japan’s economy.

Key Ideas- Society and Culture

Such values as loyalty and hard work remain strong in modern Japan.

Japanese schools are highly competitive, partly because students want to enter the best universities.

Japanese enjoy traditional sports and arts. Western sports and art are also important.

Family Life

Today, most Japanese live in or near cities. For many home is an apartment in a high-rise building.

Today, many families consist of a mother, father, and a child.

Men spend long hours working at large companies.

Capsule HotelsVideo Capsule Hotels

Family Values

Family bonds remain strong and children learn early to respect their elders and the family.

Japan honors such values as loyalty, obedience, and hard work.

After children are grown, many leave home to find work.

Schools: A Competitive World

The Japanese stress education. From an early age, students are expected to work hard to get into good universities. Success in school sets them on the right path for the future.

Parents closely monitor their children’s schoolwork.

Failing grades hurt the entire family.

More than 87 percent of students complete high school.

Key Term

Cram Schools-Private schools in Japan that prepare students for entrance exams at top universities.

Sports

Sumo is Japan’s most popular spectator sport.

It is also one of the worlds oldest sports.

It is a competitive full-contact wrestling sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet.

Key Term

Sumo- Are Japanese wrestlers. The top sumo wrestlers are treated like royalty.

Word Origins Samurai, like knights

of Medieval Europe, were soldiers. They were honored for their military skills, bravery, and loyalty to their lords. After they were no longer needed they developed martial arts, and led in such other arts as the tea ceremonies and flower arrangements.

Customs

Han, is the Japanese word for rice. Rice appears at every meal in parts of Asia. It is usually eaten alone and eaten last. Most diners eat two or three bowels of rice, usually with chopsticks. Rice is so important and honored that a special prefix, “Go” is used for it. Thus, Japanese usually call rice go-han.

OrigamiVideo Origami

Manga/Anime

In Japan, manga is produced weekly in 300 page comic book stories. They consider it cheap and entertainment for commuters who read it and throw it away. In the U.S. we treasure and collect comic books. In Japan they are consumed, not collected.

Manga/Anime It is difficult to

translate manga though as Asian books are read from right to left, opposite from most European and North American books.

Manga books, anime shows, movies and video games are winning awards and becoming available to a whole new group of followers.