01 What is Japan like?
During this unit we will study the following content:
During this unit we will practice the following skills:
- Japan’s main physical features including its' natural hazards and how do the Japanese respond to them.
- The culture of Japan and how it has changed over time.
- Sustainable development and Japan's role in the global economy.
During this unit we will practice the following skills:
- Using, analyzing and summarizing a range of sources and creating bibliographies using the MLA format.
- Cornell note-taking and writing analytical questions and responses.
First Day Activities - What is Japan like?
Before we really begin to study Japan, think about what you already know. Need ideas? What can you identify as facts about the Japanese people, history, culture, the land, climate, wildlife, daily life of people, human activities, politics, economics, etc? Identify as many "perceptions" of Japan as possible. No detail is too small! You have a maximum of 20 characters only, so think before typing.
SHARE YOUR IDEAS ON ANSWER GARDEN (8-1) ANSWER GARDEN (8-2)
Write quickly. Don't speak to others. If you have the same idea as someone else you can write it again.
BEFORE WE BEGIN STUDYING ABOUT JAPAN
Get into groups and be assigned a Slides Deck. Students must choose one person in your group to write in each column. In your group, think about 10 “things” for each topic. Here are some examples from previous years: CLASS 2016/7 SLIDES DECK
8-1 SLIDES DECK
8-2 SLIDES DECK
SHARE YOUR IDEAS ON ANSWER GARDEN (8-1) ANSWER GARDEN (8-2)
Write quickly. Don't speak to others. If you have the same idea as someone else you can write it again.
BEFORE WE BEGIN STUDYING ABOUT JAPAN
Get into groups and be assigned a Slides Deck. Students must choose one person in your group to write in each column. In your group, think about 10 “things” for each topic. Here are some examples from previous years: CLASS 2016/7 SLIDES DECK
8-1 SLIDES DECK
8-2 SLIDES DECK
The Simpsons in Japan
In a well known episode Homer. Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie visit Japan. Is this what Japan is really like? Of course the purpose of this source is to be humorous and its origin is from the United States but is their any truth in what is being portrayed?
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What is Cultural Identity?
- What is culture? Think about what culture means and write down a definition of it.
- Have a look at the images on this PowerPoint. What country might you associate with these pictures? Why?
- Where do our ideas about different countries come from?
- What are stereotypes?
- What problems do stereotypes pose?
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Shintoism: Japan's Native Religion
Unlike other religions, Shintoism lacks a universally accepted religious text or spiritual authority. The ancient Japanese believed they were created by the gods. Amaterasu was a sun goddess. She sent her grandson, Ninigi, to earth to rule over men. The first emperor, Jimmu, was a descendent of Ninigi and Amaterasu. He was the first (mythical) emperor of Japan in a line of 125 emperors. This is unique as a world religion as its ties together Japanese identity and history. One of its central myths describes the Shinto gods creating the country and alleges that the Emperor is a direct descendant of these same deities. Although the Emperor was forced to renounce his divine status after World War II, Shintoism's effect on the nation of Japan remains undeniable, with the Emperor participating in Shinto ceremonies and followers praying for the preservation of the nation at Shinto shrines.
In Shinto purity and cleanliness is very important. People must wash their hands and mouths before praying in a shrine. Walking under the torii gates was part of the purification process. Sincerity and tranquility are also very important. People must have respect for nature and their behaviour must be respectful. Why is nature so important? The ancients believed that everything in nature had a spirit. Rocks, mountains, rivers, and even food – everything had a spirit, or ‘kami’. Even the islands of Japan are considered ‘kami’. In fact, counted, there are about 8,000,000 gods. It was believed that a person can affect nature if you properly respect it. Humans become impure by interacting with others, and purify themselves by worshipping. Shinto also represents loyalty. The individual person is not as important that the whole of society, so people must be loyal to society.
What is appealing about Shinto? It’s a religion that helps people deal with common, everyday problems. Shintoists can also practice other religions. You don’t have to give up other religions. You can be Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim, or anything, and a Shintoist at the same time! People pray at Shinto shrines, which have torii gates at the entrance, are lined with lanterns and have lion-like stone guards called komainu. Did you know that even mountains, waterfalls and rivers, too, can represent a shrine? Also, Shinto doesn’t have images or statues. Deities (gods) are represented by a bronze mirror, sometimes a sword, or a jewel that represents a gift given to Ninigi by Amaterasu.
Why are there other religions in Japan? In 605 Prince Shotoku declared Buddhism and Confucianism state religions of Japan and began building temples. He had Horuji (a Buddhist temple in the Asuka Valley) built. Christianity came when Europeans wanted to trade and spread Christianity.
