Japan and the KoreasGeographyBBS2014-2015

Introduction• Japan lies off the Pacific coast of Asia. The

Japanese call their country the land of the rising sun. To the west is the Asian mainland. Stretching from the mainland is a rugged peninsula occupied by North and South Korea.

Natural Environment• Landforms

• Four main islands and thousands of smaller ones make up Japan. More than 70% is mountainous consisting of the Japanese Alps which includes Mount Fuji. The rest of Japan is made of plains. The islands lie along a subduction zone which makes it a hotbed of tectonic and volcanic activity. West of Japan across the Sea of Japan and the Korea Strait likes the Korea Peninsula. To the west of the peninsula is the Yellow Sea. The peninsula's landforms are mostly hills and low mountains.

• Climates, Plants, and Animals• The Asian monsoon system influences the climates of Japan and the

Korean Peninsula. These countries have a continental climate (warm summers/mild and cold winters)Deforestation is an issue in Japan and Korea which has a large impact on the animal life.

• Natural Resources• Energy resources are limited in Japan and Korea which means they rely

heavily on oil and coal imports. These countries rely heavily on the sea for food, jobs, and trade.

History and CultureEarly History• Japan's early inhabitants were the Ainu. Today this

group only numbers 20,000 where they mostly live in the north in Hokkaido.

• Korea's early people came from north and central Asia. In 108BC the Chinese invaded Korea and marked a long period of influence on Korea.

• In the 700s Japan established an emperor system of ruling. By the late 1100s a warlord called a shogun controlled the lands. Samurais protected the shoguns and landowners. It is very similar to the feudal system. Japan had little outside influence until the mid-1800s.

History and CultureModern History• In 1868, with outside influence the last shogun was overthrown. This

revolution is known as the Meiji Restoration (enlightened rule). The capital was moved to Tokyo and the country began to modernize. By 1890, the country had a constitution and parliamentary system.

• Based on these developments, the Japanese empire began to rapidly expand throughout the region, including northern areas of China, Thailand, the Philippines, and Korea.

• Japan signed an alliance with Germany and Italy in 1940 and subsequently attacked the US at Pearl Harbor in 1941. The US retaliated by dropping nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. After WWII, the country established a democratic government.

• Japan lost control of Korea based on the outcome of WWII. The Soviets took control of the North and established the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), a communist government. The US took control of South following the 38N parallel. In 1949 both sides withdrew sparking the 1950 Korean War. By 1953, the two sides signed an armistice. More than 1 million Koreans died. As a result, the demilitarized zone (DMZ) following the 38N parallel was set.

History and Culture

Culture• Language: Japanese and Korean• Religion: Buddhism (unimportance of material

items), Shintoism (worship of natural spirits and ancestors), Christianity.

• Food: Rice, seafood, grilled meats, vegetables, tea

• Education: High literacy rates. University attendance is encouraged in Japan and South Korea.

The Region TodayModern Japan• Farmers supply the country with about 70% of the food needs.• The keiretsu system allowed Japan to grow economically

starting in the 1950s by allowing banks, businesses, and the government to set common goals for growth and development.

• Japan has an export economy today where goods are mainly produced to trade rather than for in country use.

The Two Koreas• North Korea is extremely isolated. Kim Jong Un is the current

leader. Most Koreans live in extreme poverty. The farming system does not provide enough food for the country. Many citizens flee to China.

• South Korea is an export economy and has a similar system in place much like the keiretsu system.