CHAPTER 18

Section 1 Geography and Heritage of Japan

Horyuji Temple's central gate, main hall and pagoda are the world's oldest surviving wooden structures.

Himeji Castle is the most beautiful and complete surviving example of a Japanese feudal castle.

The A-Bomb Dome is the only remaining structure in central Hiroshima, which predates the atomic blast of 1945.

The island nation of Japan sits off the coast of East Asia

Influence of China

The legend: Male and female Gods created

Japan by throwing a jeweled spear into the sea. Salt water dripped from the spear and hardened to form islands.

A CHAIN OF ISLANDS Archipelago, or chain of islands,

100 miles off the coast of East Asia. Lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire,

earthquakes and volcanos

4 main islands and more than 3000 tiny islands

Honshu-in north most islolated Hokkiaido- in North most isolated.

LANDFORMS AND CLIMATE

Size=state of Montana More than 125 million people ranks 7th in

the world. More than four fifths is mountains Mild climate

INTENSIVE LAND USE Using every available piece of land Major crop-rice Until modern times, the Japanese

produced own food

LIMITED MINERAL RESOURCES No oil resources, imports nearly all oil

from middle east

PEOPLE OF JAPAN Population:

127.5 millionGovernment estimates suggest Japan's

population will shrink by 30 per cent by 2060 because of a low birthrate and a high proportion

of elderly people, to just 86.74 million.Homogeneous societySpeak same languages and share cultures

Almost no ethnic minoritiesRarely grant citizenship to immigrants