Tài liệu Japan ppt

[...]... of Japan Russia’s vast Siberian territory looms less than 200 miles (320 kilometers) across the Sea of Japan Only a few miles separate South Korea from the Japanese islands The Communist-controlled and often belligerent “Hermit Kingdom” of North Korea lies about 500 miles (800 kilometers) across the Sea of Japan To the east, across some 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) of open Pacific Ocean, lie Japan s... introduced the bonsai tradition, the Japanese rapidly adopted the technique and improved the practice In a similar manner, when the West introduced industry, commerce, and urbanization, the Japanese rapidly adopted the new ideas Within slightly more than a century, they became the world’s second ranking industrial power Japan also quickly became urbanized Today, Japan s capital city of Tokyo, with Yokohoma... with Japan and its people Japan, perhaps more than any other country, suffers from deformities of nature They come in the form of frequent and often devastating earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tropical storms, floods, and other natural hazards Finally, bonsai trees are things of great beauty As you journey through Japan in the pages of this book, the authors hope you will come to see the beauty of Japan. .. 10:41 PM Page 12 Mount Fuji, Japan s highest mountain, is located on the island of Honshu The beauty of its snowcapped peak has inspired Japanese artists for centuries CH.WN.Jap.C02.Final.q 5/19/03 10:41 PM Page 13 2 The Natural Environment I n many ways, nature has not treated Japan kindly In fact, few countries face more geographical and environmental obstacles than does Japan Its location off the... the bonsai tradition provides some lessons that help us better understand Japan and its people The bonsai tradition, for example, is ancient and many of the trees are very old Japanese culture is also ancient and today, Japanese people enjoy the world’s longest life expectancy Bonsai are rugged in appearance So is the country of Japan, with its several thousand islands dominated by rugged mountain landscapes... Pacific Ocean off the coast of mainland Asia Japan s island location has both protected and isolated the country throughout history CH.WN.Jap.C02.Final.q 5/19/03 10:42 PM Page 16 16 Japan benefit a country Isolation, for example, has been a chief factor in preserving the unity of Japanese people and culture Until the United States and its allies successfully invaded Japan in 1945, bringing an end to World... Japan in 1945, bringing an end to World War II, no conquering army had ever reached Japan s shores A true appreciation of Japan s location is difficult to gain from looking at a flat map If Japan is viewed on a globe, however, the importance of the country’s position relative to other nations can be better understood Japan lies just beyond Alaska along what geographers call a “great circle route” between... flat land and narrow coastal plains support much of Japan s population and economy Indeed, few places in the world can match Japan for crowded space Of Japan s several hundred volcanoes, none is more picturesque, widely recognized, or worshiped by its people than is the beautiful Mount Fuji (also called Fujiyama or Fuji San) In fact, it is one of Japan s most widely recognized symbols This famous,... CH.WN.Jap.C02.Final.q 5/19/03 10:42 PM Page 18 18 Japan Japan is composed of four main islands— Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu— and thousands of smaller islands Japan s capital and largest city, Tokyo, is located on the island of Honshu CH.WN.Jap.C02.Final.q 5/19/03 10:42 PM Page 19 The Natural Environment summers and longer colder winters similar to those of New England Japan s temperatures are influenced... its own forests, Japan has become the world’s leading importer of lumber and other forest products (including sawdust used in the making of pressed board) Japan s marine ecosystem is vital to its survival The country has long depended on the ocean for food The waters surrounding Japan are among the world’s richest fisheries Fish, shellfish, crustaceans, and even edible seaweed abound Japanese fishing . Flag of Japan Cover: View of Mount Fuji. CH.WN.Jap.aFM.Final.q 5/29/03 7:40 PM Page 4 Table of Contents Introducing Japan 9 The Natural Environment 13 Japan s. Early History 29 The Birth of Modern Japan 39 People and Culture 51 Government 61 The Economy 67 Living in Japan Today 79 Japan Looks Ahead 95 Facts at a Glance