Japan Its Culture Essay Research Paper Japanese

Japan, Its Culture Essay, Research Paper

Japanese Assignment

Geographical Setting

Japan is an island country in the North Pacific Ocean. It lies off the northeast coast of

mainland Asia and faces Russia,Korea, and China. Four large islands and thousands of

smaller ones make up Japan. The four major islands-Hokkaido,Honshu,Kyushu and

Shikoku form a curve that extends for about 1,900 kilometres.

Topography

Japan is a land of great natural beauty. mountains and hills cover about 70% of the

country. IN fact, Japanese islands consist of the rugged upper part of a great mountain

range that rises from the floor of the North Pacific Ocean. Jagged peaks, rocky gorges,

and thundering mountain waterfalls provide some of the country’s most spectacular

scenery. Thick forests thrive on mountansides, adding to the scenic beauty of the

Japanese islands. Forests cover about 68% of the country’s land.

Japan lies on an extremely unstable part of the earth’s crust. As a result, the land is

constantly shifting. This shifting causes two of Japan’s most striking features–

earthquakes and volcanoes. The Japanese islands have about 1500 earthquakes a year.

Most of them are minor tremors that cause little damage, but severe earthqaukes occur

every few years. Underseaquakes sometimes cause huge, destructive tidal waves, called

tsunami, along Japan’s Pacific coast. The Japanese islands have more than 150 major

volcanoes. Over 60 of these volcanoes are active.

Numerous short, swift rivers cross Japan’s rugged surface. most of the rivers are too

shallow and steep to be navigated. Their waters are used to irrigate farmland, and their

rapids and falls supply power for hydroelectric plants. Many lakes nestle among the

Japanese mountains. Some lie in the craters of extinct volcanoes. A large number of hot

springs gush from the ground throughout the country.

The Japanese islands have a total land area of about 337,708 sqkm. The islands , in

order of size, are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. The sea of Japan washes

the country’s west coast and the Pacific ocean lies to the east.

Climate

Regional climates in Japan can be compared to those of the East Coast of the United

States. Kyushu and Shikoku have a climate much like that of Perth. They have long hot

summers and mild winters. The island Honshu’s generally has warm,humid summers.

Winters are mild in the south and cold and snowy in the north. Honshu has balmy,

sunny autumns and springs. Hokkaido has cool summers and cold winters much like

Tasmania.

Two Pacific Ocean currents–the Japan Current and the Oyashio Current–influence

Japan’s climate. The warm, dark-blue Japan Current flows northward along the

country’s south coast and along the east coast as far north as Tokyo. The Japan current

has a warming effect on the climate of theses regions. The cold Oyashio Current flows

southward along the east coasts of Hokkaido and northern Honshu, cooling these

areas.

Seasonal winds called monsoons also affect Japan’s climate. In winter, monsoons from

the northwest bring cold air to northern Japan. These winds, which gather moisture as

they cross the Sea of Japan, deposit heavy snows on the country’s northwest coast.

During the summer, monsoons blow from the southeast , carrying warm, moist air from

the pacific ocean. Summer monsoons cause hot, humid weather in central and southern

Japan.

Rain is abundant through most of Japan. All the areas of the country–except eastern

Hokkaido–recieve at least 100 centimetres of rain yearly. Japan has two major rainy

seasons–from mid-June to early July and from September to October. Several

typhoons strike the country each year, mainly in late summer and early Autumn. The

heavy rains and violent winds of these storms often do great damage to houses and

crops

Family

The Extended Family

Family life has always been important in Japan. Before 1945, many Japanese lived in

large family units that included grandparents, parents, children, and sometimes uncles

and their families. Japanese families were bound together by a strict set of customs.

Husbands had complete authority over their wives, and children were expected to show

unquestioning obedience to their parents.

Marriage and Courtship-When a child was old enough to marry, the parents selected

a suitable marraige partner. In some cases, the bride and groom had never met before

the wedding.

The Nuclear Family

Today most of the Japanese live in the style of a nuclear family. These consist of only

parents and children. The Japanese still have strong family ties and a deep respect for

authority. But since WW2 relationships with families have become a little less formal,

and more democratic.

Marriage and Courtship-Most young people now select their own marraige partners

on the basis of shared interests and mutual attra

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