Geography of Japan: The Land of the Rising Sun
An Island Country Japan is an island nation in Far East Asia, located to the east of the Korean peninsula and southeast of China and Russia. This chain of islands is located at least 120 miles off the Pacific Coast of the Eurasian continent. Separating Japan and the rest of East Asia is the Sea of Japan. To the south is the Philippine Sea and to the east is the Pacific Ocean.
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The United Kingdom is another island country located on the other end of Eurasia. However, the U.K. is only about 21 miles away from the continent across the English Channel at its closest point.
Geographical Latitudes
The northernmost to the southernmost of Japan’s territory is roughly at the same geographical latitudes as the East Coast of the United States, from about 45 degrees in the north to about 20 in the south. Tokyo, the capital of Japan, lies at 35 ° 41' 6" N, about the same latitude as San Luis Obispo in California, and Teheran, Iran.
Compare to California
Japan’s total area is about 142,000 square miles, which is 10% smaller than California. However, unlike California, over 70% of the land is mountainous and not suitable for agriculture or housing.
Rivers
Due to the mountainous landscape, the rivers in Japan are short, and the currents are typically fast and strong.
Lakes
Japan’s biggest lake, Lake Biwa, is in central Honshu, but most other lakes are located in the northeast region of Japan.
The Japanese Archipelago: 4000 Islands Four Main Islands The Japanese archipelago consists of roughly 4,000 islands with the four largest ones considered to be the “main islands.”
The names of the four main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. The interactive map here (http:// www.gojapango.com/ travel/ map_of_japan_islands.html ) will quickly help you learn more about them.
Regions and Prefectures
Eight Regions / 47 Prefectures
Honshu, the largest of the main islands, is further divided into five regions, making a total of 8 regional divisions for the entire country. Within these eight regions are 47 prefectures. A prefecture is a governmental unit similar to a state in the United States.
Earthquakes and Volcanoes
The Pacific Ring of Fire Japan lies right on the “Pacific Ring of Fire”, where over 75% of the world’s volcanoes exist. Due to the abundance of shifting tectonic plates in this region, a large number of earthquakes occur every year and volcanic eruptions are not uncommon. Japan has 10% of the world’s most active volcanoes.
Last erupted 300 years ago
Located in central Honshu is Japan’s tallest and most famous mountain, Mt Fuji. It is a dormant volcano: the last recorded eruption occurred in 1707.
Warlock Of The Magus World light novel
Climate
The climate of most parts of Japan is temperate to sub-tropic with four distinct seasons. Seasons Summer is hot and humid with occasional showers. Spring and fall are warm and clear save for the rainy season and occasional typhoons. Spring is famous for the cherry blossoms, which often appear as a motif in manga. Winters can be extremely cold. The northern main island of Hokkaido and the Tohoku region (the north segment of Honshu), are generally colder, with the average winter temperature in Hokkaido falling to 15.8 degrees Fahrenheit, bringing lots of snow. The southern islands, on the other hand, are subtropical and the mean temperature in Okinawa is over 62 degrees Fahrenheit in January. Tsuyu: the Rainy Season In a typical year, the rainy season starts in early June and lasts about 6 weeks except in Hokkaido, where there is no rainy season. The amount of precipitation at this time of year is critical in the successful cultivation of rice, which is Japan’s staple food. Though subsidized, rice is likely the only comestible that Japan sufficiently produces to sustain its population without importing from other countries. Typhoons Typhoons can be a threat at any time of the year, depending on the region. Typically, some hit Japan in the late summer to early fall. Typhoons are similar to hurricanes that occur in the Atlantic. Unlike hurricanes, the Japanese refer to Typhoons strictly by number. They are given “proper” names only if they cause severe damage; these names are usually based on the areas or entities that suffered the most significant loss. Japan National Tourism Organization has a webpage on climate and weather of Japan for potential tourists there.
