Objective: Examine the History of Japan

Do Now:

How do you think Japan’s Geography Influence its Culture?

Japan

Geography

• An archipelago with 3000+ islands

• 4 main islands• Kyushu

– Closest to Korea

• Shikoku• Honshu

– Largest most populated

• Hokkaido – Most isolated in the

north

Took some, left some

• Isolated Islands– Developed distinct

culture

• Proximity to mainland China– Took some

aspects of China’s culture

• Ring of Fire– Earthquakes and

Tsunamis

Climate and Physical Geography

• Small (about the size of Montana) with 125 million people

• 80% mountains (volcanic)• Arable land on coastal

plains • Densely Populated • Ocean moderates temp

(still temperate)• Lots of rain and long

growing season

Rice and Fish• Intensive farming

• Using all available land and utilizing technology to produce ¾ of the food they eat even though 8% are farmers (terraced mountains, irrigation, cooperative farming, etc)

• Fish and seafood• Catch herring, sardine, tuna, cod,

salmon• Raise fish in rice fields• Farm shellfish too

The Jellyfish Dilemma

Imports are Necessary

• lacks natural resources like minerals, oil, coal etc.

• Imports nearly all since industrialization.

• Conflicts hurt economy

Homogeneous Society

• Language, culture, ethnic background is nearly all the same

• Ethnocentric

• Burakumin (tanners) and Ainu (N. Japanese) seen as “less than”

Japan’s Traditions

Religion

• Shinto– Kami (spirits) live in everything

• Did not answer questions about life after death or proper behavior so the Japanese turned to other religions and philosophies for answers

Family Life

• Confucianism Guided Family Life – Eldest male rules– Arranged

marriages

Feudalism’s Impact• The feudal system relied

on loyalty to class• Samurai code- bushido

– emphasized loyalty to lord, bravery, self-discipline and honor

– seppuku (ritual suicide) if dishonor

Imitation (1st “I”)

• Adopted from China– Confucianism– Buddhist ideas– Taoist ideas– Innovation

• Did not adopt– Mandate of heaven– Civil Service Exams– Language

A stroke of good luck

OrThe Gods are on

Out Side

2Mongol attacks

=

2 Defeats by Kamikaze (Divine Winds)

Feudal Japan

• 1100s samurai (warriors) struggled for power

• Established feudal system

• Lords under lords under lords ruled land

• Minamoto Yoritomo emerged the strongest and was given the title shogun (general of army and emperor)

Feudal System

• Shogun Lords (Samurai) Peasants, artisans and merchants

• Lords often struggled for power against shogun and therefore leadership changed frequently

Isolation (2nd “I”)

• Tokugawa Ieyasu – Feared Western Imperialism

– Expelled foreigners

– 1639—Slammed the door to the rest of the world

• If you leave you cannot come back• No building of ocean going vessels • Only 2 ships a year from Netherlands• China and Korea had small outposts

– Capital became Edo (modern Tokyo)

– Peace and Prosperity

– Due to peace, many samurai become Daimyo• Administrators of the Shogunate

3rd I= IndustrializationThe Rise of Modern Japan

Meiji Restoration • focused on modernization• Sent 100s of Japanese to study western life in the US and

Europe– Laughed at westerners for dancing together– Were shocked at the lack of respect shown to elders

BUT– Were awestruck at the technology – Were amazed that all Americans had access to luxuries.

• Industrialization through Zaibatsu (huge corporations) • Western political system with bicameral legislature• Abolished feudalism • Education promoted

5-article Charter Oath(April 1868)

• I. Deliberative assemblies shall be widely established and all matters decided by public discussion.

• II. All classes, high and low, shall unite in vigorously carrying out the administration of affairs of state.

• III. The common people, no less than the civil and military officials, shall each be allowed to pursue his own calling so that there may be no discontent.

• IV. Evil customs of the past shall be broken off and everything based upon the just laws of Nature.

• V. Knowledge shall be sought throughout the world so as to strengthen the foundations of Imperial rule.

4th I=Imperialism• Competed with West for territory• Sought raw materials for industry

(Japan Lacks)• The Russo-Japanese war led to

– Control of Korea– Control of Formosa (Taiwan)

• Eventual control of – ‘31 Manchuria (Manchukuo)– ‘37 Rape of Nanking (China)– ‘40 Southeast Asia Pearl

Harbor bombing

Review the 4 “I”s

• Imitation– China’s Literature, Art, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Language etc.

• Isolation—Tokugawa shuts door to the rest of the world

• Industrialization– Meiji (Zaibatsu, Mines, Railroads, etc.)

• Imperialism – (Korea, Taiwan, Manchuria, China, Southeast Asia, Pacific)

WWII

• Emphasis on Militarism

• Emphasis on Nationalism – Bushido ideas– Kamikaze pilots– Seppuku

–Never Surrender

WWII– US WinsJapan Down for the Count?

• US Occupies Japan and Forces Changes– New constitution adopted in 1947

• Bill of rights• Men and Women Equal• Democratic- Direct elections• No More War

– Demilitarization (Japan’s military limited)• US occupation ends in 52• Japan becomes US ally

Changing Japan

• Focus on economic reforms

• Family reforms• Less arranged marriages

• Men do not legally control estate

• Men enter universities and become professionals much more often than women

• Women are gaining ground

• 94% complete high school and 40% go to college

• Juku– Cram schools to prepare for entrance exams

Westernization and Economic Boom

• After WWII Japanese began adopting many western ideas, styles, technology, etc

• Throughout the 50s and 60s Japan, with aid from the US, was able to modernize factories and gain control of many markets

• Nicknamed the “economic miracle”

• The 1990s gave rise to a recession• Economy

• Best most industrialized in Asia prior to WWII• Post WWII– Traditional (textiles) Heavy Industry Tech

International Relations

• Since WWII Japan has not only stayed out of conflict but opposed it– Vietnam and Iraq (gulf war)

• China– Seen as a market • S.E. Asia– Distrustful of Japan but major

trading partner• Korea—Distrustful of Japan and tensions

remain • Russia– Seen for its market possibilities

Art, Literature and Pop Culture

• Buddhism, Shinto and the West Influence• Tokugawa woodblock printing• Poetry– Haiku

– the first cold shower; – even the monkey seems to want – a little coat of straw.

• No Plays– 1300s --Music, dancing and acting communicate religion and spirit

• Kabuki—1500 and 1600s– Colorful plays with elaborate sets, dancing , acrobatics and often themes of revenge and love

Culture

• Anime• Technology• Sumo• Baseball• Japanese

influence art and architecture in America

• Foods