japan

Japan Japan 1. Japan’s land 1. Japan’s land Japan is an archip -elago, Japan is an archip -elago, or a group of islands, off the or a group of islands, off the coast of eastern Asia coast of eastern Asia between the Sea of Japan between the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean.Four and the Pacific Ocean.Four main islands and thousands main islands and thousands of smaller ones make up of smaller ones make up Japan’s land area. The four Japan’s land area. The four largest islands are largest islands are Hokkaido, Honsu, Shikoku, Hokkaido, Honsu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. and Kyushu. There is lands are There is lands are actually the peaks of actually the peaks of mountains that rise from mountains that rise from the floor of the Pacific the floor of the Pacific Ocean. The mountains Ocean. The mountains are volcanic, but many are volcanic, but many are no longer active. are no longer active. The most famous peak The most famous peak is Mount Fuji, Japan is Mount Fuji, Japan highhest mountain and highhest mountain and national symbol. national symbol. 2. The climate 2. The climate Ocean currents and winds Ocean currents and winds affect Japan’s climate. Cold affect Japan’s climate. Cold winds and ocean currents winds and ocean currents from the Arctic bring cold, from the Arctic bring cold, snowy winters to Hokkaido snowy winters to Hokkaido and nouthern Honshu. Warn and nouthern Honshu. Warn ocean currents from the ocean currents from the Pacific give the southern Pacific give the southern part of Honshu and the part of Honshu and the southern islands a humid southern islands a humid subtropical climate. subtropical climate. 3. Japan’s economy 3. Japan’s economy Japan has few mineral Japan has few mineral resources, so it must import resources, so it must import raw materials like ion ore, raw materials like ion ore, coal, and oil. However, coal, and oil. However, Japan is an industrial giant Japan is an industrial giant known around the would for known around the would for the variety and quality of its the variety and quality of its manufactured goods. manufactured goods. Japan leads the world in Japan leads the world in automobile production. automobile production. Japan’s factories also Japan’s factories also produce connsumer goods produce connsumer goods like electronic equipment, like electronic equipment, watches, smale appiances watches, smale appiances and calculators. and calculators. Farmland is very limited. Farmland is very limited. Yet Japan’s farmers use Yet Japan’s farmers use fertilizers and modern fertilizers and modern machinery to produce high machinery to produce high crop yields. They also crop yields. They also practice intensive practice intensive cultivation. They grow cultivation. They grow crops on every available crops on every available piece of land. piece of land. 4. Japan’s people 4. Japan’s people Although about the size of Although about the size of California, Japan has 126,7 California, Japan has 126,7 million people - nearly on – half million people - nearly on – half the population of the united the population of the united states. Most of Japan’s people states. Most of Japan’s people belong to the same Japanese belong to the same Japanese ethnic background. About three – ethnic background. About three – fourths are crowded info urban fourths are crowded info urban areas on the coastal plains. The areas on the coastal plains. The four large cities of Tokyo, four large cities of Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, and Osaka Yokohama, Nagoya, and Osaka form a megalopolis, or a huge form a megalopolis, or a huge urban area made up of several urban area made up of several large cities and communities hear large cities and communities hear them. Only 22 percent of Japan’s them. Only 22 percent of Japan’s people live in rural areas people live in rural areas Religion Religion Shinto Shinto Many Japanese practice Many Japanese practice two religions – Shinto and two religions – Shinto and Buddhism. Shinto began in Buddhism. Shinto began in Japan many centuries ago. It Japan many centuries ago. It teaches respect for nature, teaches respect for nature, love of simple things, and love of simple things, and concern for cleanliness and concern for cleanliness and good manners. Buddhism good manners. Buddhism also teaches respect for also teaches respect for nature and the need for inner nature and the need for inner peace. peace. Buddhism Buddhism Traditional Traditional Arts Arts Japan’s religions have Japan’s religions have influenced the country’s arts. influenced the country’s arts. Many paintings portray the Many paintings portray the beauty of nature often with afew beauty of nature often with afew simple brush strokes. simple brush strokes. The Japanese also have arich The Japanese also have arich heritage of literature and drama. heritage of literature and drama. Many scholars belive that the Many scholars belive that the wold’s first novel came from wold’s first novel came from Japan. Japan. Many of Japan’s sport have Many of Japan’s sport have their origins in the past. A their origins in the past. A popurlar sport is Sumo, Judo, popurlar sport is Sumo, Judo, Karate. Karate. Sumo Sumo [...]...Kimono Modern pastimes Many Japanese are enthusiastic about baseball, and the professional leagues in Japan field several teams Despite Japan s strong emphasis on education, life is not all work for Japanese young people They enjoy rock music, mordern fashions, television and movies Japanese cartoon shows are popular around the world . Japan Japan 1. Japan s land 1. Japan s land Japan is an archip -elago, Japan is an archip -elago, or a group of islands, off the. islands a humid subtropical climate. subtropical climate. 3. Japan s economy 3. Japan s economy Japan has few mineral Japan has few mineral resources, so it must import resources, so. manufactured goods. manufactured goods. Japan leads the world in Japan leads the world in automobile production. automobile production. Japan s factories also Japan s factories also produce connsumer