Japan: Location, Geography and Climate
Geography
Japan is bordered on the north and east by the Pacific Ocean, by the Philippine Sea and the East China Sea on the south, and by the Sea of Japan / East Sea on the west (p. 1). Its coastline expands through 29,751 kilometers (18,487 miles) (p. 1). Japan's area can be compared to California or Germany. Its northernmost islands are located on similar geographical latitude as Milan or Portland, while her southernmost islands are on a common latitude as the Bahamas. More than half of the country is mountainous and covered by forests. Japan is politically structured into 8 regions and 47 prefectures (p. 1).
Source: Encyclopedia of the Nations
Climate
History
The history of Japan dates back to 4,000 BCE during the Jomon Culture (Japan Guide Website, p. 1). This prehistoric culture is defined by handmade pottery with rope design patterns. Buddhism was introduced in Japan during 552 C.E. After almost a hundred years, Japan entered a renaissance as mainly imported from China such as writing system, Buddhism, bureaucratic administration, laws, etc. (p. 1). During the Kamakura Period (1185 – 1333), Japan started its military rule. Samurais replaced the real nobles as its leaders. The imperial court remained in Kyoto but the shoguns were based in the south of modern Tokyo (p. 1). The country engaged in destructive civil wars during the Kemmu restoration. By 1868, Japan once again emerged with western influences, as it dramatically altered its institutions, social organizations, culture, etc.
Japanese Foods
Japanese food, including its ingredients, preparation and manner of eating, is very interesting. The traditional Japanese food of Japan is rice based, with miso soup and other dishes, each in its own utensil (Yoshizuka, p. 1). A main feature of traditional Japanese food is the reduced use of meat, oils and fats, and dairy products (p. 1). Their use of soy sauce, miso and umeboshi makes their food somewhat high in saltiness while there are low-sodium forms of these ingredients available now. Japan food also emphasizes seasonal ingredients. Their side dishes usually consist of fish, pickled vegetables, and vegetables cooked in broth. Fish is also a traditional cuisine food which the Japanese usually grill. They also serve it raw like the sashimi or sushi. (Japan’s sushi has become popular all over the world.) The Japanese seafood and vegetables are usually deep-fried in a light batter such as their tempura (p. 1).
Apart from rice, their staples also include noodles, like their famous soba and udon (p. 1). Japan also has various simmered dishes such as fish products in broth called oden. They also have beef in their sukiyaki and nikujaga. Foreign food, specifically Chinese food through noodles in ramen soup and fried dumplings, gyoza, and international cuisine like curry and hamburger steaks are also common in the Japanese entrees.
Historically, the Japanese cuisine veered away from meat. It was just regained during the 1860’s, when the country was modernized (p. 1). This was when meat-based dishes like tonkatsu became common (p. 1). Japan also boasts of its local form of sweets called wagashi, which consist of ingredients like red bean paste and their local rice wine sake (p. 1).
Beliefs, Attitudes and Values
Japan is a secular society. The people make friends and cooperate in order to comply with their social obligations (Wood, p. 1). Their most important values are harmony, order and self-development. The Japanese tend to avoid open competition and confrontation. They find it more meaningful to create harmonious relations through reciprocity and comply with social duties. They base their fundamental ideas and beliefs about self and the nature of human society from various religious and philosophical traditions (p. 1).
Central to their values, beliefs and attitudes are their two spheres, their public and private expressions. The honne/tatemae distinction between their public expression and private thoughts/feelings is supreme importance. In interpersonal relations, majority of the Japanese tend to veer away from open competition and confrontation (p. 1). They apply self control when working with others and they are fulfilled and proud as they are able to contribute to the group or to the group’s emotional security and social identity (p. 1). Wa (和), the concept of harmony within a group, needs an attitude of cooperation and a recognition of social functions (McCargo, p. 25). If each person in the group knows personal obligations and empathizes with other people’s situations, then, this is all for the benefit of the whole group.
For the Japanese, success can come if each individual works in unison for a goal. There is always a group consensus before reaching a decision. They exchange information, strengthen each other’s feeling and understanding, and makes smooth implementation of the decision. Participation in group activities, whether official or unofficial, also symbolizes each individual’s yearning to belong. Hence, Japanese tend to go out after work to reinforce this intention and to further exchange of knowledge and to be at ease and affiliated with everyone else in the group (p. 1).
