Lecture 1

Question 1

Rickshaw

Answer 1

Jinriksha. A human-powered vehicle invented in Japan in 1868.

Question 2

Ninja

Answer 2

Modern day version of ninjas are fictionalizations based on myth and folklore

Question 3

Revised Hepburn System

Answer 3

James Curtis Hepburn. Most commonly accepted method for translating Japanese into English

Question 4

Macron

Answer 4

Ō elongates the sounds of vowels

Question 5

Gregorian Calendar

Answer 5

Introduced in 1582, it is the most widely used calendar. Japan first used 1873.

Question 6

Isoroku Yamamoto

Answer 6

Marshal Admiral of Japan’s Navy. Responsible for Pearl Harbour and Midway

Question 7

Nengō

Answer 7

The first element used to identify the year in the Japanese calendar system. A number is followed ex. Heisei 27

Question 8

Meiji Restoration

Answer 8

Series of events that spanned 1868-1912 which brought power back to the Emperor, away from the Shogunate.

Question 9

Kyūshū, Shikoku, Honshū, Hokkaidō

Answer 9

The four main islands of Japan

Question 10

Homogenus

Answer 10

Of the same kind or nature

Question 11

Palanquin

Answer 11

A litter carried by two or more people

Question 12

Ainu

Answer 12

An indigenous people of Japan and Russia

Question 13

Typhoon

Answer 13

A tropical cyclone that develops in the western region of the North Pacific Ocean

Question 14

Kublai Khan

Answer 14

The fifth Khagan of the Mongol Empire, founder of the Chinese Yuan Dynasty. Attempted two invasions of Japan in the 13th century, both failed.

Question 15

Mongols

Answer 15

An ethnic group of Mongolia.

Question 16

Kamikaze

Answer 16

Storms that saved Japan from Kublai Khan’s invasions by destroying his fleet. Divine wind.

Question 17

Ring of fire

Answer 17

An area in the basin of the pacific ocean from a great many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.

Question 18

Fujiyama

Answer 18

The highest mountain in Japan and an active volcano

Question 19

Great Kanto Earthquake

Answer 19

Sept 1 1923 killed approx. 140,000. Destroyed Tokyo and Yokohama

Question 20

Kobe Earthquake

Answer 20

1995 Jan 17. Killed over 6,000. Second worst quake of the 20th century after Kanto.

Question 21

Tsunami

Answer 21

Harbour wave. Occurs when an earthquake or other massive physical event displaces water, creating a long wave in the ocean. As the wave approaches shallower depth the length shortens, giving it a massive height.

Question 22

Tōhoku Earthquake and Tsunami

Answer 22

March 11 2011. 16,000 dead. 9.0 earthquake and 40m high tsunami that did an estimated 235 billion in damage.