warmp geography of japan and east asia

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Warm-Up Geography of Japan and East Asia

? Lesson Question

WK2 Words to Know

Fill in this table as you work through the lesson. You may also use the glossary to help you.

a way of viewing or interpreting something

a group of islands spread over an area of water

an obstacle that prevents access to somewhere or something

the height above sea level

in Asia, a period of southeasterly winds from the Pacific that often brings large amounts of rain

a district or governmental region in Japan

Lesson Goals

Learn about how geography influenced medieval

.Japanese

Identify the major physical

Japan.

of

Explain the influence of

environment on the

development of medieval

Japan.

the

Explain how geography

influenced Japanese

.


Warm-Up Geography of Japan and East Asia

Artificial Islands

There are major types of islands. The first of these are artificial islands

or islands created by .

Tidal Islands

Tidal islands are a type of island. They are islands only at

tide. At low tide, the land connecting the island is exposed.

Coral Islands

Coral islands are made of tiny sea .

Barrier Islands

Barrier islands are long and narrow. They occur just off the . They are made of sand, silt, and gravel.

Continental Islands

Continental islands were once connected to a continent. They form because of

changing water levels in the .

Oceanic Islands

Oceanic islands are formed by eruptions on the ocean floor.


Geography of Japan and East AsiaInstruction

3Slide

Physical Features of Japan

Japan is an .

• The islands of Japan are islands.

• Japan has main islands: Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu,

and Shikoku.

• The islands are near major trenches, or extremely deep parts of the ocean.

• Japan is surrounded by oceans, seas, and .

Japan consists of thousands of islands.



3Slide

5

Geography of Japan

Japan is a mountainous country.

• The land near the coast has a

lower , and is

lower than sea level in some places.

• sources

in the mountain areas include lakes, ponds, rivers, streams,

and .

• Five mountains are over 10,000 ft tall.

Mount Fuji is Japan’s tallest mountain at 12,388 ft.

On the map, circle Japan’s tallest mountain.

Climates of Japan

Japan’s climate is affected by several factors.

• Japan is mostly in the temperate zone.

• Its climate varies from tropical in the south to in the north.

• It has a humid climate.

• Areas at higher elevations have cooler .



5Slide

Volcanoes of Japan

Japan is part of the Ring of Fire, which is a large area in the Pacific Ocean known

for volcanoes and .

• Japan has more than one hundred active volcanoes.

• Japan has about percent of the world’s active volcanoes.

• monitor about 50 of those volcanoes at all times.

Natural Hazards

Japan experiences many types of natural disasters.

• Earthquakes

•

• Typhoons

• Floods

•



8Slide

Effects of Geography and Climate on Settlement

The geography of Japan affected where early people settled.

• Mountains and forests made inland settlement difficult.

• Small plains near the were easier to build on.

• There were small areas of quality farmland on the plains.

Many early people settled on the coasts of Japan.

Settlements of Medieval Japan

By the Middle Ages, people had settled all across Japan.

• The majority of the settlements were along the coast and in the

.

• The people adapted the to meet their needs.



10Slide

Natural Resources

Japan has natural resources.

• are the main natural resource of Japan.

• About two-thirds of Japan is covered in forests.

• Only about 20 percent of Japan can be .

• Japan does not have major sources of natural gas, gold, coal, copper, or iron.

The Impact of Medieval Settlement on Forests

Japan was the natural resources provided by the forest.

• Villages created tree .

• People created new forestry techniques.

Agriculture in Japan

The environment determined what could be grown and raised by farmers.

• They developed practices and used terraces to

increase land.

• They commonly grew rice, soybeans, wheat, and .

• They also raised cows, pigs, chickens, and .

These agricultural practices continue today.



10Slide

13

The Importance of the Sea

The sea made settlements on the coast possible.

• Provided a food source

• Created specialized

• Provided resources for

• Was a source of

Japan Today

LOOK AHEAD

Today, Japan still relies on agricultural, fishing, and timber industries.

• Japanese farmers still use techniques.

• The fish market in is the largest in the world.

• The industry has shrunk in recent years.

Examining Geographic Regions

Geographic regions within a country can be very different.

•

•

• Food



13Slide

Barriers in Japan’s Geography

Japan’s geography created barriers between regions and people.

• People lived on different islands.

• Within the islands, mountains made between villages difficult.

• Parts of Japan were from other parts of Japan.

Different regions of Japan developed their own traditions and customs.

Regions of Japan

Japan is separated into regions.

• There are eight general regions, which are broken down into 47

.

• The differences include variations in language, types of

food, and .

• Regions can have different

of one another.



13Slide

15

Scenery in Japan

The natural environment of Japan affected the culture.

• Nature influenced the beliefs and traditions of .

• People built buildings to be in with nature.

• People held festivals to celebrate .

Regions in Japan Today

LOOK AHEAD

Today, people in Japan still identify with their regions and prefectures.

• Each province has its own .

• There are many differences in the of urban and

regions.


Summary Geography of Japan and East Asia

Answer

Review: Key Concepts

Japan’s geography influenced how Japanese culture developed.

• Japan is an made up of thousands of islands that

are isolated from mainland Asia.

• Japan has a terrain with dense forests that helped

to create cultural regions.

• The people of Japan adapted the environment to meet their needs.

• The different regions of Japan developed their own traditions and

.

Lesson Question How did geography influence medieval Japanese civilizations?

2Slide

?


Summary Geography of Japan and East Asia

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warmp geography of japan and east asia

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