Japan Notes

Question 1

Archipelago

Answer 1

A chain of islands

Question 2

Four main islands of Japan

Answer 2

1. Hokkaido
2. Honshu
3. Shikoku
4. Kyushu

Question 3

Bodies of water

Answer 3

~ Sea of Japan
~ Pacific Ocean
~ East China Sea

Question 4

Population Density

Answer 4

Number of people living in a given space.

Question 5

What is Japan’s population density?

Answer 5

High

Question 6

What is much of Japan made up of?

Answer 6

Mountains by 70%; high elevation

Question 7

10% of the world’s ________ come from Japan

Answer 7

volcanoes

Question 8

Japan is ______.

Answer 8

an archipelago

Question 9

Japan is on ______.

Answer 9

The Pacific Ring of Fire

Question 10

Japanese History background

Answer 10

~Early Japan (400 CE to 783 CE) wasn’t a united country
~Clans fought each other for power
~Then 1st emperor of Japan came from the rule Yamamoto clan and became the ruler
~People of Japan felt the emperor gained this position because he was a direct descendant of the Sun Goddess
~Since he got power from the GODS they felt he had the power to protect Japan from any and ALL invaders
~He was only a spiritual leader not a political one at FIRST…
~He was the most important person with the SHINTO religion

Question 11

How long is a Katana? What kind of weapon is it?

Answer 11

36 inches; two-handed weapon

Question 12

How long is the European long sword?

Answer 12

40-50 inches

Question 13

An Example of Divine Power

Answer 13

~The Mongol LEader Kublai Khan wanted to take over Japan and got 10,000 soldiers ready for invasion from China
~A Typhoon (Hurricane) came and destroyed AALL the ships…
~The Emperor of Japan got credit for it because his Godly power protected the island

Question 14

Kublai Khan ATTACKS AGAIN!!!

Answer 14

~Kublai Khan waited 10 years and planned another attack on Japan to take it over for the Mongol Empire
~This time he had 150,000 men with boats ready
~Another Typhoon came and destroyed it AGAIN!!!
~Kublai Khan said forget Japan!!
~The emperor of Japan got credit again. God protects Japan is the way the People felt and are so PROUD of never being taken over or invaded

Question 15

Prince Shotoku

Answer 15

~All the different clans fought to be the Emperor’s advisors
~Prince Shotoku saw what China had in government that worked and copied it in Japan he wanted all the power!!!
~He copied Chinese writing, art, poetry, architecture, and government bureaucracy (departments)
~During the Heian Period in Japan (794-1185 CE) Nobles (rich landowners) started to take power
~They earned the trust of the emperor and convinced him to give them the power over all the people on their lands

Question 16

Ancient Japan

Answer 16

~ruled by an emperor
~In 622 CE the emperor of Japan was just a figurehead
~In the 800’s CE the Fujiwara Clan became the “REAL” rulers of Japan. They ruled Japan for 300 years
~The Fujiwara CLan were wealthy / rich nobles

Question 17

ancient Japan continued

Answer 17

~In the 1100’s CE Japan’s central government became very weak and the Fujiwara Clan declined (lost power)
~THey lost their power and authority to the large landholders
~These landowners were called Daimyo. They PAID NO TAXES to the Japanese government and so Japan’s government ran out of money