Japan

Land of the Rising Sun

Japan is an archipelago

An archipelago is a chain of islands

Japan consists of four main islands

HokkaidoHonshuShikokuKyushu

There are also about 3,000 tiny islands

Japan lies on the “Ring of Fire”

The ‘Ring of Fire” is caused by tectonic plate movement.

It consists of a line of volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean.

The area is also prone to earthquakes.

Shoguns Ruled Japan for 700 years by military force under feudal

systems Demanded loyalty and service from daiymos

(landowners) Rule typically passed to sons, but at times taken over by

rivals, who established new family as shoguns Power of shoguns was weakened by Mongol invasions Tokugawa shoguns strengthened power of shoguns with

strict rule American Commodore Matthew Perry opened Japan to

the West and weakened power of Tokugawa family Fifteenth Tokugawa, last shogun, gave up position to

emperor

Samurai

Served as soldiers of feudal Japan Being a samurai was a family tradition Loyalty & service owed to daiymos (landowners) and

shogun Life & death power held over the people of Japan Live according to the Bushido, the code of the samurai Honor as important as sword Fought against Mongol invasion in 1274 & 1281 –

were outnumbered by defeated invaders with help of the kamikaze (spirit wind)

Similarities

Shoguns & Samurai both:Held power during the time of Japanese

FeudalismMaintained military rulePower was ended by westernization

Ninja

The word itself derives from Japanese Shinobi-no-mono

The first character, nin, suggests concealment, while the second, sha, means person.

Ninja: a person who hides his presencea person who does covert, military

operations.

Myth & Movies Says

imply that they are a secret organization, fraternity, or clan, whose skills and knowledge have been passed down in secrecy from generation to generation

a ninja must: practice the art of concealment, engage in covert military operations, belong to a secret fraternity of ninja, wear black, and lots of it

Reality

History reveals ninjas of a sort operating in Japan during the 16th & 17th centuries

Ninja raids, attempted assassinations, reconnaisance missions were recorded in semi-historical documents such as the Hodo Godai-ki, a chronicle of the Hojo clan who once ruled Japan as regents to the shogun

Imperial Japan & World War II

How was Japan changed by the events of World War II?

Start of the Pacific War

The Pacific War erupted when Japanese navy forces carried out a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. December 7, 1941

Dec. 8, 1941 Japanese army forces secretly landed on the Malay Peninsula, which was under British control.

What might these posters say about the US reaction to Pearl Harbor?

War in the Pacific

Turning Point Battle of Coral Sea – first naval battle

where the ships couldn’t see each other – fighting by aircraft

Battle of Midway Island – US gained advantage by code breakers – who had solved the Japanese code & had superior air power

Faced with the loss of most of their experienced pilots, the Japanese increased their use of kamikaze tactics in an attempt to create unacceptably high casualties for the Allies. The U.S. Navy proposed a total naval blockade and air raids.

Hiroshima

Industrial, military significance, minor supply & logistics base, communications center, storage point,& assembly area for troops.

several Japanese cities left deliberately untouched by American bombing, allowing a pristine environment to measure the damage caused by the atomic bomb

Hiroshima was the only targeted city without prisoner of war (POW) camps

What did Hiroshima look like before the bombing?

At the time of the attack the population was approximately 255,000. This figure is based on the registered population used by the Japanese in computing ration quantities, and the estimates of additional workers and troops who were brought into the city may be inaccurate.

During the war, raw materials and labor were diverted for military production. Supplies of food, clothing, and other necessities dwindled. Purchases were limited by coupons and rationing to ensure set amounts of critical supplies, but even that became difficult. In December 1940, a rice rationing system was implemented in Hiroshima, but by the end of the war in 1945, delayed and even canceled deliveries were common. Residents suffering extreme deprivation began cultivating school ground gardens and relying on black-market goods.

The evacuation of schoolchildren was actively promoted around Japan, spreading to Hiroshima in March 1945. The evacuation sites also suffered from acute food shortages, so the children's lives were extremely difficult.

Why Did the U.S. Develop the Bomb?

Inspired by scientists who feared atomic bomb development by Germany, the United States began studying the atomic bomb when World War II began in 1939. In August 1942 the U.S. launched a development program called the Manhattan Project.

The bomb was completed after enormous expenditure and successfully tested on July 16, 1945

Show Atomic Bomb Video

Why Did the U.S. Decide to Drop the Bomb on Japan?

1945, with Japan in an extremely weak position, the United States was considering the following ways of bringing the long war to an end: invade the Japanese mainland in November

1945 ask the Soviet Union to join the war against

Japanassure continuation of the emperor system or use the atomic bomb..

The Potsdam Declaration

July 26, 1945, Truman issued The Potsdam Declaration - an ultimatum - without a surrender Allies would attack Japan (atomic bomb was not mentioned)

July 28, 1945, declaration rejectedTruman made the decision to drop the atomic

bombs - intention to bring about a quick resolution of the war by inflicting destruction, & instilling fear of further destruction

Taken 500 meters east of the hypocenter (7 August, 1945)Photo : Mitsugu Kishida

Doctors and nurses did all they could to provide treatment at hospitals and first-aid centers, but medical supplies were in critically short supply.

Several days after the A-bombing, thousands of children could be seen wandering alone or in groups through the burnt ruins of the city. Tens of thousands had been evacuated earlier and returned after the bombing to find that their guardians had perished. These "A-bomb orphans" were housed in camps, but many died from the effects of radiation or acute malnutrition.

The wreckage of a city streetcarPhoto : Yotsugi Kawahara

460m from the hypocenterLike Honkawa Elementary, this school was built of

steel-reinforced concrete. Thus, the shell managed to survive. About 160 pupils and teachers were in the school at the time of the bombing, and nearly all died immediately due to the heat and blast. This building became a place of refuge and a relief station, and survivors wrote numerous messages on the wall in the stairwell telling their families of their condition and whereabouts. Part of the A-bombed school building have been preserved and reconstructed into a Peace Museum that opened in April 2002.

