How were the Japanese islands

formed?

(HINT!)

Physical FeaturesArchipelago•Four Main Islands: Honshu (80% of pop), Shikoku, Kyushu, Hokkaido

Located in the Ring of Fire•7500 earthquakes per year•75 active volcanoes

Brief Japanese History Lesson•Highly developed civilization by time of Western contact1853: U.S. forces trade agreement signatures

1868-1912: Meiji Resoration Era

•Hundreds of Japanese sent to west (USA/Europe) to study

•Japan became more democratic•Equality between all men•New school system

1900s Age of Imperialism•Japan lacks resources (oil/iron)•Western example followed – take over weaker nations to exploit for resources

•Defeated China, Russia, Korea, Manchuria

World War II•Aligned with Nazi Germany•Dec. 7, 1941 - attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

•Ends when U.S. drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945)

Pearl Harbor

Atomic bombs dropped on Japan

1945-1952 U.S. Occupies Japan1.Military leaders removed from power2.Emperor stripped of political power3.Armed forces disbanded4.Forbidden to rebuild military5.Introduced democratic constitution

with economic reforms

1960s: RAPID Economic Success - How?

1. Highly educated workforce

2. + Workplace attitude

3. Relative location

4. Gov’t. planning