SOUND INFUSION CULTURAL NOTES

JAPAN

Location Asia

Official Name

Population (2017 est.) 126,785,797.00

Official language Japanese

Capital (2019 est.) Tokyo 8,336,599

Currency Yen

Area (km2) 377,915 km2

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At a Glance

Political System Unitary Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy

Largest Cities 3,574,443, Osaka 2,592,413, Nagoya 2,191,279

Main industries Negligible mineral resources, fish, cars, electronic equipment and biotechnology

Climate Varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

Coastline (km) 29,751 km

Natural Hazards Many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences, mostly tremors but occasional severe earthquakes) every year; tsunamis; typhoons

Ethnic Background Japanese 98.1%, Chinese 0.5%, Korean 0.4%, other 1% (includes Filipino, Vietnamese, and Brazilian)

Religions (2019 est.) Shintoism 70.4%, Buddhism 69.8%, Christianity 1.5%, other 6.9% (2015 est.)

Literacy Rate, age 15 and date unavailable over has ever attended school (2015est.)

Life expectancy at birth The average life expectancy is 85.5. For males this average lies at 82.2 (2018 est.) years and for females at 89 years.

Mobile Phones 95.1 per 100 persons Subscriptions (2017 est.)

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What’s it like?

Japan is a made up of 6,852 islands. The four most prominent islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku. Japanese culture is rich and diverse, dating back to 30,000BC. Japan is widely known for its traditional arts as well as its contemporary pop culture. In modern day Japan, it is still possible to see kimono-clad women shuffling down the street with umbrellas overhead, or oversized wrestlers battling it out the ring. The Japanese lifestyle is a rich blend of Asian-influenced traditional culture and Western-influenced modern culture.

The Japanese culture is a multi-layered and complex. Although the Japanese like to think of themselves as being in tune with nature, much of urban Japan very industrialized. Japan is among the world’s largest and technologically advanced providers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, ships, chemicals, and processed foods. They also play a big role in shipbuilding and iron and steel production, however, these industries are declining importance. Today Japan’s industries face growing competition from other countries such as China and South Korea. Many products once made in Japan are now being made elsewhere in Asia. However, Japan is now moving rapidly to leadership in the field of biotechnology. Biotechnology involves the design and manufacture of artificial body parts. It also includes the creation of new genetic materials and developing new medicine.

Agriculture employs 2.9 percent of the Japanese workforce. Because so much of Japan is mountainous and forested, only about 15 percent of its total land area can be used for farming. Every bit of usable land is valuable, and Japanese farmers grow crops on plots of land that often seem too small or too steep to be cultivated. Even so, Japan must import a large portion of its food to feed its people. Rice is the staple food of Japan. Small, neat patches of green rice paddies dot the countryside. Japan is also one of the world’s foremost fishing nations. Fish and shellfish are a basic food of the Japanese. The waters surrounding Japan are rich in a variety of fish. Seaweed is commonly harvested for food.

Key Moments in History

3000 BCE Human settlements in Japan • People live as hunter gatherers. 2500 BCE The first permanent settlements appear • The people start using tools of polished stone and earthenware. 1760 BCE Rice cultivation begins 250-710 • A period in which the Japanese imperial court rules from the Yamato Province. This province is now known as Nara Prefecture. • In this period Chinese culture influenced Japanese culture immensely. Through trade and travel China and Japan were in constant contact with 250-538 each other. This period got its name from the burial mounds that were built for people of the ruling class, called Kofun. In the later part of the Kofun Period these burial grounds were not only built for the elite, but also the commoners.

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Key Moments in History(cont)

Asuka period 538-710 • Buddhism made its arrival in Japan, which change the Japanese society and affected the Yamato government. 607 Horyuji temple is finished • This holds the oldest surviving wooden structure in the world. 1185-1333 • During this period Japan was under rule of a feudal military government of imperial-aristocratic rule, the Kamakura shogunate. Mongols attack Japan • Both invasions were massive military efforts undertaken by Kublai Khan,in 1274 and 1281 an attempt to conquer Japan. Both attempts ended in failure for the Mongols, which makes these attempted invasions important historical events. It was the first time there was a limit put on Mongol expansion. 1336 Establishment of the Muromachi shogunate 1543 Portuguese introduce firearms to Japan 1549 Introduction of Christianity Start of period (a.k.a. Tokugawa period) 1603 • This was a period of economic growth. Strict social order, isolationist foreign policies, a stable population, no more wars, and enjoyment of arts and culture. The Edict • The Sakoku Edict did not allow Japanese to leave the country, nor could 1635 Europeans enter. The penalty for breaking the law was death. In addition, foreign trade was extremely restricted and the practise of Catholicism was illegal. Shimabara Rebellion 1637 • An uprising began against the ruler because of the persecution of Christianity and the heavy taxation. 1721 The Wakan Sansai Zue was published. • The first Japanese encyclopaedia was published. Tenpō Reforms 1842 • These reforms included an array of new economic policies, aimed to resolve problems in the military, economy, financial, and religious systems. Convention of Kanagawa • Matthew C. Perry signs the Conventions of Kanagawa. This marks the 1854 end of the isolation period Japan went through for more than 200 years. In the following years similar treaties with other western countries were signed. The first Sino-Japanese War 1894-1895 • This was a war fought between China and Japan. They were fighting for influence in Korea.

