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Monday, 2 June 2014

POLITICAL SYSTEM

File:Imperial Seal of Japan.svg
Imperial Seal of Japan (chrysanthemum)
Japanese Flag with a large red disc 
(representing the Sun) in the center 

The Constitution of Japan defines the emperor to be "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He performs ceremonial duties and holds no real power, not even emergency reserve powers.


Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko

Tokyo Imperial Palace during winter


Japan is conducted in a framework of a parliamentary democratic monarchy where the Prime Minister is the head of government. Legislative power is vested in the Diet, which consists of the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors. 

The judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court and lower courts. In academic studies, Japan is generally considered a constitutional monarchy with a system of civil law.

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Shinzo Abe; Japan Prime Minister
Since 26 December 2012
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National Diet Building in Tokyo


The Cabinet is composed of Prime Minister and ministers of state, and is responsible to the Diet. The Prime Minister has the power to appoint and remove the ministers, a majority of whom must be the Diet members.

Cabinet parliament assembly

In foreign relations, Japan is a member state of the United Nations and pursues a permanent membership of the Security Council. As an economic power, Japan is a member of G8 and Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation. 

Japan also developed relations with ASEAN as a member of "ASEAN plus three" and the East Asia Summit.
Shinzo Abe with Najib Razak (Malaysia Prime Minister)
 in East Asia Summit

HISTORY OF JAPAN


EARLY JAPAN (13,000 BC - 710 AC)

During the Jomon Period (13000 BC to 300 BC), the inhabitants of the Japanese islands were gatherers, fishers and hunters. 
During the Yayoi Period (300 BC to 300 AD), social classes started to evolve, and country began to unite under powerful land owners. 
The emperor was ruler of Yamato Japan (400AD) and resided in a capital that was moved frequently from one city to another.
In 645, Nakatomi no Kamatari started the era of the Fujiwara clan that was to last until the rise of the military class (samurai).


Replica of Jomon Period subsistence activities

Pottery from Yayoi Period

NARA AND HEIAN PERIOD (710 - 1185)

# The first permanent Japanese capital was established in Nara, a city modelled after the Chinese capital. 
One characteristic of the Nara and Heian periods is a gradual decline of Chinese influence which, nevertheless, remained strong. Many of the imported ideas were gradually "Japanized".
The Fujiwara family controlled Heian period over several centuries through strategic intermarriages with the imperial family and by occupying all the important political offices in Kyoto and the major provinces.

                             
Man and woman clothing during Nara Period that influenced by Chinese


KAMAKURA PERIOD (1192 - 1333)

Chinese influence continued to be relatively strong during the Kamakura period. 
New Buddhist sects were introduced, found large numbers of followers among the  samurai (shogun), which were now the leading social class.
Hojo clan regents were able to bring several decades of peace and economic expansion to the country until an external power began to threaten Japan.

Samurai class (shogun) ruled over Kamakura Period


MORUMACHI PERIOD (1333 - 1573)

Two imperial courts existed in Japan for over 50 years: the Southern and Northern courts. They fought many battles against each other. 
The Southern court gave in in 1392, and the country became emperor-wise reunited again.
# In 1542, the first Portuguese traders and Jesuit missionaries (Jesuit Francis Xavier) arrived in Kyushu, and introduced firearms and christianity to Japan.
Despite Buddhist opposition, most of the Western warlords welcomed Christianity because they were keen in trade with overseas nations mainly for military reasons.

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A ship of Morumachi Period

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Kinkaku-ji or Zen Buddhist Temple, an excellent 
example of Morumachi Period garden design


AZUCHI-MOMOMAYA PERIOD (1573 - 1603)

# Oda Nobunaga (a samurai) achieved control over the province of Owari (around the modern city of Nagoya) in 1559. He succeeded in capturing the capital in 1568.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a general fighting for Nobunaga, reacted  after Nobunaga death,  and took over control.
After uniting the country, Hideyoshi conquered China. However, they were pushed back again by Chinese and Korean forces in the following year.

Azuchi Momoyama Castle. Build in 1333-1346; 
destroyed and rebuild 1580; major expansions 1601-1608

Oda Nobunaga statue in front of JR Gifu Station


EDO PERIOD (1603 - 1867)

Tokugawa Ieyasu was the most powerful man in Japan after Hideyoshi had died in 1598.
Ieyasu was appointed by the emperor and established his government in Edo (Tokyo). The Tokugawa shoguns continued to rule Japan for 250 years.
# The top of the social hierarchy stood the samurai, followed by the peasants, artisans and merchants. Outcasts, people with professions that were considered impure, formed a fifth class.
In 1867-68, the Tokugawa government fell because of heavy political pressure, and the power of Emperor Meiji was restored.


Kabuki Dance (traditional theater) developed 
during Edo Period


MEIJI PERIOD (1868 - 1912)

The new government aimed to make Japan a democratic state with equality among all its people. The boundaries between the social classes of Tokugawa Japan were gradually broken down.
After about one to two decades of intensive westernization, a revival of conservative and nationalistic feelings took place, increasingly emphasized and taught at educational institutions.
Conflicts of interests in Korea between China and Japan led to the Sino-Japanese War in 1894-95. Japan defeated China and received Taiwan.
New conflicts of interests in Korea and Manchuria, this time between Russia and Japan, led to the Russo-Japanese War in 1904-05.