Japanese Surrender

September 2,1945U.S.S. Missouri in

Tokyo Harbor Signed official

agreement Japan was under

control of occupation forces – General MacArthur

Japan After the War

What challenges faced Japan after World War II?

US influence on the government

US desired Japan to become a nation that would:Be able to govern democraticallyBe peaceful with other countries

Wanted the militaristic colonial empire of Japan destroyedHad to change the social, political and

economic conditions that had existed before the war

What do you see as reoccurring themes/ phrases in the preface of the new Japanese constitution?

Why would these be present in the constitution?

Preamble of the United States Constitution

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

New Government of Japan

May 3, 1947 – new constitution was adoptedEmperor was no longer powerful – figureheadArticle 9 – Japan would never again be an

aggressor in warCan not use its land, sea or air forces to settle

international disputesApril 28, 1952 – sovereign nation again (end of

occupying forces)

Japan’s Government

Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government

Japan’s Government

Emperor – does not have power but is a symbol of the state

Suffrage – right to voteAge 20 to vote Voting by secret ballotElect the members of the Diet47 prefectures – governed districts

Additional factors of rebuilding…

Much of Japan’s infrastructure was destroyed in the war (Infratructure – consists of the public systems and services of a

nation) Transportation systems, industry and urban

infrastructure had to be rebuilt Destroyed by atomic bomb and bombing raids over other cities

as well A land reform program was put in place Japan lost control of its overseas possessions Labor unions were encouraged

Businesses that had encouraged the military were removed from power

Japanese Economy

Is one of the strongest in the worldMajor exporter of Manufactured goods

Known for making HIGH quality productsLeaders in new technology & ideas

Imports – food & raw materials (lacks natural resources), also imports machinery, equipment & fuels

Has a favorable balance of trade & stable economic system

Japanese Economy

Trade Surplus from 1965 – exports more than it importsbrings in more money than it pays outUsed the $ to invest in foreign stocks, bonds, real

estate, etc

Japanese companies produce more cars and electronics outside of Japan than in

Land & Labor are often cheaper in other countries than in Japan

Why is the Japanese economy so successful?

Government - works with businesses to control production – looking toward the future

Workforce – well educated, highly trained, & strong work ethic – work hard and are loyal to their companiesWork ethic – belief that the work itself is worthwhile

Trade Surplus – makes company wealthyTariff – a fee that a country charges on imports and

exports

SIZEJapan is about equal in size to the

state of Montana

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POPULATION

Japan ranks seventh in world population with about 125 million

people.

Population127 million peopleHigh population

density65% live in cities like

Tokyo and Osakamost live on island of

Honshu90% of population is

JapaneseNon-Japanese must

register and carry identification

LanguageJapanese books are

read from “back” to “front”

use several types of alphabets:KanjiHiraganaKatakana

English is taught in schools and often used in business

Religion

80% practice combination of Shinto and Confucianism

Less than 1% of population is Christian

GovernmentConstitutional

monarchyJapan’s emperor has

no real powerPrime Minister

governs the nationDiet (legislature)

makes the lawscertain political

families have held a seat in the Diet for several generations

Economy imports about half of its

food rice is most important

cropmost people work in

manufacturingwork hard and are loyal

to their companiesbecause of tariffs,

Japan has a huge trade surplus

U.S. is most important trading partner

Economy

Schoolseducation in Japan is

extremely importantstudy more and

spend more time in school

many attend jukuschools are more

formalgreat respect for

teachershelp with chores or

serving otherswear uniforms

Culture: Food

Culture: Games & Sports

Culture: Holidays

Other Customs & Traditions

Tokyo

Issues & Challenges

must import much of its food and natural resources

natural disastersovercrowdingpollutioneconomic

competition

Terrain

About four fifths of Japan

is mountainous.

Space is in such high demand in Japan even their burial places

lack for space.

Living space in Japan is very valuable and hard to come by.

Private dwellings are also small.

Because of Japan’s high population density many people use public transportation.

Many people in Japan use the Japan Rail system instead of

flying.

The “Bullet Train” is popular in Japan.The train can travel at speeds up to 160 mph.

The rail system in Japan, called JR, is highly efficient!!

The seats on most trains in the JR system are even heated!!

Japan is a very modern society.

There is still much of the old in Japan today.

Some segments of Japanese culture are very different from American culture.

TSUNAMI

TSUNAMI

TSUNAMI

Kobe Earthquake

Earthquakes

Earthquakes•Earthquakes are caused by shifts in the Earth’s plates caused by incredible amounts of pressure.

•Earthquakes frequently occur in southern and eastern Asia. The majority of eastern Asia is located within the Ring of Fire, the most geologically active areas on the plant.

•The top ten deadliest earthquakes in history have all occurred in southern and eastern Asia.

•The deadliest earthquake in history occurred in the Shaanxi province of China in 1556. It is estimated that over 800,000 (60% of the population) people were killed

Kobe, Japan---1995

•The Kobe earthquake occurred on January 17, 1995, twelve miles from the center of Kobe, Japan.

•Nearly 6,500 people lost their lives during the quake, including 4,600 from the city of Kobe alone.

•The majority of the city’s buildings, homes, and infrastructure were destroyed by the earthquake. 300,000 residents of Kobe were left homeless.

•The earthquake caused just over 100 billion US dollars in damage.

A Kobe city street in ruins

Fallen Bridge Section

Fallen Bridge Leg

Tilted building in Kobe

Highway 1995

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Japan

Land of the Rising Sun