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Key Moments in History(cont)

PRusso-Japanese War 1904 • Japan launched a surprise torpedo attack on the Russian Navy. The war was mainly for territory reasons, involving Korea and Manchuria. The war was eventually settled with the . The second Sino-Japanese War • The war started with the Marco Polo Bridge Incident and escalated into 1937-1945 battle. This conflict was part of WW2 and China fought with the aid from the Soviet Union and the . It was the biggest war in Asia in the 20th century. Attack on Pearl Harbor 1941 • Japan declares war to the US, Dutch, and British. This is the start of the of WW2. 1945 1947 Constitution of Japan goes into effect 1956 Japan joins the United Nations 1968 Japan becomes second largest economic power in the world 1969 Students protest against the Vietnam war • The protest caused a short lived takeover of Tokyo University Japanese asset price bubble popped 1991 • Initially this was seen as the start of the , but later it turned into the Lost Score. After the asset price bubble burst, the economy went into decline. 1997 Protocol • This protocol was set up to regulate greenhouse gases emissions 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, follow by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Abenomics policies are enacted 2012 • These policies are implemented to handle the consequences of the Lost Decade and the Japan demographic crisis.

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People

The Japanese family structure is very different now, than it was back in the day. Historically, people in Japan had multi-generational households. Over time this has changed into the typical ‘nuclear family’, where it’s is just the parents with the children in a house. Occasionally families will have an elderly parent or older relative living with them in house. During the 20th century women gained more legal power, which reduced the patriarchal authority within society. Even marriage traditions have changed from courtship based on mutual attraction rather than arranged marriages.

In 1947 a new legal framework gave women equality to men. Before this women were expected to be home makers, with little opportunity for a career outside of that. They had to listen to their husbands or other authoritative male figures in their lives. With the legal changes, women gained access to education, which lead to job opportunities and career advancement. Total equality is still far from reality, but there is constant progression.

Children are at the centre of the Japanese family. Strong bonds between mother and child are formed at an early age. From the age of 6 kids are legally obliged to go to school. The compulsory education ends with middle school, but most children do seek further education.

The Japanese are rather formal and ritualized, and their way of greetings reflect this. It is very important to show the correct amount of respect toward the person you are greeting. The level of respect you are showing towards a person can be measured by how deeply you bow when greeting them. Additionally you are never to introduce yourself when you are being introduced to someone. Always wait for the other person to do the introduction for you, even in at a large gathering.

Japanese are very indirect in their communication style, leaving a lot of messages to be interpreted by the receiver, rather than being said by the sender. Telling someone no is seen as a loss of face, which why most people in Japan will use responses like ‘it’s inconvenient’ or ‘it’s under consideration’ when a request cannot be agreed to. Saving face is very important in Japanese society. When you speak with someone in Japan, make sure you give them enough personal space, usually at least an arms-length distance.

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Customs & Traditions

Geisha Geisha’s had their start during the Edo era, when Japan was cut off from the rest of the world. They were courtesans meant to entertain and charm the wealthy and powerful. The earliest Geisha’s were men, but women caught on quickly. As courtesan entertainment died down, the geisha as we know her now took her place. The number of Geisha’s today is quickly declining. To find an original Geisha you would have to visit Kyoto, where they still live and work in their original teahouses. .

Samurai The Samurai were the warriors of premodern Japan. Later, during the , they became the highest ranking social caste. Their main weapon and symbol is the sword, however they did use many other weapons during combat. In the present day there are still a lot of Samurai related activities that can be enjoyed all around Japan. Mainly through visiting old castles or other forms of residences that have prevailed over the years. There are also museums and theme parks based on the history of the Samurai.

Music (Instruments)

Taiko

Taiko refers to a broad range of Japanese percussion instruments. There is a multitude of variety within Taiko, with drums small and large. The drums are usually classified based on the way they have been constructed, or in what context the specific drum is used.

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Activities (dance, sport, other)

Sumo Sumo is a Japanese style of wrestling and recognized as the national sport. The sport found its start in ancient times and therefore has a lot of traditions and rituals attached to it. Most of which are still followed today. Only men can practice the sport professionally.

Dos & Don’ts

Do Do always remove your footwear when entering a house, inn, restaurant or office Do slurp when eating noodles! It’s almost impossible to enjoy a bowl of ramen without making any noise. Slurping shows the chef you’re appreciating the food.

Don’t Don’t blow your nose in public. It’s considered more polite (and hygienic) to sniff! Preferable still is to wear a surgical mask, which you’ll be able to find just about everywhere. Don’t spear food with chopsticks or leave your chopsticks standing in a bowl of rice: this is the way a bowl of rice is presented as an offering to someone who has died. Both actions are considered offensive. Don’t eat or drink while you walk or are in transit.

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Special Places

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Seimon Ironbridge

Kiyomizu-dera Golden Pavilion

Himeji Castle Mount Fuji

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Food

Japanese cuisine is extremely varied, with a lot of different regional and seasonal dishes. Some of the most popular and well known are: Sushi, Ramen, Sashimi, Udon, Yakitory, Tempura.

A popular alcoholic drink is Sake.

Interesting Facts

The Japanese name for Japan is “Nihon” or “Nippon” which means “sun origin”. Japan is made up of 6,852 islands.

The highest point in Japan in Mount Fuji, which stands at 3,776m (12,388ft).

Japan is a world leader in robotics

Some of the most well-known companies in the world are Japanese such as Toyota,

Honda, Sony, Nintendo, Canon, Panasonic, Toshiba, and Sharp.

Almost three quarters of Japan’s land is either forest or mountains and is difficult to be made into farms, industrial or residential areas.

Japan is an industrialized nation, producing some of the most technologically advanced motor vehicles, electronics, and machine tools.

Japan is home to many different forms of martial arts, like Karate, Judo, Sumo, Ninjutsu, Kendo, Jujutsu, and Aikido.

Japan has a very low birth rate largely due to women entering the workforce and an aging population.

Japan hosted the 1940 and 1964 Summer Olympic games, both times in Tokyo. They also hosted the 1940, 1972 and 1998 Winter Olympic Games.

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