JAPAN

Land of the Rising Sun

Facts and Geography Location: Eastern Asia, island chain

between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan/East Sea, east of the Korean Peninsula.

Capital: Tokyo

Ethnic Make-up: Japanese 99%, others 1% (Korean 511,262, Chinese 244,241, Brazilian 182,232, Filipino 89,851, other 237,914)

Facts and Geography Composed of 4 major islands and several

thousand smaller ones Only accessible by sea until early part of the

20th century Insularity made Japan relatively immune to

large-scale immigration and invading foreign armies.

Natural isolation was instrumental in the development of Japan’s cultural distinctiveness and self-image.

Facts and Geography

As a result of the country being closed to outsiders until the mid-nineteenth century the Japanese developed ambivalence toward foreigners.

Demographic separation and geographic isolation “produced in the Japanese a strong sense of self-identity and also an almost painful self-consciousness in the presence of others.”

Facts and Geography

The Japanese uncertainty toward foreigners continues today as evident in contemporary attitudes toward immigration.

In 2010 survey of over 2,000 voters, “65 percent of the respondents opposed a more open immigration policy.”

Tokugawa Era (What It Is)

lasted 250 years (1603-1867) government imposed national seclusion led by a (shogun)

military-style governor - ruled over four main classes of people: samuri,

farmer, merchant, and artisan - this government created codes to abide by for those

under its rule - basically, told all people how to do everything

and anything - done to ensure “external peace and internal group

stability” - this era occurred after debilitating civil wars - goal was to unite and prosper

Tokugawa Era (How it Shaped Modern Japan)

created strong bonds between classes -those living around castles

depended on those in charge for protection

-in return they provided loyalty -the strong loyalty continues

to this day in schools, work areas, and in-groups

Collectivistic Society shaped by need not a want mountain ranges in Japan forced people to live closer to

the limited coast or valleys labor intensive crops, feudal class system, and need for

communal assistance kept people together being removed from the community served as a form

of punishment -evident in post-WWII rebound -Japan lost most of what it achieved during WWII -the strong sense of self, discipline, and ability to

endure hardships brought Japan to its current state

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t19kvUiHvAE

Social Issues in Modern Japan

Demographic changes Immigration issues Risk Management Japan has world’s highest percentage of

elderly population (over 65). Increased longevity Rising marriage age Severely falling birthrate