Japan/Korea/SE Asia Exam Prep Flashcards
Why is the Japanese population described as homogenous?
Because most of the people have a common heritage. About 99% of the population are descendants of Japanese ancestors.
How does East Asia’s physical geography affect its population distribution.
The geography scatters its population. The volcanic mountains and earthquakes cause some ares to be densely populated. Japan/Yokohama is the world’s largest metropolitan area with over 350,000 people.
What is a typhoon?
A tropical hurricane in the Pacific that causes floods and landslides
What is the Pacific Ring of Fire?
A region of tectonic activity in the Pacific
Where do most people live in Japan (geographically)?
80% of Japan’s population lives on the largest island, Honshu.
What are paddy fields?
The wet land on which rice is grown
Describe the amount of farmland in Japan.
Only 13% of Japan’s land is arable. Carved terraces allow farmers to maximize their farms’ surface area, but this strategy also requires a lot of physical labor.
Why does Japan experience many earthquakes?
Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire at the juncture of three tectonic plates gives it frequent, low-intensity tremors, as well as occasional volcanic activity and tsunamis.
What is Shinto?
An ancient religion in Japan that involves the worship of a clan’s common ancestor, often an animal or god called “kami”.
What is Zen Buddhism?
A religion that emphasized the belief that an individual had to live in harmony with nature and that this harmony could be achieved through a deep religious understanding called enlightenment.
Who followed Zen Buddhism and why?
The samurai, because it was a useful way to calm oneself before battle. The samurai embraced bodily discipline and meditation.
Why did Commodore Perry arrive in Japan in 1853?
He arrived with 4 US warships with the intent of beginning US-Japanese trade.
What did Commodore Perry force Japan to do?
To open up trade with the West, primarily the US.
What was significant about how Japan funded their industrial growth?
They did it without help from Western countries.
What was the Meiji government determined to do with Japan?
They were determined to make Japan a great power capable of competing with the West.
What problems faced Japan in the 1920s and 30s?
Japan faced domestic and economic troubles. There was a large population and industrial growth, propaganda, and censorship increased, and the Great Depression also had a significant impact on the expanding Japanese economy.
What was the militarist solution to Japanese economic problems at the time?
After the failed military coup, the solution continued to be expansion.
What event led to US entry into WWII?
The Japanese bombing on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Victory over Japan was finally achieved as a result of what event?
The atom bomb droppings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Name the provisions of the Japanese Constitution.
After WWII, Japan was demilitarized and wartime leaders were tried and executed. The Japanese were required to adopt a new constitution in which the power was given to the people and the emperor was forced to deny his divinity. Japan was barred from warfare except for defense. The US was responsible for providing military protection.
What event triggered the Korean War?
North Korea’s surprise attack on June 25, 1950. North Korea opened fire across the 38th parallel.
What was a positive effect of the prohibition of the military in Japan?
It gave Japan more opportunities to better their economy.
What outside nations or organizations were heavily involved in the Korean War?
The Soviet Union backed the North
The US backed the South
The UN supported the south with “police action”
China entered the war on November 1st, 1950 and backed the North
How many times did Seoul change hands during the Korean War?
4 times
