Go Navy – Beat Army

Japan – Its Japan – Its Anthropological Anthropological

BeginningBeginning

This Briefing is UNCLASSIFIED

Capt Phillip Dobberfuhl

22 Nov 06

[During a fight scene with Chinese thugs]

Tucker: [after accidentally punching Chan] Sorry, man! Chan: Carter!

Tucker: All y'all look alike!

The Origin of “Homogeneous” Japanese

“Japan is a homogeneous country.”The Group-Oriented Japanese (Japanese Author), 11 May 2000, Kaleidoscope (St. Cloud State University – Cultural Diversity Committee)

“Japan is a very homogeneous country that has not been occupied by other countries except for a brief period after World War II. Its culture was not threatened by other cultures.”Roll Over Basho: Who Japan Is Reading, and Why (American Author), 27 Sep 1992 , New York Times

Japanese people are not

all the same

Modern Japanese originated from two distinct groups

Yayoi People

Jomon People

-“Original Japanese”

-From Southeast Asia

-Spread throughout Japan

-c. 10,000 – 300 BC

JOMON

-Primitive people, “Caveman”

-Hunter/fisher/gatherer

-Subsistence living

-Small communities

-Ancestors of native peoples

-Ainu (Hokkaido)

-Ryukyu (Okinawa)

Famous for & named afterじょう　　　もん　　　ど　　　　き

縄文土器 (cord-

impressed or straw rope-patterned pottery)

Berries and nuts used by

Jomon-jin for food

Jomon-jin settlement

patterns

What broke up this peaceful, simple life? Invasion!

Yayoi-jin spread from Kyushu to the rest of Japan, first conflicting with the native Jomon people as they went…

The Yayoi people came from mainland Asia via Korea around 5-300 BC

and ultimately intermingling with them

-First “civilized” Japanese

-From NE Asia

-500 BC - 300 AD

-Japan’s last major “Melting Pot” moment

JOMON YAYOI

-Almost more of a culture than a race of people

-Did not die out or melt into another group-Ended with Kofun era

-First “civilized” people in Japan

-Brought rice cultivation from Asia

-Storage of food

-Trade, medium of exchange

-Development of towns

-Development of classes

-Brought metal work

-Tools, weapons

-First empress – Himiko c. 250 AD

Irrigation allows for greater cereal production capability

Yayoi burial jars for aristocracy/community

leaders

Excavated & reconstructed Yayoi town in Saga with storage hut & moat

Populatio

n exp

ansi

on map

Compare & ContrastCommunity Layouts

JOMON• No more than six huts

• Close to ocean or other food source

• Semi-circle

YAYOI• City planning evident

• Fairly large and complex

• Near resources or trade routes

Compare & ContrastPhysical Characteristics

FEATURE JOMON YAYOI

Shape of face Square, angular Round, oval

Eyebrow Wide, thick, straight

Narrow, thin, arched

Cheekbone Flat, straight Noticeable protrusions

Mouth Flat Protruding

Front teeth Small Large (yaeba)

Lips Thick Thin

Compare & ContrastFacial Features

FEATURE JOMON YAYOI

Eyes Large Small

Eyelids Double-edged Single-edged

Compare & ContrastFacial Features - Eyes

FEATURE JOMON YAYOI

Lower arm length & leg proportions

Longer Shorter

Muscle development

Well developed Not well developed due to development and use of tools

Torso Neutral Longer

Average height

Male – 159cm

Female – 147 cm

Male – 163 cm

Female – 151 cm

Compare & ContrastBody

Compare & ContrastImage

JOMON• Wild, rough• Uncouth• Simple• Conquered savages – both

Ainu and Ryukyu

YAYOI• Civilized, temperate

• Well-mannered

• Sophisticated, advanced

• Conquistadors

Modern Japanese are mixture of Jomon (20%) and Yayoi (80%) peoples