Geography

Japan is an island country situated off the east coast of Asia in the northwest of the Pacific Ocean. The territory of Japan includes, from north to south. the Aleutians, the Kuriles, the Japanese Isles, and the Seinan Islands. There are four main islands, and they are, in order of their size, Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku. These four islands and 3,000 others form an arc about 3,300 kilometers long from Minami Chishima to the Yaeyama Islands. A series of mountains crowd an already narrow land-scape, and numerous volcanic ranges run through it, forming intricate and sometimes problematic geographical features. Most of Japan experiences the four distinct seasons of the year.

Industry & Economy

Japan's official history did not begin until the eighth century. However, it is known that Buddhism came to Japan in the sixth century, and prior to this, around the second or third century written language was introduced from China. By this time, the Yamato clan had become the most powerful clan in the nation, and the chiefs of the clan are considered the ancestors of Japan's imperial family. There has been much debate concerning the origin of the Japanese race and language. Recently a number of ancient ruins have been discovered, shedding light on many unanswered questions.

Cultural Background

Buddihism has had a large influence on the personal and political life of the people. A major example is the parishioner system established by the Tokugawa government which linked everyone to local Buddhist temples. Ancient folk beliefs, and Taoism and Onmyodo introduced from China, also have left significant marks on the culture of Japan. The Meiji administration introduced the policy to separate Shintoism from Buddhism and gave State Shintoism the highest position. The accompanying militarism led the country to its ill fate. Syncretistic faith provides the basic spiritual support for most Japanese.