History, Culture, and the Region Today

1. History, Culture, and the Region Today

2. Key Terms Section 2 Section 3 Shogun Samurai Annex Armistice Demilitarized zone (DMZ) Subsidies Work ethic Export economy Trade surplus Urban agglomeration

3. Early History • Japan’s early inhabitants were the Ainu • Invaders introduced rice farming to the islands • In 108 B.C. the Chinese invaded Korea • China and Korea greatly influenced Japan’s early culture • Shintoism became Japan’s main religion • Contains spirits of natural places and sacred animals

4. Early History • By the late 1100s, real power rested with a powerful warlord called the shogun • Followed by the Daimyo (landlords) • Followed by Samurai (protected them) • Japanese political system was similar to the feudal system of medieval Europe • Mongols tried to invade in 1274 and 1281 • Portuguese traders arrived in Japan in the 1500’s • Introduced Christianity • Allowed only a few foreigners from the 1600-1800

5. Modern History • U.S. Navy ships under Commodore Matthew Perry opened up foreign influence in Japan • During the Meiji Restoration, Japanese moved the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo • Japan soon became a world industrial and military power • In 1895, the Japanese took the island of Taiwan from China • In 1910, Japan annexed Korea • Took over Manchuria before World War II

6. Modern History • Japan signed an alliance with Germany and Italy in 1940. • Entered WWII by attacking the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii • After WWII, Japan set up a democratic government • Set up a law-making body (Diet) and a prime minister • Japan lost Korea at the end of WWII • In 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea • Sparked the Korean War

7. Culture • Many elements of Japanese and Korean culture originated in China • Japan and Korea do not have many minority groups • Japan is mostly Japanese and Korea is mostly Koreans • Buddhism was introduced into Japan from China • Shintoism and Buddhism dominated religion in Japan • Korea’s major religion is Buddhism and Confucianism • One of the most densely populated countries in the world

8. Modern Japan • Traditional Japanese culture remains an important part of Japanese society • Farmers supply about 70 percent of the country’s food needs • Farmland grows rice • Northern Japan is colder and has a shorter growing season • Japanese have strong work ethic • In 1990s, Japan faced stiff competition from the newly industrialized countries of East and Southeast Asia • Japan’s main economic competition comes form other Asian countries like China and South Korea

9. Modern Japan • Japan has an export economy • Also has a trade surplus • Tokyo-Yokohama is the largest urban agglomeration in the world • Most Japanese are middle-class • Japanese society has been greatly influenced by Western culture • Japan has one of the lowest birthrates in the world

10. The Two Koreas • The per capita GDP of South Korea is more than 13 times that of North Korea • North Korea has a strong dictatorship • Most people outside of the cities live in poverty • Droughts and floods have caused severe food shortages • Food shipments from the United nations have helped the country feed itself in recent years

11. The Two Koreas • Democratically elected government • South Korea used U.S. aid to rebuild its industries after the Korean War • South Korea has an export economy • Shipbuilding, steel, automobiles, textiles, and electronics • The country’s capital and largest city is Seoul • South Korea

12. Questions to Consider What is the difference between Japan and the Koreas economy? What are the two major cities that make up the largest agglomeration in the world? What are the main religions in the region? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lky-pxpisU0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cVOrUMWaJ0