Religion
Japan’s two major religions are: Shinto and Buddhism. The former is as ancient as the Japanese culture, while the latter was imported from the mainland China in the 6th century (Japan Guide Website, p. 1). These two religions have, since then, harmoniously existed and actually complemented each other for the good of their believers. Most Japanese take themselves Buddhist, Shintoist or both.
Religion has a very significant role in the daily life of the Japanese. An average person usually abides by their religious rituals at ceremonies such as during births, weddings, and deaths. They also usually visit their shrines or temples on New Year and most Japanese get involved with their local festivities (matsuri) (p. 1). The people’s religious practices also stress the maintenance of harmonious relations with others (both spiritual beings and other humans) and the fulfillment of social obligations as clan and community members (Wood, p. 1).
Political and Legal Systems
The government in Japan is characterized by constitutional monarchy and is divided into three branches; the Legislative, the Executive, and the Judicial. Their legal system is framed after the European civil law systems and also has English-American influence, judicial review of legislative administration through the Supreme Court, and they accept limited compulsory International Court of Justice (ICJ) (Stanford Program on International and Cross Cultural Education, p. 1).
In the executive division, the chief of state is Emperor Akihito. The prime minister appoints his cabinet. Today’s Prime Minister is Naoto Kan. He heads the government and the cabinet. Meanwhile, the judicial branch has a Supreme Court, which acts as the final judicial authority in the country (p. 1). Their monarch appoints the chief justice while the rest of the justices are appointed by the cabinet. Japan's judicial system is composed of customary law, civil law, and Anglo-American common law. Meanwhile, the legislative branch is composed of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors (p. 1).
Japanese politics goes beyond the multi party system. In academic studies, Japan is generally considered a constitutional monarchy with a civil law system (p. 1). Various political parties exist in the country. However, it is dominated by the LDP since 1955. Its major opposition is the DPJ, which plays a vital role in the political system. An interesting feature in this regard is that the judicial branch in Japan is independent.
Art, Music and Literature
Japanese art includes a wide range of art styles and media, which include ancient pottery, sculpture, ink painting, and calligraphy on silk and paper, ukiyo-ewoodblock prints, kirie, kirigami, origami, and more recently manga or contemporary Japanese cartoons. Japanese arts goes back way to the start of human habitation in Japan, specifically in the 10th millennium BC up to the present (p. 1).
Japan’s music is defined by a wide mix of performers in both traditional and modern styles. Traditional music in the country is very much different from western influenced or modern music. It is usually based on the intervals of human breathing instead of mathematical timing. Japan is the second largest music market globally (p. 1). It has a total retail value of 4,422.0 million dollars in 2012 and the market is mainly dominated by Japanese artists with 45 of the top 50 best selling albums and 49 of the top 50 best selling singles last year (p. 1). Local music is usually heard on the karaoke.
Meanwhile, the earliest literary works in Japan were strongly influenced by its cultural link with China and the Chinese literature. These were written in Classical Chinese (p. 1). Japanese literature also has some influence of the Indian literature through the diffusion of Buddhism in Japan. In the years which followed, their literature became a distinct literary style as Japanese writers started to write about Japan. However, the Chinese influence was felt until the end of the Edo period (p. 1). The opening of the country to the western world highly impacted their literature in the 19th century (p. 1).
- Works Cited:
“Geography” Japan’s Local Guide Website. 2014. Accessed on 27 January 2014<http://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1000.html.>.
Encyclopedia of the Nations. “Country Overview, Location and Size.’ 2014. Accessed on 27 January 2014 <http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Asia-and-the-Pacific/Japan.html>.
Japan Guide Website. “History.” 2014. Accessed on 27 January 2014 <http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2126.html>.
Japan Guide Website. “Religion.” 2014. Accessed on 27 January 2014 <http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e629.html>.
McCargo, Duncan. Contemporary Japan. St. Martin's Press, New York: 2000.
Stanford Program on International and Cross Cultural Education. “Japanese Government. 2014. Accessed on 27 January 2014 <http://spice.stanford.edu/docs/167>.
Wood, Monica. A Brief Introduction to Japanese Society. 2014. Accessed on 27 January 2014 <http://crab.rutgers.edu/~deppen/Japan.htm>.
Yoshizuka, Setsuko. Introduction to Japanese Food. 2014. Accessed on 27 January 2014 < http://japanesefood.about.com/od/holidaytraditionalfood/a/introduction.htm>.