Meiji Emperor who brought 
modernization and democracy of Japan

Archive - Meiji Emperor and the New Constitution
Meiji Emperor and new constitution


TAISHO AND EARLY SHOWA PERIOD (1912 - 1945)

After WW1, Japan's economical situation worsened. The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and the world wide depression of 1929 intensified the crisis.
In July 1937, the second Sino-Japanese War broke out. However, the Chinese government never surrendered completely, and the war continued until 1945.
In December 1941, Japan attacked the Allied powers at Pearl Harbour and was able to expand her control over a large territory.
In 1944, intensive air raids started over Japan. In spring 1945, US forces invaded Okinawa in one of the war's bloodiest battles.
Emperor Showa finally decided to surrender unconditionally after US military forces dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9.

Farthest limits of Japanese conquests in World War 2

Asahigara heavy cruiser carrying troops from Batavia to Singapore during World War 2

Mushroom cloud over Hiroshima city 
after being dropped by atomic bomb


POSTWAR PERIOD (SINCE 1945)

After World War II had ended, Japan was devastated. All the large cities (with exception of Kyoto), the were severely damaged. A severe shortage of food continued for several years.
A new constitution went into effect in 1947: The 
emperor lost all political and military power, and was solely made the symbol of the state.
With the peace treaty that went into effect in 1952, the American occupation ended. The recovery of Japan's 
economy flourished. The economic growth resulted in a quick rise of the living standards.
Japan's relations to the Soviet Union were normalized in 1956, the ones to China in 1972.
The 1973 oil crisis make Japanese
 shift to high technology industries.



Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park: Ceremony held here 
every August 6 and the moment of silent at 8.15 am 
(exact time the bomb was detained)




The image of Japan, 69 years after World War 2 ended





Sunday, 1 June 2014

ECONOMY

The economy of Japan is the third largest in the world by nominal GDP and is the world's second largest developed economyThere are many sectors in Japan's economy. The popular sectors are agriculture, manufacturing, shipping, mining and petroleum exploration, and services.

1. Agriculture

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing form the primary sector of industry of the Japanese economy. Only 20% of Japan's land is suitable for cultivation, and the agricultural economy is highly subsidized and protected.

   Japan Agriculture Distribution
Tomatoes plants under fluorescent 
lamps using hydrogel-based system 
and does not require soil
  Paddy field in Kanazawa Prefecture
Japan fishing industry, 
one of the largest in the world

2. Japan's major export industries include automobilesconsumer electronics, computers, semiconductors, copper, iron and steel. Japanese manufacturing industry is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels.
Established Japan automobile manufacturers
One of the biggest Japan cargo company 
in shipping industries, MOL Line

3. Japan's service sector accounts for about three-quarters of its total economic output. Banking, insurance, estate, retail, transportation, telecommunications are all major industries such as Mitsubishi UFJ, Mizuho, TEPCOMitsubishi EstateÆONMitsuiSumitomoSoftbankJR East,  and Japan Airlines counting as one of the largest companies in the world.


Japan Airlines national carrier

Bullet Train (Shinkansen),
 managed by Japan Railway Group

Marunouchi Park Building 2012.JPG
Mitsubishi Corporation (largest trading company
 in Japan) head office in Chiyoda, Tokyo. 
Its business segments are banking, finance, 
energy, machinery, chemicals and food.





MAP AND GEOGRAPHY

  • Japan is a country in East Asia comprising a archipelago along Pacific coast of Asia.
  • The country is southeast of the Russian Far East, separated by the Sea of Okhotsk.
  • It is slightly east of Korea, separated by the Sea of Japan.
  • It is also located east-northeast of China and Taiwan, separated by East China Sea.
Japan and its neighboring countries 
Satellite View of Japan 1999.jpg
Satellite view of Japan
  • About 72% of Japan is mountainous, with a mountain range running through each of the main islands. Japan's highest mountain is Mt. Fuji.
  • Since very little flat area, many hills and mountainsides are cultivated all the way to the top.
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Mount Fuji with a Shinkansen and Sakura 
blossoms in Shizuoka prefecture, in May
  • Japan situated in a volcanic zone along the Pacific deeps, frequent low-intensity earth tremors and occasional volcanic activity are felt throughout the islands.
  • Destructive earthquakes occur several times a century. 
Strong current in 2011 Earthquake and 
Tsunami, hits Miyako
  • Nearly 80% of Japanese land is mountainous, with numerous small and narrow plains found mainly along the coasts. 
  • Basins are found inland, and where mountains and plains or basins meet, river fans have developed. 
  • The coastline is complex and heavily indented, with numerous bays and peninsulas.
Major city in Hokkaido, located on flat land
Seascapes and ice-scapes in Zao National Park

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Beautiful Shirahama Beach 
located at Izu Peninsula, West Tokyo

Monday, 19 May 2014

HOKKAIDO, A LAND OF NATURAL TREASURE



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Hokkaido Map


Biei is a small town surrounded by a picturesque landscape of gently rolling hills and vast fields. A pleasant way to enjoy the charm of Biei is by cycling or driving through the hills and visiting some of the flowerfields and famous trees along the way.


Flower Field in Biei on the Spring Season
Biei Panorama on Winter Season

The Sapporo Snow Festival, one of Japan's largest winter events, attracts a growing number of visitors from Japan and abroad every year. Every winter, about two million people come to Sapporo to see a large number of splendid snow and ice sculptures. For seven days in February, Sapporo is turned into a winter dreamland of crystal-like ice and white snow.


Snow Festival During Day
Snow Festival During Night


Tsukiji Fish Market is the biggest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world and also one of the largest wholesale food markets of any kind. The market is located in Tsukiji in central Tokyo, and was a major attraction for foreign visitors.


Inner market area

Outside market area


 
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