Part I- Country Description Japan has a population of 126,702,133, with a growth rate of -0.19%. Religious practices are as follows: Shintoism 79.2%, Buddhism 66.8%, Christianity 1.5%, other 7.1% (many people practice both Shintoism and Buddhism). The climate varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north. The terrain is mostly rugged and mountainous. There are many dormant and some active volcanoes and about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors but occasional severe earthquakes) every year, in addition to tsunamis and typhoons. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and an ally of the US. Japan, whose capital is Tokyo, maintains a parliamentary constitutional monarchy While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, elected politicians hold actual decision-making power. The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives, and the Prime Minister appoints a cabinet. The legislative branch consists of the House of Councillors or Sangi-in and the House of Representatives or Shugi-in. The supreme court has jurisdiction in constitutional issues. The chief justice is designated by the Cabinet and appointed by the monarch, associate justices are appointed by the Cabinet and confirmed by the monarch, and all justices are reviewed in a popular referendum at the first general election of the House of Representatives following each judge 's appointment and every 10
Each strove to maintain a centralized government. For Japan the leader was to be called an emperor or empress who could only be a part of the royal family if they were related to the Shinto sun goddess. As for Europe, the leader was to be called a king or a queen. Like Japan, not just anybody could become royalty. Kings and queens came from a long descent of an Imperial family. Tradition was that the first born son of the king would become the next ruler following the kings death. However, if no legitimate son were born then the daughter would become queen. In Europe, the royal family and institution was usually
Political, social, and economic aspects influenced the rise of the Empire of Japan, and their effects created the ways in which Japan interacted with its people and the world around it. Politically, the Meiji Restoration of the mid-1800s to the early 1900s set the stage for the growth that took place to make Japan an Empire, including the transformation of the views on the emperor. These views on the emperor helped to create a social change: the anger of the Japanese government and people about the lack of representation for Japan in world treaties and in the League of Nations. This caused extreme patriotism. Japan was economically changed by the advancements into China after Japan’s Great Depression. This military advancement opened the door for much more and was based on the Japanese’s intense nationalistic views.
During the early nineteenth century, both China and Japan enforced policies restricting foreign trade in order to avoid industrialization and western ideas, but after both societies experienced foreign invasions and unequal treaties being established by foreigners, Japan began to industrialize and became imperialists trying to create an empire, while China differed in that the people wanted reform and government restrained the reformation of their society, therefore causing multiple rebellions and overall the collapse of their empire.
Although Japan changed in many ways from 1853 to 1941, there were also many factors that remained the same throughout the history of Japan. One such continuity was the maintained existence of a figurehead ruler controlled by other political authorities. The feudalistic emperor of Japan was the supposed “highest, most powerful authority” in the land, but was actually controlled by the military leaders- the shogun. Similarly, the militaristic emperor of Japan decades later continued to remain a figurehead ruler controlled by military and government officials. In addition, Japan continued to remain reliant on exports in order to maintain its economy. As a result of Japan’s small geographical size, the island nation had few natural resources and was forced to rely on exports to survive economically. The nation also grew increasingly reliant on other nations to provide materials and supplies that it could not provide for itself. This complete reliance on other nations was seen illustrated when the Japanese military was provoked to attacking another superpower- the United States, in response to the 1940 United States embargo
Throughout the late 1800s to the early 1900s, both japan and India saw a rise in the use of machines in the textile industry. Both showed similar recruitment techniques, but were not so similar in who the workers were and their working conditions.