In Shinto purity and cleanliness is very important. People must wash their hands and mouths before praying in a shrine. Walking under the torii gates was part of the purification process. Sincerity and tranquility are also very important. People must have respect for nature and their behaviour must be respectful. Why is nature so important? The ancients believed that everything in nature had a spirit. Rocks, mountains, rivers, and even food – everything had a spirit, or ‘kami’. Even the islands of Japan are considered ‘kami’. In fact, counted, there are about 8,000,000 gods. It was believed that a person can affect nature if you properly respect it. Humans become impure by interacting with others, and purify themselves by worshipping. Shinto also represents loyalty. The individual person is not as important that the whole of society, so people must be loyal to society.
What is appealing about Shinto? It’s a religion that helps people deal with common, everyday problems. Shintoists can also practice other religions. You don’t have to give up other religions. You can be Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim, or anything, and a Shintoist at the same time! People pray at Shinto shrines, which have torii gates at the entrance, are lined with lanterns and have lion-like stone guards called komainu. Did you know that even mountains, waterfalls and rivers, too, can represent a shrine? Also, Shinto doesn’t have images or statues. Deities (gods) are represented by a bronze mirror, sometimes a sword, or a jewel that represents a gift given to Ninigi by Amaterasu.
Why are there other religions in Japan? In 605 Prince Shotoku declared Buddhism and Confucianism state religions of Japan and began building temples. He had Horuji (a Buddhist temple in the Asuka Valley) built. Christianity came when Europeans wanted to trade and spread Christianity.
The Geography of Japan
In this topic, we look at the geography of Japan. We look at facts about Japan and we see how Japan is a fascinating land of contrasts, from the traditional to the modern, from the unique to the exciting. We look at images of Japan and through these images, we start to gain an understanding of what Japan is like to live in as a country, and we learn how Japan compares with other countries around the world.
Capital city of Japan
Land Area
Climate
Population of Japan
Politics
Capital city of Japan
- The capital city of Japan is Tokyo, which has a population 37,135,000 people in the Tokyo built up area. This makes it the largest city in the world.
Land Area
- Covers an area of 377,930 sq km. (145,920 sq. miles)
- 62nd largest country in the world. Roughly the same size as Germany or Zimbabwe.
- Japan is half the size as Chile and twice as big as Syria.
Climate
- It varies from tropical in the south to cool temperate in north. Winters are cold with heavy snowfall in the mountains in the north. Summers are long, hot and sunny.
- Fertile soil, warm temperatures and plenty of rain mean that Japan is a country rich in vegetation.
Population of Japan
- The population of Japan is 127,253,075 (July 2013 estimate). It is the 10th largest population in the world. Japan has 335 people per square km making it the 40th most densely populated country in the world.
- The people of JapanThe Japanese people enjoy the second highest life longevity in the world. Their healthy diet which contains a lot of fish is often held up as one of the reasons that Japanese people enjoy such long life.
- Life expectancy for males is: 81.4 years and for females is: 88.3 years.
Politics
- Japan is a constitutional monarchy.
What are Japan’s natural hazards and how do the Japanese respond to them?
In class we will investigate Japan's natural hazards and look at the impact of them on life Japan. We will look at the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and the Tohoku Earthquake of 2011 as case studies.
Students will organize these causes, effects and responses into the following categories:
- Causes - what made the natural disaster happen / make it worse?
- Effects - what problems did the natural bring?
- Responses and Solutions - what did people do afterwards?
Students will organize these causes, effects and responses into the following categories:
- Environmental
- Political
- Economic
- Social
Earthquakes |
Tsunami |
Typhoons |
Volcanoes |
Floods |
Heavy Snowfall |
Japan's Industry
Japan has the world's third-largest economy, having achieved remarkable growth in the second half of the 20th Century after the devastation of the Second World War. Its role in the international community is considerable. It is a major aid donor, and a source of global capital and credit.
More than three quarters of the population live in sprawling cities on the coastal fringes of Japan's four mountainous, heavily-wooded islands. Japan's rapid post-war expansion - propelled by highly successful car and consumer electronics industries - ran out of steam by the 1990s under a mounting debt burden that successive governments have failed to address.
More than three quarters of the population live in sprawling cities on the coastal fringes of Japan's four mountainous, heavily-wooded islands. Japan's rapid post-war expansion - propelled by highly successful car and consumer electronics industries - ran out of steam by the 1990s under a mounting debt burden that successive governments have failed to address.
With a partner discuss how the following factors may influence industrial location:
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