Download Japanese Culture

Use the map on page 197 to
answer the questions.
1. What is the population
density of most of Japan?
over 250 people per sq mi
2. Which cities, in Japan, have
over 5,000,000 people?
Tokyo and Yokohama
Use pgs. 192-198
1. Japan’s form of government is ….?
Constitutional Monarchy
2. Japan’s two major religions are…
Shinto and Buddhism
3. What is the art of paper folding
called?
Akihito
Origami—Japanese
for paper (ori) and
magical spirit (gami)
The Japanese flag is called Hinomaru, which means "circle
of the sun." In English it is sometimes called the "rising
sun."
This flag has been used for over a thousand years, and no
one knows who designed it or when. It was officially
adopted as the flag of Imperial Japan on January 27, 1870.
Built in 1695, Rakanji Temple is one of many Buddhist temples
in Tokyo. Buddhism entered Japan in the 6th century and is now
one of the country’s major religions, along with Shinto.
Buddhism
Shintoism
The religion of Shinto does not have a
founder nor does it have sacred scriptures
like the bible. Shinto is deeply rooted in the
Japanese people and traditions.
Shintoism
•"Shinto gods" are called kami. They
are sacred spirits which take the form
of things and concepts important to
life, such as wind, rain, mountains,
trees, rivers and fertility.
•Humans become kami after they die
and are revered by their families as
ancestral kami.
•The kami of extraordinary people are
even enshrined at some shrines.
The rocks to the left are worshiped
kamis.
In Japan many cities hold annual festivals called matsuri. Shown here
is the Kanda Matsuri in Tokyo, held every two years in May. It features
a parade with elaborately decorated floats and thousands of
participants. The matsuri is held in commemoration of peace,
represented by the Kanda Shinto shrine.
Mount Fuji rises behind the skyline of Tokyo, the capital and
largest city of Japan. Tokyo serves as Japan’s financial,
industrial, commercial, educational, and cultural center. It is the
most populated metropolitan area in the world.
Tokyo Bay receives the waters of the Sumida River,
which flows through both old and new sections of
Tokyo. Boat tours along the river are popular with
sightseers.
Shinjuku is one of the most important commercial
districts of Tokyo. Here, nighttime passers-by throng a
street of restaurants, bars, and clubs.
Tokyo is the capital of Japan and the hub of the country’s
vast railway system. The main stations in the city serve up
to 3 million passengers daily. During rush hour, workers
called people pushers help cram as many people as
possible onto the trains.
Shinkansen – the Japanese Bullet Train
Speed Record
277 mph
Best average speed
164 mph
It can go 120 miles in 44
min.
The U.S. has no trains
running at this speed.
What are Japanese houses like?
In a traditional Japanese house, you don't sit on chairs or sleep on
beds. You sit and sleep on the floor using cushions and futon bedding.
Even today, when Western-style rooms with chairs and beds are
common, most houses have at least one room in the traditional style.
Before Western-style houses became common, the Japanese room
had no windows. It was partitioned with sliding, paper-screen doors
called shoji or fusuma. During the daytime the room serves as a living
and dining room, and at night, it can be used as a bedroom by laying
out the futon. The futon is folded up in the morning and stored in the
oshi-ire (closet).
Katsushika Hokusai (September 23, 1760-April 18, 1849) was a Japanese
painter and printmaker from the Edo Period. He is most famous for his
series of prints called "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji" (produced during
the period 1826-1833). One of these views, "The Great Wave Off
Kanagawa," has become a modern-day icon. Hokusai's seemingly timeless
images are almost 200 years old.
1. Japan imports more of which
product than any other
nation?
Answer: Fish!
2. Japan imports raw materials
and exports what?
Answer: manufactured goods
Toshiba
TDK Corp.
Yamaha
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Toyota
Play Station
Yu Gi Oh
Dreamcast Sega
Pokemon
Honda
Nissan
Citizen Watches
Fuji Photo film
Hitachi
Kawasaki
Kubota (tractors)
Mazda
Mitsubishi
Nintendo
Suzuki
Sony
Sharp Corp.
Seiko Watches
Sanyo
Pentax
●Hello Kitty
●Canon
●Uniden
●JVC products