JAPAN
By: Samantha Haun
Geography
Japan is an island nation in East Asia extending along the east coast of Asia. It lies between 24° to 46° north latitude and from 123° to 146° east longitude. The country is southeast of the Russian Far East, separated by the Sea of Okhotsk; slightly east of Korea, separated by the Sea of Japan; and east-northeast of China and Taiwan, separated by the East China Sea. The closest neighboring country to Japan is the Russian Federation. The major islands, sometimes called the "Home Islands", are Hokkhidō, Hoshū, Shikoku and Kyūshū. There are also 2,456 islands,including Okinawa, and islets, some inhabited and others uninhabited. In total, as of 2006, Japan's territory is 145,916.9 square miles, of which 144,724 square miles is land and 1,193 square miles water.
History
Japan in the 1500s is locked in a century of decentralized power and incessant warfare among competing feudal lords, a period known as the "Sengoku," or "Country at War" (1467-1573). These are the final years of Japan's medieval period (1185-1600) just prior to the reunification of Japan and the establishment of order and peace under the Tokugawa shoguns (1600-1868). Within this context of feudal civil war of the 1500s, Japanese pirates are active in the trade along the China coast — an alternative to the official relations between China and Japan where trading privileges are awarded to the Japanese in return for tribute acknowledging the ascendancy of the Chinese emperor. Castles are built by medieval lords (daimyo) for defense throughout the period of civil war and their size increases following the introduction of firearms into Japan by the Portuguese in 1543
Feudalism
Feudalism had no central government - decentralized government: independently run estates. The land was exchanged for military service. The land was worth money. The daimyo provided protection for average farmers. Short term solution for absence of government. Long term effects: causes power struggles between Daimyo. On top of the pyramid was the Emperor, and they had no political power. Then there was the Shogun, the actual ruler. The next down in the pyramid was the Daimyo. They were the owners of large estates. Next there was the Samurai. They were warriors loyal to Daimyo. Then there was the peasants, (poor, common people) and artisans (workers). They took up the majority of the population, 75%. Lastly there was the Merchants. They had a low status, but eventually gained status.
Shintoism
Shintoism was a religion developed only in Japan. Shinto means "the way of the gods" from two Chinese words - shin; meaning "good spirits" and Tao: meaning "the way." Shintoism is based on the worship of nature and and good spirits called Kami. This religion has no 'bible' or holy book. Shintoism is based on feelings and of human beings towards the world around them. Shinto has three important symbols: a sword which represents the virtue of wisdom and correct action; a string of jewels which represents kindness, generosity, and obedience; and a mirror which stands for truthfulness and reflects all things good and bad. The Japanese believe that without these basic virtues - wisdom, kindness, and truthfulness - peace, happiness, and good life cannot exist either for individuals or for the nation.
Current Events: Tsunamis
On March 11, 2011, the world stood still as the people of Japan were pummeled by natural disaster - an 9.0 magnitude earthquake followed by a massive tsunami. Together they killed over 15,000 people and triggered a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant. It was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded to have hit Japan, and the fifth most powerful earthquake in the world since modern record-keeping began in 1900. The earthquake triggered powerful tsunami waves that reached heights of up to 133 ft. It shifted shifted the Earth on its axis by estimates of between 10 cm and 25 cm, and generated sound waves detected by the low orbiting GOCE satellite. A Japanese National Police Agency report confirmed 15,884 deaths, 6,148 injured, and 2,633 people missing. Around 4.4 million households in northeastern Japan were left without electricity and 1.5 million without water. Early estimates placed insured losses from the earthquake alone at US$14.5 to $34.6 billion.