Population and Settlement of Japan

The earliest settlers of Japan came over around during the Paleolithic period around 35,000

BC. These settlers came via land bridges that had once connected Korea and Japan. Being a

hunter-gatherer people from Northern Asia, these settlers were most likely chasing prey that had

migrated across the land bridge. Eventually, these land bridges were once again covered up,

thanks to the rising sea levels caused by the end of the fourth ice age. Japan was once again

isolated from the Asian mainland, only this time with people on its land. This is where a

primitive civilization ended and a more “sophisticated civilization” (Colcutt, 2003, p 1) began.

The next segment in Japanese history is known as the Jamon period, 11,00 BC – 300 BC.

The people of this time period created wondrous works of pottery, used for cooking and holding

of resources. The name “Jamon” is even a reference to the famous “cord-marked style of

pottery” (Japan Zone, 2018, p 1), the earliest pottery found in the world to date. These people

were unlike the rest of East Asia at the time; the people of Japan still relied on hunting and

gathering rather than agricultural methods of obtaining food. They lived in very small

communities with only between four and eight people. This meant they did not have much need

for farming, relying on deer and wild plants for their meals. There is evidence that these small

communities interacted with one another though trade, and engaged in combat. These settlements

would not have any unity until the Yamato clan came around in 300 AD.

In Japanese history, the third time period, the Yayoi Period, lasted between 900 BC and

250 AD. The mining and smelting of metals, a boom in agriculture, and a population increase

defined this period. The metals of this era, bronze and iron, were used to make tools, swords,

mirrors, and spears. This was right on par with civilizations in China and Korea at this time. The

biggest development of this era however, was the increased agricultural use. The people of Japan
began to cultivate rice fields, as the climate was perfect for this. We learned in Guns, Germs, and

Steel, that the Fertile Crescent was a plot of land in the Middle East that was host to the best

conditions for farming. These conditions that the Fertile Crescent possessed spread east and west

ward, along the line of latitude, and Japan is very close to that east and west line of latitude. This

meant Japan was not to hot or cold in temperature, had all four seasons, the right amount of

rainfall, and the same day length as the Fertile Crescent; all perfect conditions for farming. The

challenges for Japan that were unique to its land was the amount of mountain ranges the country

possessed, but this was outweighed by the amount of wetlands that were perfect for rice farming.

These new technologies and use of agriculture gave the ability to those in Japan to expand and

grow in population.

Fourth in the Japanese time period was the Kofun Period, lasting between 300 AD and

552 AD. This time period was different from its predecessor in that many of those small states

that made up the island of Japan, unified under one clan, the Yamato Clan. This was the first of

any unification effort in Japan that worked, lasting until 710 AD. The Yamato clan was famous

for their very large tombs for its upper class and emperors, and what this period is named after.

The fifth and final time period of early settlement of Japan was, the Yamato Period. This

period was between 552 AD and 710 AD, characterized by the sophisticate society that was

beginning to form in Japan. The Yamato society was comprised of different smaller clans, the

three biggest being the Soga, Mononobe and Nakatomi. All clans had adopted the caste system

of sorts, made up of “occupation groups and slaves” (Colcutt, 2003, p 1). Around this time

however, Buddhism began to filter into the region, although in small capacity. The Buddhists

rejected the caste system, and Japan began to move away from it, as the religion was at its peak
under Prince Shotoku. Shortly after this time period, Japan followed in China’s footsteps,

beginning its use of imperial rule. Imperial Japan lasted until the conclusion of World War Two.

Works Cited:

Colcutt, M. (2003). A Teacher's Resource | Early Japan (50,000 BC - 710 AD) | Japan Society.

Retrieved from

http://aboutjapan.japansociety.org/early_japan_50000bc_710ad#sthash.F2iVwGsq.tm7ge

uTe.dpbs

Zone, J. (2018). Early Japanese History. Retrieved from

https://www.japan-zone.com/omnibus/history1.shtml