Monsoons and Ocean Currents
Ocean currents and seasonal winds, called monsoons, heavily influence the climate of Japan. Monsoons The cold winds from northern Asia that blow eastward over the Sea of Japan toward the mountains result in deep, heavy snow on the northwestern Japanese coasts starting as early as November and peaking in February. It is this phenomenon that gives the region its nickname: "Snow Country.” In contrast, the more heavily populated eastern side is relatively dry in winter and has little snow. Currents: Kuroshio, Tsushima and Kuril current (Oyashio) The strong Kuroshio and Tsushima currents are similar to the Gulf Stream on the Atlantic side of the United States. The cold Kuril current, also called the Okhotsk current, is extremely high in its nutrient content, contributing to one of the richest fisheries in the world. It is this reason that the Japanese name for the current is Oyashio, the “parent tide”. In this map (http:// upload.wikimedia.org/ wikipedia/ commons/ 6/ 6f/ Japan's_ocean_currents.PNG), The Kuroshio Current (1) branches into the Tsushima current (4), bringing warm tropical water from the south to both the Pacific coast and the Sea of Japan. Oyashio (7) flows southward toward Hokkaidô.
Demography Population
The current population for Japan in 2013 is 127,253,075 (est.). The current life expectancy at birth is 84.19, the third highest in the world, with 87.71 (est.) for females and 80.85 for males. The literacy rate is 99%. About 1.5% of the permanent residents are foreigners. This figure of foreign residents in Japan does not include the U.S. military personnel stationed in Japan, which was 35,688 as of 2009 . For more information on foreign residents in Japan, visit this page (http:// www.wa-pedia.com/ gaijin/ foreigners_in_japan.shtml ).
Aging
Aging of the Japanese population has been a grave social issue, as the fertility rate is at a low 1.39 births per woman in 2013 (est.)— ranked 208 in the world— while the post-war baby boomer generation is pushing the demography of the elderly (ages 65 and over) to 24.8% for 2013 (est.). To compare, The World Factbook registers the total fertility rate (live births per woman) of the United States at 2.06 and the United Kingdom with 1.9 for 2013.
Related Anime: Roujin Z
An experimental hospital bed with its own built-in atomic reactor and state-of-the art computer system is placed in a geriatric ward. Tasked with caring for an elderly, disabled man, it ends up becoming much more. Written by the creator of AKIRA, Katsuhiro Otomo.
Population Density
Over ten times crowded in the U.S. Arithmetically speaking, the population density of Japan is 873 per square mile using numbers from 2010, nearly ten times more crowded than the U.S. (90.3 per square miles). This number is deceiving because about 73% of Japan’s land is mountainous and unsuitable for habitation; only 16,842 square miles is arable. Thus, using the population estimation above, Japan’s physiological density in 2013 is estimated to be about 7,555 per square mile. Compared to roughly 500/ sqmi in the U.S., the physiological density is about 15 times more crowded in Japan. Of course, this is the average for the entire arable land of Japan, and the number actually downplays the density in metropolitan areas. (Cf. Physiological population density of 2,543 in UK).
Transportation Public
Transport Japan has a highly developed public transportation system. Especially in metropolitan areas and between large cities, there are typically multiple forms and routes of public transportation in place. A complex network of railways connects myriad cities on Japan’s major islands. Commuter trains are notably sardine packed during the rush hours.
Particularly famous is the shinkansen (“ bullet train”) that connects most of the country’s major cities; it is world-renowned for its speed, comfort, punctuality, efficiency, and safety.
Bus services are found in both urban and rural areas. Beyond this are almost 100 airports and 9 major seaports. In the suburbs and in rural areas, services may be limited and driving may become necessary. However, for the most part, public transportation is available to everyone who needs it. It is not uncommon to see businessmen commuting two hours one-way to get to work. The services in the metropolitan areas are typically frequent, punctual and reliable.