Japan was an isolationist before 1852 with very little contact to countries in the western areas. Although later Japan would open its Shamoda ports to trade with the Dutch. Part of this was because the United States threatened Japan to open the ports for trade. The US also made Japan sighn unequal treaties to make Japan do things. The Japanese were influenced by the US and did the same thing to Korea. Although the Japanese only had contact to the outside for some years they had grown a lot. The Japanese were scared, they were scared that the US would grow in power and threat Japan more. In 1894 Chinese troops were sent to Korea to try to stop riots. Although the Chinese were helping Korea the Japanese were never notified. This created the
This is completely different from US religious beliefs in many ways. For one, all the religions practiced in the United States worship a specific god or gods. Another thing that’s completely different in Japan than in the US is that they are more accepting of different religions. The other religion that is widely practiced in Japan is Buddhism. Brought over by missionaries in 552 AD and emphasizes simplicity to beauty, devotion to study and severe self-discipline. All the concepts of both of these religions are not concepts that American religions emphasize. Religion is huge for the Japanese and in most houses Shintoism and Buddhism are both practiced and shrines are usually done of both religions. There are many other cultural customs in Japan that are different from those in the US.
Between the Sea of Japan and the North Pacific in North-eastern Asia lies Japan. Japan is a country made up of 6,852 islands, with four main islands, and is home to a population of over 126 million. The majority of the population speak Japanese and the main religious groups include: Shintoism, Buddhism and Christianity.
Western Influence on Japan Japan, as a nation, is a continually changing society. Ever since western nations became involved with Japan, its changes over recent times have increased at a substantial rate. Japan now faces cultural, economical and social differences as a result of the western involvement. The involvement was initiated by the Japanese themselves, beginning during the Meiji Period1 through current times.
Throughout the course of East Asian history, Japan has been largely influenced by the Asian mainland. From ancient times to the medieval period, significant contributions to Japan can be seen coming from both Korea and China. Both of these countries diffused elements of their cultures to form the basis of Japanese society – namely China. These foreigners would influence various aspects of society including technology, philosophy, politics, and religion.
All around the world, religion is a dominant idea for many cultures; exemplifying a certain way of life, serving as a basis for faith, and bringing charity to the world, religion is a extensive concept. For several cultures and countries religion may vary according to demographics, socio-economical class, and ethnicity. Main concepts of religion in Japan are natural and superstitious based. The leading religion in Japan remains Shinto, while other religions have come and go, interweaving themselves among the Japanese society.
Throughout the dynasties in China and Japan, religion, economy and politics have been affected by each other in various ways. In the book “Religion and Making of Modern East Asia”, Thomas Dubois brings to light the impact religion made on both politics and economy in China and Japan throughout the historical period up till date. In his words, he describes “religion as an extremely political force” (Dubois, 2011, pp. 7-16). As various religions were introduced, it shaped the politics of leaders as most of them saw it as an avenue to impose their religion on the citizens. In all, religion invented political and economic stabilities and instabilities in various dynasties throughout Japan and China
The culture of a place is an integral part of its society whether that place is a remote Indian village in Brazil or a highly industrialized city in Western Europe. The culture of Japan fascinates people in the United States because, at first glance, it seems so different. Everything that characterizes the United States--newness, racial heterogeneity, vast territory, informality, and an ethic of individualism-- is absent in Japan. There, one finds an ancient and homogeneous society, an ethic that emphasizes the importance of groups, and a tradition of formal behavior governing every aspect of daily living, from drinking tea to saying hello. On the surface at least, U.S. and Japanese
The Japanese culture has allowed for very little diversity. This started very early in their history. The social controls used to eliminate diversity are the family, the power of gender, the poor treatment of minority groups, the corporate Japanese mentality, and the respect required by people in authority. However, due to globalization and the shrinking of the world, Japanese society is starting to make the change to diversity. The individualistic mentality shared by the new technology driven younger generation is putting pressure on the old Japanese status quo. The transformation is happening very slow, but as the population ages and the old conservatives are being replaced by the new liberals, the old way
The country is a constitutional monarchy and although Japan has an Emperor, power is mainly within the Prime Minister and Diet’s control. Therefore, the Emperor is more a ceremonial figure. The National Diet is Japan’s bicameral legislature and is dominated by the social liberal Democratic Party of Japan and the conservative Liberal