Landforms

Japan is a stratovolcanic archipelago, a chain of islands formed by underwater volcanoes, off the coast of China. Over thousands of years, volcanoes have created nearly 3,000 small bodies, with four main islands-Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. As the Phillipine Plate and the Eurasian Plate collide due to movement of the Earth's crust, they have and continue to push up against each other, resulting in volcanic chains forming. The islands of Japan are the volcanoes that have spewed out lava, which cooled and became the surface land above sea level. The volcanic chain that formed Japan is part of the Ring of Fire - a "circle" around the Pacific Ocean comprised of volcanic chains. Because of Japan's positioning, having still been above the Ring of Fire, Japan is susceptible to earthquakes and volcanic activity. Japan is essentially a floating mountain (about 73% mountainous), with small amounts of flatlands.

Climates

The main three factors that affect the climates of Japan are latitude, winds, and ocean currents.

-  Latitude makes Japan have variations in its climates: from subtropical temperatures (South), to Continental and Humid Continental in (North)

-  Monsoon winds from the Northwest being cold air to Northern Japan, while warm and moist winds from the Southeast heat up the lower parts

-  Currents act similarly (i.e. Black Current warms the Southern Coast, Oyashio cools North)

Ecosystems

The ecosystems of japan are...

• Mid-lattitude decidious forest
• tropical rain forest

some common plants and animals in Japan are...

• the Racoon dog
• Cherry blossom tree
• Red crowned crane
• Snow monkey
• bamboo plant

Natural Resources

Japan has very few natural resources and very little usable land.

• Less than 15% arable land
• few usable resources (i.e. Gold, Silver, Magnesium)
• low arable land - lead to use of terrace farming

Because of Japan's inaccessibility of natural resources, they import the larger portion of necessary materials from other countries.

Human-Environment Interactions

People in Japan are much closer to the oceans constantly, meaning that the temperatures tend to not shift as much as they would in, say, the United States. Seasonal climates are generally the same, so people only need to wear what is appropriate for that time of the year. Being so close to the ocean and having limited land to farm also affects what people eat; Japanese people tend to eat a lot more seafood and easily grown crops, such as rice. The Japanese have adapted to their limited usable land by building many compact cities. Most of these cities are on the coasts of the Japanese islands, and they tend to not be able to expand their population. More than sixty percent of Japan lives on relatively three percent of Japan’s land, on the narrow coastal plains. The Japanese people have also changed their houses, which are much smaller and sparsely furnished by American standards, with beds that can often fold up for storage during the day. People in big cities, like Tokyo, often live in apartments. Some Japanese people try to escape the crowded city life and move to suburbs or rural areas, but that often results in large commutes to work and school.

Political Borders

Japan's borders as a country are defined by the Pacific Ocean, nearby seas, and the land that the volcanic chain created. Japan is an island chain comprised of about 2,600 islands, each of which is considered a part of Japan. Within Japan, there are 47 "prefectures", or administrative districts, that act as subnational jurisdiction centers, with acting governors as their leaders.

Culture

Japan is mainly influenced by the democrization process of the Western world, as well as the beliefs of China that had diffused to the country. After World War 1, China spread its culture over to Japan, while the era of World War 2 brought in American ideals and policies.

           

Language:

·         Japanese is the official language

·         Many dialects of Japanese can make it hard to understand in different areas of the country

·         English is taught as a part of their education

·         Japanese was originally derived from Chinese

Religion:   

·         Freedom of religion as of 1946

·         Shinto, Buddhism, and Confucianism are the primary religions 

      Food:

·        For more than 2000 years, Rice, has been the most important food in the Japanese diet,               and is used in many different dishes.

Ex: Fried rice, sushi, Onigiri,

·         There are many kinds of fish, shellfish and other seafood that can be found in Japanese food. It us prepared in many different ways.

Ex: Sashimi, Yakizakana

·        Nabe dishes, or hotpot dishes, are common foods to eat in the winter

Ex: Oden,Sukiyaki

·        Meat became popular in Japan in the later 19^th century.

Ex: Yakitori,Nikujaga