9781422285879

Japan

Tradition,Culture, and Daily Life

MAJOR NATIONS IN A GLOBAL WORLD

Michael Centore

Japan

MAJOR NATIONS IN A GLOBAL WORLD Tradition,Culture, and Daily Life

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Japan

Tradition,Culture, and Daily Life MAJOR NATIONS IN A GLOBAL WORLD

Michael Centore

Mason Crest

Mason Crest 450 Parkway Drive, Suite D Broomall, PA 19008 www.masoncrest.com

Copyright @ 2016 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher.

Printed and bound in the United States of America.

First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Series ISBN: 978-1-4222-3339-9 ISBN: 978-1-4222-3347-4 ebook ISBN: 978-1-4222-8587-9

The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcopy format(s) as follows:

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Centore, Michael, 1980- Japan / by Michael Centore. pages cm. -- (Major nations in a global world: tradition, culture, and daily life) Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-4222-3347-4 (hardback) -- ISBN 978-1-4222-3339-9 (series) -- ISBN 978-1-4222-8587-9 (ebook) 1. Japan--Juvenile literature. 2.  Japan--Social life and customs--Juvenile literature. 3.  Japan-- Civilization--Juvenile literature.  I. Title. DS806.C43 2015 952--dc23 2015005031

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Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 History, Religion, and Tradition . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Family and Friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Food and Drink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 School, Work, and Industry . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Arts and Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Cities, Towns, and the Countryside . . . . . . . . . 49 Further Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Series Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Photo Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Contents 1 2 3 4 5 6

The Imperial Palace in the Chiyoda district of Tokyo.

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MAJOR NATIONS IN A GLOBAL WORLD: JAPAN

INTRODUCTION A s an island group situated on the western margin of the Pacific Ocean, Japan is quite literally a place apart. Though its urban centers are some of the fastest-paced, most technologically connected areas on the planet, Japanese culture values patience, serenity, and a sense of balance in all things. These virtues are apparent in the day-to-day activities of the people as much as in artistic or religious forms of expression. Something as simple as brewing a pot of tea or preparing a meal can become an aesthetic experience. Japan’s history of the samurai warrior and the code of honor have helped instill a sense of duty to one’s country. This carries beyond political and dip- lomatic life and influences family dynamics. Faithfulness to one’s elders is an important quality. There are also many unwritten rules that help guide social interactions outside of the family. This rootedness in age-old traditions coupled with an ability to think in new and innovative ways is what makes Japan such a respected presence throughout the world. The physical landscape of Japan also shapes its national character. The rhythm of the sea, the changeless faces of its mountains, and the yearly cycles of its trees all foster a harmonious atmosphere.

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INTRODUCTION

A Shinto priest rakes the gravel of a Zen garden.

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND depose : to remove from power.

militarized : warlike or military in character and thought. robust : strong, vigorous, and healthy. tectonic plate : one of the massive stone sheets that forms part the Earth’s crust. wield : to possess something and have the ability to use it.

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CHAPTER

Title H story, Religion, and Tradition D ynamic” is a good word to describe Japan. As an archipelago of over 3,000 islands—some of which are volcanic—situated along the ridge of the Pacific tectonic plate , the nation is particularly susceptible to geological events such as earthquakes and tsunamis. The metropolitan area surrounding its capital, Tokyo, is the largest on the planet, with upwards of 36 million people. Japan has the third largest economy in the world, often leading the field when it comes to technological developments. The vibrant, fast pace of its urban life is balanced by regions of great serenity and natural beauty, such as Mount Fuji southwest of Tokyo or the Kenroku- en Garden in Kanazawa. “

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CHAPTER ONE: HISTORY, RELIGION, AND TRADITION

Japan’s earliest inhabitants were Paleo- lithic settlers who arrived from Asia around 30,000 bce . It is not until around 13,000 bce , however, that we begin to get a clearer pic- ture of the developing civilization, a culture known as the Jomon. These were hunt- er-gatherers who pioneered techniques of agriculture, rudimentary house construc- tion, and clothes making. By 300 bce , a wave of migrants known as the Yayoi began arriving in Japan. There are competing the- ories as to whether they originated from China or Korea. The Yayoi were responsible for introducing rice to the Japanese islands. They also improved agricultural methods and discovered new ways of working with metal. With these advances came primitive forms of government, most likely run by an emerging class of landowners.

A vase from the Jomon period.

DESIGN IN THE JOMON PERIOD The pottery of the Jomon period is some of the oldest in the world. It is particularly noteworthy for the “cord markings” adorning the surfaces: lined designs that appear to have been applied with rope. Pots were all made by hand, without the aid of a wheel. A more substantial historical record of Japan began developing around ad 300, as inhabitants of the Kofun period began leaving evidence of their life behind. The word kofun (“old mounds”) refers to the large, keyhole-shaped burial mounds they constructed for their clan leaders. Items extracted from the tombs, such as weapons and armor, attest to a militarized society. Many different clans vied for power, but the Yamato clan proved to be the stron- gest. Yamato rulers established a political state with themselves as an imperial dynasty, a form of governance that continued into the Asuka period of the

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MAJOR NATIONS IN A GLOBAL WORLD: JAPAN

The Ishibutai Kofun is the largest tomb in Japan and was built during the Asuka period.

sixth through early eighth centuries. This time in Japanese history also saw the arrival of Buddhism from China, as well as the introduction of Chinese political and cultural practices, such as bureau- cratic organization (when leadership is organized into departments and levels). The Chinese writing system was also adopted during the Asuka period.

