Introduction

‡ Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific

Ocean, it lies to the east of China, Korea and Russia, stretching
from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea in the
south. Japan's mean "sun-origin", which is why Japan is
sometimes identified as the "Land of the Rising Sun".

‡ Japan comprises over 3,000 islands, the largest of which are

Honshū, Hokkaidō, Kyūshū and Shikoku, together accounting for
97% of land area. Most of the islands are mountainous, many
volcanic; for example, Japan¶s highest peak, Mount Fuji, is a
volcano. Japan has the world's tenth largest population, with about
128 million people. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes the
capital city of Tokyo and several surrounding prefectures, is the
largest metropolitan area in the world, with over 30 million residents.
MAP OF JAPAN
 History
‡ The first signs of occupation on the Japanese Archipelago appeared with a
Paleolithic culture around 30,000 BC, followed from around 14,000 BC, a
Mesolithic to Neolithic semi-sedentary hunter-gatherer culture of pit dwelling
and a rudimentary form of agriculture. Decorated clay vessels from this
period, often with plaited patterns, are some of the oldest surviving
examples of pottery in the world. The Yayoi period, starting around the third
century BC, introduced new practices, such as wet-rice farming, iron and
bronze-making and a new style of pottery, brought by migrants from China
or Korea. With the development of Yayoi culture, a predominantly
agricultural society emerged in Japan. The Japanese first appear in written
history in China¶s Book of Han. According to the Chinese Records of Three
Kingdoms, the most powerful kingdom on the archipelago during the third
century was called Yamataikoku. The Great Buddha in Kamakura (1252).
Buddhism was first introduced to Japan from Baekje of the Korean
Peninsula, but the subsequent development of Japanese Buddhism and
Buddhist sculptures were primarily influenced by China. Despite early
resistance, Buddhism was promoted by the ruling class and eventually
gained growing acceptance since the Asuka period. The Nara period of the
eighth century marked the first emergence of a strong central Japanese
state, centered around an imperial court in the city of Heijō-kyō, or modern
day Nara. In addition to the continuing adoption of Chinese administrative
practices, the Nara period is characterized by the appearance of a nascent
written literature with the completion of the massive chronicles Kojiki (712)
and Nihon Shoki (720).
‡ In 784, Emperor Kammu moved the capital from Nara to Nagaoka-kyō for a brief ten-
year period, before relocating it to Heian-kyō in 794, where it remained for more than
a millennium. This marked the beginning of the Heian period, during which time a
distinctly indigenous Japanese culture emerged, noted for its art, poetry and
literature. Lady Murasaki's The Tale of Genji and the lyrics of modern Japan's
national anthem, Kimi ga Yo were written during this time. Japan's feudal era was
characterized by the emergence of a ruling class of warriors, the samurai. In 1185,
following the defeat of the rival Taira clan, Minamoto no Yoritomo was appointed
Shogun and established a base of power in Kamakura. After Yoritomo's death, the
Hōjō clan came to rul
‡ e as regents for the shoguns. Zen Buddhism was introduced from China in the
Kamakura period (1185±1333) and became popular among the samurai class. The
Kamakura shogunate managed to repel Mongol invasions in 1274 and 1281, aided by
a storm that the Japanese interpreted as a kamikaze, or Divine Wind. The Kamakura
shogunate was eventually overthrown by Emperor Go-Daigo, who was soon himself
defeated by Ashikaga Takauji in 1336. The succeeding Ashikaga shogunate failed to
control the feudal warlords (daimyo), and a civil war erupted in 1467 which opened a
century-long Sengoku period. During the sixteenth century, traders and Jesuit
missionaries from Portugal reached Japan for the first time, initiating active
commercial and cultural exchange between Japan and the West. Oda Nobunaga
conquered numerous other daimyo by using European technology and firearms and
had almost unified the nation when he was assassinated in 1582. Toyotomi Hideyoshi
succeeded Nobunaga and united the nation in 1590. Hideyoshi invaded Korea twice,
but following several defeats by Korean and Ming China forces and Hideyoshi's
death, Japanese troops were withdrawn in 1598.
 Geography
‡ Japan is a country of over three thousand islands extending
along the Pacific coast of Asia. The main islands, running
from north to south, are Hokkaidō, Honshū, Shikoku and
