The most populated island on Japan is Honshu.

1. Japan is in the geographical Ring of Fire, an active earthquake and volcano zone. The most populated island on Japan is Honshu.

2. Japan is located along the Eastern Pacific coast of Asia. • 24◦to 46◦ North Longitude • 123◦ to 146◦ East Latitude • There are four main islands in Japan. (see map). • 73% of the country is mountainous • Japan is situated in the ring of fire, a volcanic (earthquake) zone that rings the Pacific Ocean.

3. Edo Period • Ruled by the Tokugawa Shoguns • Age of isolationism • Closed Country Edicts (Expulsion Laws): • - Purpose was to cut off Japan from the outside world. Foreigners and foreign religions and ideas were not permitted • - The shogun felt that foreigners threatened his power/authority and Japanese culture • -The Dutch, were still allowed some contact with Edo Japan as they traded without missionaries as middle men and were enemies of Catholic Spain and Portugal • Special status and power for the samurai, daimyo and shogun • Relatively peaceful era. Samurai became civil administrators, the merchant class became important/wealthy and Japan experienced a type of renaissance (Golden age of Creativity)

4. The Floating Worlds: • Cultural activities such as the kabuki theatre • Unique to Japan

5. Edo Period: 1603-1868 • Series of famines and disasters led to food shortages and starvation • Most of the population controlled by samurai class, who had total power and authority • Foreign nations pressured Japan to allow access to ports and trade • Golden age of Creativity (floating world) • Relative stability and peace • Good time to be samurai • Japanese traditions remained isolated from the outside world (not threatened)

6. Unequal Treaties: End of Edo Japan  Start of Meiji Japan • Japan was pushed to sign the first Unequal Treaty when confronted by Commodore Perry’s show of military strength and demands for Japan to open its ports and trade with the USA (especially trade in coal). Unequal treaties with other Western countries followed. • Japan had little choice in the signing the treaties: • - desire to prevent a full foreign takeover of Japan • - the power of the shogun was in decline • - the Japanese economy was weak • - Western nations had greater military strength.

7. Meiji Restoration (followed the Edo Period) • Followed signing of unequal treaties by the shogun and the gunboat diplomacy of the USA. • Onset of civil war and disorder. The shogun lost power to those loyal to the Emperor. • Aimed to reestablish a strong central government based on loyalty to the Emperor. Japan was really controlled by an oligarchy. • Samurai, including daimyo, lost land, powers of taxation and were stripped of their traditional and political duties.

8. Meiji Japan • Meiji Japan is characterized by adaptation and modernization. • Japan embraced ideas like public education, aspects of democracy, and industrialization from the West. • At the same time, Japan carefully considered traditional aspects of their society that they would maintain.

9. Meiji Restoration: 1868-1912 • The Emperor ruled in name. The Meiji government wanted to rapidly modernize Japan without losing traditional values and beliefs. • Meiji government wanted to increase the level of industrialization in Japan. Japanese were sent abroad to learn about Western culture, technology, militaries, and industrialization. • A great success during the Meiji era was an increase in Japan’s industrial and military strength.