Private Transport
Private car ownership has steadily increased since the 1960’ s. This was all thanks to a booming economy, a burgeoning domestic automobile industry, and nationwide road improvements. At the same time, expressway construction attempted to match this growth. Despite their high costs, they are in extensive use.
Read Martial God Asura light novel
Compare
The United Kingdom is another island country located on the other end of Eurasia. However, the U.K. is only about 21 miles away from the continent across the English Channel at its closest point.
Geographical Latitudes
The northernmost to the southernmost of Japan’s territory is roughly at the same geographical latitudes as the East Coast of the United States, from about 45 degrees in the north to about 20 in the south. Tokyo, the capital of Japan, lies at 35 ° 41' 6" N, about the same latitude as San Luis Obispo in California, and Teheran, Iran.
Compare to California
Japan’s total area is about 142,000 square miles, which is 10% smaller than California. However, unlike California, over 70% of the land is mountainous and not suitable for agriculture or housing.
Rivers
Due to the mountainous landscape, the rivers in Japan are short, and the currents are typically fast and strong.
Lakes
Japan’s biggest lake, Lake Biwa, is in central Honshu, but most other lakes are located in the northeast region of Japan.
The Japanese Archipelago: 4000 Islands Four Main Islands The Japanese archipelago consists of roughly 4,000 islands with the four largest ones considered to be the “main islands.”
The names of the four main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. The interactive map here (http:// www.gojapango.com/ travel/ map_of_japan_islands.html ) will quickly help you learn more about them.
Regions and Prefectures
Eight Regions / 47 Prefectures
Honshu, the largest of the main islands, is further divided into five regions, making a total of 8 regional divisions for the entire country. Within these eight regions are 47 prefectures. A prefecture is a governmental unit similar to a state in the United States.
Earthquakes and Volcanoes
The Pacific Ring of Fire Japan lies right on the “Pacific Ring of Fire”, where over 75% of the world’s volcanoes exist. Due to the abundance of shifting tectonic plates in this region, a large number of earthquakes occur every year and volcanic eruptions are not uncommon. Japan has 10% of the world’s most active volcanoes.
Last erupted 300 years ago
Located in central Honshu is Japan’s tallest and most famous mountain, Mt Fuji. It is a dormant volcano: the last recorded eruption occurred in 1707.
Warlock Of The Magus World light novel
Climate
The climate of most parts of Japan is temperate to sub-tropic with four distinct seasons. Seasons Summer is hot and humid with occasional showers. Spring and fall are warm and clear save for the rainy season and occasional typhoons. Spring is famous for the cherry blossoms, which often appear as a motif in manga. Winters can be extremely cold. The northern main island of Hokkaido and the Tohoku region (the north segment of Honshu), are generally colder, with the average winter temperature in Hokkaido falling to 15.8 degrees Fahrenheit, bringing lots of snow. The southern islands, on the other hand, are subtropical and the mean temperature in Okinawa is over 62 degrees Fahrenheit in January. Tsuyu: the Rainy Season In a typical year, the rainy season starts in early June and lasts about 6 weeks except in Hokkaido, where there is no rainy season. The amount of precipitation at this time of year is critical in the successful cultivation of rice, which is Japan’s staple food. Though subsidized, rice is likely the only comestible that Japan sufficiently produces to sustain its population without importing from other countries. Typhoons Typhoons can be a threat at any time of the year, depending on the region. Typically, some hit Japan in the late summer to early fall. Typhoons are similar to hurricanes that occur in the Atlantic. Unlike hurricanes, the Japanese refer to Typhoons strictly by number. They are given “proper” names only if they cause severe damage; these names are usually based on the areas or entities that suffered the most significant loss. Japan National Tourism Organization has a webpage on climate and weather of Japan for potential tourists there.
