A Brief Overview of Japan 5 January 2011

1. A Brief Overview of Japan 5 January 2011 • Japan is an archipelago located in the Pacific Ocean.

2. Landforms and Climate • Home to more than 135 million people. • Japan experiences frequent ___________, _________, and typhoons. • The Japanese make the most out of their limited land by employing intensive farming techniques. • The Japanese have limited natural _____________ so they are ____________ on other countries for t________.

3. People of Japan • Japan is a h________________ society. • The Japanese have a sense of specialness, which has led people to embrace ethno________. • Japan is incredibly crowded. • List several problems associated that this crowding could bring.

5. Early History • Japan is a society of borrowers. • Who did the Japanese borrow the most from? • Why did the Japanese reject the merit system and concept of the Mandate of Heaven? • Emperor ruled society authoritatively. • 1192 the emperor gives MinamotoYoritomo the title of _____________, or chief general of the army. • 1600 C.E. the Tokugawa shogunate is established and the emperor is formerly removed from power.

6. Japan and Isolation • Why does the shogun order Japan to enter into isolation in 1639? • What are some advantages of going into isolation? • What are some disadvantages of going into isolation?

7. End of Isolation • Who ends Japan’s 200 year plus period of isolation?

8. Meiji Restoration • The shogunate is dismantled and the emperor is restored to power. • Effort to modernize so the Japanese can expel the barbarians. How was this modernization completed? • Political modernizations  ConstitutionEqual protection under the lawRepresentative assembly is created (Diet). • Economic Reforms  Bring in foreign capital  improve ports, built weapons factories, etc. • Social Reforms  Mandatory education  Increased suffrage  Samurai lose status in society.

9. Japan Becomes a Regional Power • 1895: Japan wins the Sino-Japanese War • Gained Taiwan and Korea • 1904-5 Japan wins the Russo-Japanese War • Forces Russia out of the region • Gains part of Manchuria Japan gains a lot of natural resources

10. 1920s • Nationalism begins to take hold in Japan • Business owners favor increasing militarism • 1929 Great Depression hits the world. • Japan’s exports fell by 50% • Trade declined • Factories closed  Unemployment rose.

11. 1930s • Military coup d'état (1931)  Japan seizes Manchuria • Japan increases its military capacity. • 1937: Japan launches a major offensive into China  killing millions in the process

12. 1940s • 1940: Japan joins the Axis Alliance with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. • Japan seizes several of the Allied Forces colonial possessions in the Pacific • 7 December 1941, what happens ___________ • 6 August 1945 the U.S. bombs Hiroshima • 9 August 1945 the U.S. bombs Nagasaki • 14 August 1945 Imperial Japan surrenders unconditionally and for the 1st time in history was occupied by foreign forces

13. Hiroshima after the bomb

14. Nagasaki before and after

15. Government and Society • U.S. and its allies will begin to demilitarize Japan starting in 1945. • General D. MacArthur will be selected to lead the rebuilding process. • 1947 a new constitution is drafted.  emperor lost all of his power  the Diet’s power greatly increased. • Universal equality is granted. • The constitution made it illegal for Japan to wage war. • 1952 the occupation ends.

16. Changing Social Patterns • The head of the household no longer had legal authority over other family members. • Arranged marriages are now _________ common. • Today, about 75 to 80% of the Japanese ppl. live in cities. • Most families have shifted to a (extended, or nuclear) model. • Women now also work long hrs. too.

17. Changing Social Patterns • What doesn’t change? • Family still remains at the center of Japanese life. • Children still learn basic values  discipline, respect, hard work ,harmony, and loyalty.

18. Role of Women • Traditional attitudes remain strong (what do I mean?) • Women have a harder time advancing • Women are often paid much less than men • Women make up almost half of Japan’s workforce • An increasing number of women are attending universities.

19. Education • Jukus special cram school that help to prepare students for entrance exams. • If you do well on the entrance exams  You will get into a prestigious university. • Getting a degree from a top university like Tokyo University – is a key to success in business and govt.

20. Economic Growth • The Korean War helped to jumpstart Japan’s economy. • During the 1950 and 60s most factories and infrastructure is rebuilt with modern technology. • Japan quickly becomes the premier economic power in the region. • Japan currently focuses on high-tech industries. • Typically, they will take an existing idea and make it more efficient and cheaper.

21. List of some successful Japanese companies • Toyota • Honda • Nissan • Sony • Canon • Mistubishi

22. Challenges Moving Forward • Industrial growth has brought air, water, and noise pollution. • Severe overcrowding • Labor shortage  aging population and low birth rates.