Japan: Land of the Rising Sun

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Japan Land of the Rising Sun
Politics and Culture
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Japans population is 124 million people. Japan
ranks seventh among the worlds most populous
nations Japan has a population density of 859
people per square mile.
Japanese comprise 99 of the population of Japan.
The small remainder includes Koreans, Chinese
and the Ainu. The Ainu are believed to be
the aborigines of Japan.
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In terms of culture, language, and ethnicity,
Japan is one the worlds most
homogeneous nations. The spoken language is
unique to Japan, but the written language was
borrowed from China.
Japans religions are Buddhism and Shinto. After
the Meiji Restoration in the nineteenth century,
Shinto became the state religion. Shinto was
taught in the schools, and all Japanese were
required to belong to a state Shinto shrine.
State religion was abolished after Japans defeat
in World War II, but Shintoism remains an
important part of Japanese culture. Buddhism is
often considered Japans most important religion.
It was introduced from China and Korea in the 6th
century and spread rapidly throughout the
country.
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Buddhism Founder Siddhartha Gautama The
Enlightened One
Daibutsu (Great Buddha) figure at Kamakura,
Japan, was cast in bronze in 1252. The figure
depicts Amida Buddha in perfect repose and
passionless calm.
Buddhist Monks
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The Shinto Myth The
Japanese islands are a special creation of the
gods. After the primal chaos had in the course
of events separated into heaven and ocean,
various gods appeared in the heavenly drift-mist,
only to disappear without event, until finally
there came upon the scene two deities who
produced the Japanese islands and their
inhabitants. Izanagi and Izanami were summoned
to make, consolidate, and give birth to the
Japanese islands. These two beings descended
the Floating Bridge of Heaven and created the
first island of Japan. Stepping down on the
island, they came together, and Izanami bore from
her womb the eight great islandsof Japan. After
that they brought into being a populace of
thirty-five deities... The Shinto religion is
uniquely Japanese and has never sought converts
outside of Japan.
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Tokyo- The capital city of Japan

• One of the most heavily populated metropolises in
  the world

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Asakusa Temple - Kannon
Hibiya Tokyo
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Electronics stores in Tokyo
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The Sumida River
The Meiji Shrine
Japanese Kimonos
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Sumo wrestling is a popular spectator sport in
Japan dating back hundreds of years.
Size is an advantage in Sumo wrestling so the
athletes strive to gain weight.
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Mount Fuji, Japan- this dormant volcano
is Japans highest mountain.
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Political Setting

• The origins of Modern Japan
• Opening to the world
• Japans bid for hegemony in Asia
• The 1947 Constitution

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The Origins of Modern Japan

• Mythology holds that Japans emperors descend
  from the Sun Goddess
• The present emperor of Japan is a direct
  descendant of the House of Yamato, which
  established hegemony over Japan during the first
  centuries A.D.
• The Japanese copied most of their culture from
  the Chinese

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The Japanese imitated or adopted the Chinese
industrial arts, script, medical tests, and
calendar they even embraced Buddhism. Japanese
rulers also copied Chinas political
administration.
During the 12th century, powerful military
clans arose. In 1192, the first Shogun assumes
power.
Japans first Shogun
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The Japanese Shogunate

• A feudal form of government based on hereditary
  land ownership, vassalage, and military prowess.
• Prevailed for 700 years.
• Rival feudal lords, daimyo, kept the nation in
  perpetual Civil War.

• Samurai- Japanese professional warrior class
• 1543- Portuguese traders arrived in southern
  Japan
• Civil warfare finally ended in 1590.
• Tokugawa Shogunate ruled Japan until 1868.

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Opening to the World

• 1853- Japan began an Open Door Policy, striking
  up treaties with the U.S., Russia, Netherlands,
  and Great Britain
• A decade of turmoil followed
• Meiji Restoration- Japans modernization drive

• Japan industrialized rapidly and abolished
  feudalism
• 1889, bicameral legislation formed, the Diet

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The reforms created a parliamentary system in
theory but not in practice the new civilian
cabinet, headed by a prime minister, was made
responsible only to the emperor. Japanese
ascended to power through a series of
impressive military victories over China in 1895
and then Russia in 1904- 1905. An empire begins
to take shape with the acquisition of Formosa
(Taiwan), part of Sakhalin Island, and
railway and port rights in Manchuria. Also
important to Japan was Chinas recognition of
Koreas independence. Japan was one of the five
chief powers at the treaty signing in Versailles.
In 1922, the Washington Naval Conference recogniz
ed as the third-ranked naval power in the world.
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In 1925, universal male suffrage introduced
democracy, and political parties arose for the
first time. But when Emperor Hirohito ascended
the throne the following year, the military
seized the initiative and swept the political
parties aside. In 1931, the Japanese army
invaded Manchuria. Japans course of military
adventurism and empire-building had begun.
Emperor Hirohito ruled 1926-1989 The last ruler
to uphold (at least for the first part of his
reign) the Shinto idea of imperial divinity.
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Japans bid for Hegemony in Asia

• Eve of WWII- Japan joins infamous Axis alliance
• Dec. 7, 1941- Japan launched surprise attack on
  Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
• Simultaneously attacked U.S. forces in Philippines

• Also attacked British forces in Hong Kong and
  Malaya
• Japan sought to create a Japan-ruled
  co-prosperity sphere

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December 7, 1941
USS Arizona
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The 1947 Constitution

• The 1947 Constitution was crafted by the U.S.
• Framers sought to construct an elaborate system
  of representative government for Japan

• Provides wide range of civil liberties
• Article 9 says that Japan can maintain a
  defensive military only, offensive military power
  is forbidden.
• Less than 1 of GNP is spend on defense

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The American influence on the Japanese
constitution is especially apparent in its
preamble We, the Japanese people, acting
through our duly elected represent- atives in the
National Diet, determined that we shall secure
for our selves and our posterity the fruits of
peaceful cooperation with all nations and the
blessings of liberty throughout this land, and
re- solved that never again shall we be visited
with the horrors of war through the action of
government, do proclaim that sovereign
power resides with the people and do firmly
establish this Constitution Government is a
sacred trust of the people, the authority for
which is derived from the people, the powers of
which are exercised by representatives of the
people, and the benefits of which are enjoyed by
the people.
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Take a Look at some of Japans historical
sites...
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Golden Hall of Chusonji Temple- 12th
Century culture on display
Motsuji Temple Jodo Garden 800 year old aesthetics
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Imperial Palace Edo Castle with remaining moats
and stone walls
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Atomic Bomb Dome located in Hiroshima City
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Usuki Stone Buddhas carved during the 12th- 14th
centuries
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White Egret Castle, Himeji
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Yamagata Castle Yamagata is the capital city of
the Yamagata Prefecture
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Emperors Gate at the Imperial Palace Kyoto