Monsoons and Ocean Currents
Ocean currents and seasonal winds, called monsoons, heavily influence the climate of Japan. Monsoons The cold winds from northern Asia that blow eastward over the Sea of Japan toward the mountains result in deep, heavy snow on the northwestern Japanese coasts starting as early as November and peaking in February. It is this phenomenon that gives the region its nickname: "Snow Country.” In contrast, the more heavily populated eastern side is relatively dry in winter and has little snow. Currents: Kuroshio, Tsushima and Kuril current (Oyashio) The strong Kuroshio and Tsushima currents are similar to the Gulf Stream on the Atlantic side of the United States. The cold Kuril current, also called the Okhotsk current, is extremely high in its nutrient content, contributing to one of the richest fisheries in the world. It is this reason that the Japanese name for the current is Oyashio, the “parent tide”. In this map (http:// upload.wikimedia.org/ wikipedia/ commons/ 6/ 6f/ Japan's_ocean_currents.PNG), The Kuroshio Current (1) branches into the Tsushima current (4), bringing warm tropical water from the south to both the Pacific coast and the Sea of Japan. Oyashio (7) flows southward toward Hokkaidô.
Demography Population
The current population for Japan in 2013 is 127,253,075 (est.). The current life expectancy at birth is 84.19, the third highest in the world, with 87.71 (est.) for females and 80.85 for males. The literacy rate is 99%. About 1.5% of the permanent residents are foreigners. This figure of foreign residents in Japan does not include the U.S. military personnel stationed in Japan, which was 35,688 as of 2009 . For more information on foreign residents in Japan, visit this page (http:// www.wa-pedia.com/ gaijin/ foreigners_in_japan.shtml ).
Aging
Aging of the Japanese population has been a grave social issue, as the fertility rate is at a low 1.39 births per woman in 2013 (est.)— ranked 208 in the world— while the post-war baby boomer generation is pushing the demography of the elderly (ages 65 and over) to 24.8% for 2013 (est.). To compare, The World Factbook registers the total fertility rate (live births per woman) of the United States at 2.06 and the United Kingdom with 1.9 for 2013.
Related Anime: Roujin Z
An experimental hospital bed with its own built-in atomic reactor and state-of-the art computer system is placed in a geriatric ward. Tasked with caring for an elderly, disabled man, it ends up becoming much more. Written by the creator of AKIRA, Katsuhiro Otomo.
Population Density
Over ten times crowded in the U.S. Arithmetically speaking, the population density of Japan is 873 per square mile using numbers from 2010, nearly ten times more crowded than the U.S. (90.3 per square miles). This number is deceiving because about 73% of Japan’s land is mountainous and unsuitable for habitation; only 16,842 square miles is arable. Thus, using the population estimation above, Japan’s physiological density in 2013 is estimated to be about 7,555 per square mile. Compared to roughly 500/ sqmi in the U.S., the physiological density is about 15 times more crowded in Japan. Of course, this is the average for the entire arable land of Japan, and the number actually downplays the density in metropolitan areas. (Cf. Physiological population density of 2,543 in UK).
Transportation Public
Transport Japan has a highly developed public transportation system. Especially in metropolitan areas and between large cities, there are typically multiple forms and routes of public transportation in place. A complex network of railways connects myriad cities on Japan’s major islands. Commuter trains are notably sardine packed during the rush hours.
Particularly famous is the shinkansen (“ bullet train”) that connects most of the country’s major cities; it is world-renowned for its speed, comfort, punctuality, efficiency, and safety.
Bus services are found in both urban and rural areas. Beyond this are almost 100 airports and 9 major seaports. In the suburbs and in rural areas, services may be limited and driving may become necessary. However, for the most part, public transportation is available to everyone who needs it. It is not uncommon to see businessmen commuting two hours one-way to get to work. The services in the metropolitan areas are typically frequent, punctual and reliable.
Private Transport
Private car ownership has steadily increased since the 1960’ s. This was all thanks to a booming economy, a burgeoning domestic automobile industry, and nationwide road improvements. At the same time, expressway construction attempted to match this growth. Despite their high costs, they are in extensive use.
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