Transcript Japan - Northwest ISD Moodle

Japan
Life after WWII in the
“land of the rising sun”
Japan at a glance
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Population: 127,450,000
Density: 874 /square mile
Urban: 79%
Ethnic Groups: 99%
Japanese
Languages: Japanese
Main Religions: Shinto &
Buddhist
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Life Expectancy: 85 Female,
78 Male
Literacy: 99%
Government: Parliamentary
Government with a
Constitutional Monarchy
Suffrage: Universal, 20 and
over
Currency: Yen
GDP Per Capita: $37, 100
16% of the population is
below the poverty line
Geography and Climate
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Japan is an archipelago in the
pacific ocean of 6,852 islands
Japan’s 4 main islands are
Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and
Kyushu
Honshu; the largest island, is
home to Tokyo, the capital of
Japan
The greater Tokyo area is the
worlds most populated
metropolitan area with about 35
million people
Geography and Climate
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Mountains cover more than 80%
of Japan’s land
Japan sits atop two tectonic plates
that often sink below a third plate
Because of this, Japan is more
likely to have volcanic eruptions
and earthquakes than many other
places on earth
For example, Mt. Fuji, Japan’s
highest peak, is a volcano
Due to the mountainous terrain,
the majority of Japan’s citizens live
in densely populated urban areas
Although varied, the climate of
Japan can generally be described
as temperate
Mt. Fuji on the island of Honshu
Government and Economy
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After World War II, Japan’s government and economy were
in shambles
It’s cities had been bombed, many Japanese were homeless
and without jobs
After WWII, the United States occupied Japan until 1952
The U.S. helped set up a new government with a constitution
based on our own
Under the new constitution, the rights and responsibilities of
Japanese citizens are very similar to those of Americans
(Voting, Freedom of Speech, Religion…etc)
Government and Economy
Today, Japan has a constitutional monarchy with a
parliamentary government
 The Diet is the highest law-making body in the country
(kind of like congress)
 Before 1945, Japans emperor was the head of
government
 Now a prime minister heads the government, while the
emperor is a symbolic head of state with no real power
in government
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Government and Economy
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The Japanese values of hard work and saving money helped
rebuild the economy
In addition, the United States helped Japan through financial
loans and advice
Today, Japan has one of the most powerful economies in the
world practicing a free enterprise/market economy like the U.S.
The Japanese people enjoy a high standard of living and have
some of the highest education standards in the world
Although limited in natural resources, Japan manufactures and
exports a wide variety of consumer goods – such as,
automobiles and electronics (Sony, Toshiba, Mitsubishi,
Honda, Toyota, Panasonic…etc)
Farming and fishing are also major economic activities in Japan
Ethnicity
Japan’s population is largely homogenous, or largely
the same (99% of the population is Japanese)
 Most of it’s people are descended from the
Mongolian people who settled Japan thousands of
years ago
 The exception is the approximately 15,000 Ainu
people
 Scholars believe the Ainu came to Japan from Europe
well before other settlers arrived
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Social Behavior
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In western culture, especially
in the United States, people
think of themselves as
individuals
In Japan, as in most of Asia,
people think of themselves
1st as part of a group and do
not behave in such a way that
would bring dishonor to
their group
For example:
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The Japanese always display
respectful behavior towards
their parents and elders
They put the needs of their
parents and elders above
their own needs
Japanese people also
seriously consider an elder’s
judgment when making
important decisions
Respect for authority is a
major culture trait of Japan
Social Behavior
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In Japan, there has been a
long held believe that
women are best suited to
roles as mothers and
housekeepers
Approximately 40% of
women hold jobs; however,
many of these jobs are
temporary or part-time
In business, few women hold
management positions
Urban Living
More than 90% of Japanese families live in urban
areas
 Many people live in apartment buildings mainly due to
Japans high population density
 Population density is the number of people that live in
an area per square mile
 Because of this, owning a home in Japan is extremely
expensive
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Cultural Borrowing:
Japan & U.S.A
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Some aspects of Japanese culture
have gained popularity in recent
years, these include:
Sushi
Habachi
Karaoke
Martial Arts
Origami
Manga
Anime
Japanese Gardens
Japanese Tea Ceremonies
Bonsai
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Japan has also engaged in
extensive cultural borrowing
throughout it’s history
In ancient times, Japan
borrowed much from
neighboring countries in
their art, literature and form
of government
In modern times, two of
Japan’s most popular sports
(Baseball & Soccer)
originated in other cultures
Sushi
Origami
Manga & Anime
Bonsai
Karate & Jiu-Jitsu