Kyūshū. The Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa, are a chain
of islands south of Kyushū. Together they are often known as
the Japanese Archipelago. About 70% to 80% of the
country is forested, mountainous, and
unsuitable for agricultural, industrial, or
residential use. This is because of the
generally steep elevations, climate and risk of
landslides caused by earthquakes, soft
ground and heavy rain. This has resulted in
an extremely high population density in the
habitable zones that are mainly located in coastal areas.
Japan is the thirtieth most densely populated country in the
world. Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, at the juncture
of three tectonic plates, gives Japan frequent low-intensity
tremors and occasional volcanic activity. Destructive
earthquakes, often resulting in tsunamis, occur several times
each century.[42] The most recent major quakes are the 2004
Chūetsu earthquake and the Great Hanshin Earthquake of
1995. Hot springs are numerous and have been developed as
resorts.
Environment
Japan's environmental history and current policies
reflect a tenuous balance between economic
development and environmental protection. In the rapid
economic growth after the World War II, environmental
policies had been downplayed by the government and
industrial corporations. As an inevitable consequence,
some crucial environmental pollutions occurred in
1950s and 1960s. In the rising concern over the
problem, the government legislated many
environmental protection laws in 1970 and established
the Ministry of the Environment in 1971. The Oil crisis
in 1973 also encouraged the efficient use of energy
due to Japan's lack of natural resources. `urrent
priority environmental issues include urban air
pollution, waste management, water
eutrophication, nature conservation, climate
change, chemical management and international
co-operation for environmental conservation.
 Education & Health
‡ Primary, secondary schools and universities were introduced into Japan in
1872 as a result of the Meiji Restoration.[84] Since 1947, compulsory
education in Japan consists of elementary school and middle school,
which lasts for nine years (from age 6 to age 15). Almost all children
continue their education at a three-year senior high school, and,
according to the MEXT, about 75.9% of high school graduates attend a
university, junior college, trade school, or other post-secondary institution in
2005. Japan's education is very competitive, especially for entrance to
institutions of higher education. The two top-ranking universities in Japan
are the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University. The Programme for
International Student Assessment coordinated by the OECD, currently
ranks Japanese knowledge and skills of 15-year-olds as the 6th best in the
world.
‡ In Japan, healthcare services are provided by national and local
governments. Payment for personal medical services is offered through a
universal health care insurance system that provides relative equality of
access, with fees set by a government committee. People without insurance
through employers can participate in a national health insurance program
administered by local governments. Since 1973, all elderly persons have
been covered by government-sponsored insurance. Patients are free to
select physicians or facilities of their choice.
 Sports
‡ Traditionally, sumo is considered Japan's national sport and it is one of
the most popular spectator sports in Japan. Martial arts such as judo,
karate and kendō are also widely practiced and enjoyed by spectators in
the country. After the Meiji Restoration, many Western sports were
introduced in Japan and began to spread through the education system.

‡ The professional baseball league in Japan was established in 1936. Today

baseball is the most popular spectator sport in the country. One of the
most famous Japanese baseball players is Ichiro Suzuki, who, having won
Japan's Most Valuable Player award in 1994, 1995 and 1996, now plays in
North American Major League Baseball.

‡ Since the establishment of the Japan Professional Football League in 1992,

association football (soccer) has also gained a wide following. Japan was a
venue of the Intercontinental `up from 1981 to 2004 and co-hosted the
2002 FIFA World `up with South Korea. Japan is one of the most
successful soccer teams in Asia, winning the Asian `up three times.

‡ Golf is also popular in Japan, as is auto racing, the Super GT sports car
series and Formula Nippon formula racing. Twin Ring Motegi was
completed in 1997 by Honda in order to bring IndyCar racing to Japan.