The country is made up of small bodies of land that, go from the Sea of Japan all way

down to the Pacific Ocean. Japan has one of the most unstable geographical areas, ranging

from mountains to volcanic activity. The country tends to have about 1,000 tremors annually

and violent volcanic eruptions also tend to happen frequently. The mountains are due to

orogenic (mountain-building) forces that started roughly in the past 2.6 million years. Japan has

no continuous mountain ranges; it is divided into many smaller land blocks that separate the

lowlands which is a result of faulting and warping.

The climate of the country is monsoonal, which means it is met with wet and dry

seasonal winds. Depending on which side of the country one is located on depends on the type

of climate they will find. During the winter due to the high-pressure zone over eastern Siberia

and the low zone over the Western Pacific it results in a eastward flow of cold air considered a

winter monsoon. For the areas facing the Sea of Japan this brings with it rain or snow, and to

the side that faces the Pacific it brings dry and windy weather. In summer it reverses, summer

monsoons bring with it a warmer temperature and rain, and there is also an increase in Cyclonic

storms, and typhoons. (Japan history, Britannica)

It is unknown when the first settlements on Japan appeared. For a long time, it was

believed that there was no Paleolithic period in which there were human occupants in Japan.

Others would argue that the start of Japanese settlement is within the Jomon period which ranged

from 14,500-300BCE. However, this would become false with the end of World War II when

sites would be unearthed throughout the country. A variety of tools were uncovered, that date to

this time and it gave some insight to how the first people of Japan may have lived. The Japanese

Paleolithic period is dated between 30,000-10,000 years ago.

 Much like the rest of the world the original humans were thought to be hunter-gatherers

and fishers. This is evident more clearly in the Jomon period, or “rope pattern” culture, which

was given its name due to the way pottery was decorated. It was thought that early settlers lived

in either cave dwellings or pit-dwellings. Agriculture would come into play during the Yayoi

period which ranged between 300BC-250AD. Here Japan would see rice culture come into play

and a social class system beginning to develop. Powerful landowners would be the heading that

would ultimately unite people together. During this time, we also see the introduction of Iron

and various modern ideas that were influenced by Korea. (Japan-Guide).

After the Yayoi period came the Kofun Period dated between (250-538). We see a more

political Japan during this time, all of which is ruled by an Emperor. At this time Japan was

known as Yamoto Japan and it was situation around or in the province of Yamoto which today

would be considered the Nara prefecture. It was during the Asuka period (538-710) that we see

the influence of the mainland increase. Buddhism would be introduced to Japan around this

time as well. With the Taika era in the 7th century is where we see the rise of Kuni (province),

gun (county), and ri (village) which was administered by the higher ups. People were also

divided into two main classes, freeman and slaves. The Japanese people were considered to be

well adjusted, as they have managed to move with the land and its every changing lands.

Jansen, M., & Masamoto, K. (2020, August 27). History. Retrieved September 02, 2020, from
https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan/History
Cartwright, M. (2020, August 29). Ancient Japan. Retrieved September 02, 2020, from
https://www.ancient.eu/Ancient_Japan/

Early History and Culture. (2019). Retrieved September 02, 2020, from
https://www.ushistory.org/civ/10b.asp