JapanJapan

Japan

A series of islands off the coast of Asian continent – 4 main islands

Bordered by Pacific Ocean

and Sea of Japan

Where is Japan located in regards to the Ring of Fire? What type of natural disasters might Japan experience?

Natural disasters

1707eruption of Mt. Fuji

March 2011:Earthquake hits off coast of Japan – registers 9.o One of the 5 largest

earthquakes ever recorded! Causes a tsunami that reach

124 feet high!

Look at how many major earthquakes Japan has experienced in the last 50 years!

Early History 1192-1868 – Rise of the Samurai

Samurai, or warrior clans, become powerful. Although Japan has an emperor, shoguns (military dictators) rule.

1274, 1281 - KamikazeKublai Khan's Mongol invasions are repelled with help of kamikaze ("divine winds" or storms).

1853 – US arrives in Japan U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry arrives with naval ships and demands the Japanese trade with the United States.

1895-1905 – Japan now the invader!Japan wins wars against China and Russia, gaining territory and international respect.

1910 – Japan takes KoreaJapan takes over Korea.

Emperor Hirohito

Lead Japan into WWIIDec. 7, 1941 – bombs Pearl

Harbor

The End of WWII US drops atomic bombs on Japan on Aug. 6th (Hiroshima) & 9th

(Nagasaki) Japan surrendered – August 1945 US occupied Japan – 1945 - 1952

Gen. Douglas MacArthur – oversaw occupation Goals of Allies concerning Japan

Help create a democracy (modeled after US Constitution) Kept national legislature – Diet Allowed Emperor Hirohito to maintain his position IF he renounced that

emperors were not divinely appointed and godlike Suspended laws that limited liberties … religious, political, and civil …

included giving women the right to vote Reformed industries, education

Conditions for ending occupation Responsible government established

Had to renounce the

fact that emperors had

divine appointment and godlike qualities.When this

picture published,

many Japanese would not look at it .. seeing their beloved

emperor shorter than

the hated MacArthur

Rebuilding the economy after WWII

US also aided in rebuilding the economy Why would the US want to help rebuild a

country they had just fought with? Better to have Japan as a future FRIEND

and ALLY rather than a future enemy!

Rebuilding the economy after WWII

How did the US aid in rebuilding the economy of Japan? Gave large sums of money via loans Shared manufacturing knowledge Provided resources for industries

Japan Today

Japan’s Government Today

Constitutional MonarchyEmperor

Symbolic only - no government powers Few duties – closely regulated by

Constitution and only on the advice and consent of the Cabinet

Parliamentary government Executive power

CabinetPrime minister

Bicameral Diet (Japan’s bicameral legislature)

Limited Resources

73% of Japan is mountainousOnly 15% of Japan’s land is arable (suitable

for farming)Therefore, few natural resources

Therefore … what might this lead to?

Trade!

EconomyJapan’s economy is one of the strongest in

the world!Japan SPECIALIZES in technology!Major exports

Cars, electronic devices, computersMajor imports

Oil, foodstuffs, woodMajor trading partners

US major trading partner – imports more than 25% of Japan’s exports!

Interdependence

Japan dependent on others …

Minerals essential to industry … iron ore and copper Forest products (wood)Agricultural products (largest foreign market for US agricultural products!)

Others dependent on Japan …

Electronic devicesComputersCars

Other interesting facts …

Member of the United Nations since 1956.

1964:The Summer Olympics are held in Tokyo. The Games are the first ever held in the Far East.

1998:The Winter Olympics are held in Nagano.

2002:Japan and South Korea co-host the World Cup, the largest and most popular soccer tournament in the world.

Check our understanding …

Which Asian country consists of a series of islands and is located east of North and South

Korea?

A. JapanB. TaiwanC. IndonesiaD. Philippines

Answer … Japan

After WWII, the US helped Japan rebuild its economy in all the following ways EXCEPT by

A. sharing its manufacturing knowledge.

B. providing large sums of money through loans.

C. requiring Japan to export goods only to Western nations.

D. providing much needed resources for their industries.

Answer … requiring Japan to export goods only to Western nations

Before late 19th century, Japan was an isolated nation. Which of the following is the main reason Japan became involved in the world

community?

A. The government needed foreign military intervention to stop a civil war.

B. Religious leaders instructed the emperor to become Christian and westernize.

C. The government became communist and established ties with the Soviet Union.

D. Limited resources forced Japan's growing population to seek foreign markets.

Answer … limited resources forced Japan’s growing population to seek foreign markets.

Which phrase best describes the nation of Japan?

A. An island nation with large citiesB. A peninsula of the Asian mainlandC. A tropical nation that receives much rainfallD. A mountainous nation with many mineral

resources

Answer … an island nation with large cities

What is the role of the emperor in modern Japan?

A. elected leaderB. symbolic leaderC. military leaderD. economic leader

Answer … symbolic leader

Since the end of WWII, in which way has seas and oceans most benefited Japan’s economy?

A. by providing transportation routesB. by providing a source for electricityC. by providing a source of valuable mineralsD. by providing water for desalinization

Answer … by providing transportation routes

All of the following statements about the constitution Japan adopted after WWII are true

except that it

A. created a democratic form of government.B. abolished the position of emperor.C. renounced the use of force in foreign policy.D. was modeled on the United States

Constitution.

Answer … abolished the position of the emperor.

Which of the following are important Japanese exports?

A. tea, coffee, and fishB. wheat, cloth, and leather goodsC. petroleum, iron ore, and mineralsD. microchips, automobiles, and

electronics

Answer … microchips, cars, electronics

Which term describes Japan’s government today?

A. democraticB. dictatorshipC. socialist republicD. constitutional monarchy

Answer … constitutional monarchy

Because Japan has limited natural resources and little opportunity to export raw materials, they built a thriving

industry around electronics. This would be an example of …

A. Embargoes B. Specialization C. Trade barriers D. Quotas

Answer … specialization

Japan

Series of islands located …

Bordered by which bodies of water?

What were samurais?

Who were shoguns?

Who does Japan take over in 1910?

What type of natural disasters might Japan experience along the ring of fire?

Who lead Japan into WWII and eventually surrendered to General MacArthur?

WWIIWhen did Japan surrender?

Until when was Japan occupied by the US military?

Goals of occupation?• democracy• With emperor

•Suspend laws that limited ~~~~•Reformed ~~What had to be established in order for US to pull their military from Japan?

US’s aid in rebuilding Japan’s economy … •Gave large sums of money via loans•Shared ____________________ knowledge•Provided ________________ for industries

Government •Emperor • Symbolic only!

•Parliamentary government • Prime minister• Bicameral Diet (___ - house

legislature)

Limited Resources • _____ natural resources •Therefore, leads to ___________

Japan’s Economy •Major exports - •Major imports - •Major trading partners -

Interdependence Japan depends on other countries for … ~~~Others depend on Japan for … ~~~

Japan

THE END!