A NATIVE JAPANESE RELIGION The native religion of Japan is known as Shintoism. It is based on Japanese myths, and its roots date as far back as the sixth century bce . Shintoism has no sacred texts and no official founder. Practitioners are devoted to spiritual beings known as kami , with whom they communicate through various rituals.

The eighth century was a time of renewed stability in Japan, as a perma- nent capital was established in Nara, in the southern half of Honshu, the largest

of Japan’s main islands, in 710. Bud- dhism began to thrive, particularly among the upper classes, and many temples and monasteries were built. The religion had a pervasive influ- ence on the arts and culture, setting forth new techniques in painting and sculpture. A national form of literature began to develop as writers collected ancient myths and turned them into Daibutsu, or the Great Buddha statue, at Todai-ji Temple in Nara, Japan, is the world’s largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana.

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CHAPTER ONE: HISTORY, RELIGION, AND TRADITION

poems and stories. All of this helped the Nara period come to be known as Japan’s “Classical” period. Its advances continued into the Heian period, so named because the capital was relocated a bit north of Nara in Heiankyo, now Kyoto, in 794. This was truly a “golden age” of Japan, as the nation was at peace, the arts were flourishing, and new networks of roads united formerly distant locations. The Tale of Genji , what many consider to be the first novel, was written during this time by Murasaki Shikibu, a noblewoman who served at the imperial court. Despite such achievements, life was not always easy for vil- lage farmers, who suffered under a harsh tax system. Some landowners began employing guards known as samurai to protect their properties, creating a class of warriors that would wield tremendous influence over the next several centuries. HEIAN LITERATURE In addition toMurasaki Shikibu, another female Japanese writer made a significant contribution to world literature during the Heian Period. Sei Shonagon’s The Pillow Book is a unique blend of diary entries, poems, and social observations written when she participated in the court of Empress Teishi.

Minomoto Yoromito was the first samurai warrior to assume power. In 1185 he relocated the capital northeast to Kamakura. He was known as a “shogun,” which was the highest level of samurai. Shoguns would rule Japan for the next seven hundred years. In 1190 a new form of Bud- dhism called Zen arrived from China. Its teachings of rigorous mental and physical discipline greatly influ- enced the philosophy of the samurai class. Though they successfully defended Japan from Mongol attacks in the thirteenth century, by 1333 the Kamakura shogunate (the official name for the government of the shogun) was overthrown. A new shogunate was set up in Muromachi,

Traditional samurai armor.

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MAJOR NATIONS IN A GLOBAL WORLD: JAPAN

Kyoto, that was much more decadent than the previous one. As Muromachi shoguns patronized the arts and developed a vibrant court culture, landowners in the outer prov- inces began battling for power. Known as daimyo, these lords soon tore the nation apart in a series of civil wars that would last until the mid-sixteenth century. By 1600, a daimyo named Tokugawa Ieyasu had become the most powerful lord. He was made shogun in 1603 and The era of stability of the Edo period lasted until 1853, when an American naval officer named Matthew Perry sailed into a port near Edo and forced the sho- gunate into a trade agreement. This was interpreted as a sign of weakness by the Japanese citizenry, and it unleashed a series of changes that would shake the founda- tions of Japan. By 1868, the shogunate was deposed , and power returned to the emperor. The new leadership implemented a more democratic form of government, disassembled the warrior class, and rapidly industrialized the economy. A statue depicting Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first in the last line of shoguns, located in the Togichi Prefecture.

The Zen Buddhist temple Kinkaku-ji (literally Temple of the Golden Pavilion) in Kyoto, Japan.

moved the seat of his shogunate to Edo, which is now present-day Tokyo. He promptly created a series of laws designed to limit the power of rival daimyos. In 1639 the shogunate imposed a policy of isolation. While this effectively cut Japan off from the rest of the world, it allowed the country to strengthen its native industries and create a robust middle class.

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CHAPTER ONE: HISTORY, RELIGION, AND TRADITION

The horrific aftermath of the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945. The name of the pilot who dropped the bomb and the plane he piloted are noted on the top left of the image.

Industrialization continued well into the twentieth century, when Japan became recognized as a world power. It participated victoriously in World War I on the side of the Allies. With Japan’s alliance with the Axis Powers in World War II and the bombing of U.S. forces at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii in 1941, the United States declared war on Japan and entered the war on the side of the Allied Powers. The dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of the war in 1945 left Japan in ruins. The nation demon- strated resilience, however, quickly drafting a new democratic constitution, with the cooperation and oversight of the United States and other Allied powers, that widened the scope of rights for citizens. Workers sprung back to make Japan the second largest economy in the world throughout the sec- ond half of the century.

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MAJOR NATIONS IN A GLOBAL WORLD: JAPAN

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