LOCATION

Japan is island country off the coast of China, located in East Asia. There are four "main" islands that make up the entire country. This location allows for trade and relation to both China and surrounding Asian nations as well as to the Americas. The location also played a role in Japan's development in early years, delaying it slightly, however it has now grown into one of the top economic nations on the planet.

Absolute location coordinates: 36°00′N 138°00′E

PLACE

As Japan is an island, fishing and marine life plays a major role in its society as well as its economics. When people think sushi, they are thinking of a Japanese creation. Japanese people obviously have Asian characteristics (tan skin, black hair, etc.), and are usually generalized as being technologically competent. Japan has given the world major technological advances. Companies like Sony, Toshiba, Fuji, Honda, Toyota, Mitsubishi, among others were started in Japan. Odds are you have seen plenty of merchandise from these Japanese companies.

MOVEMENT

Japan is famous for the "bullet train" which is one of the fastest trains in the world. Thousands of people use it daily to make their way around the main island. Again, being an island nation, Japan was able to import and export goods and services to East Asia (China, Korea, Vietnam, etc.) as well as the Americas. Japan has also greatly influenced the world through their technology as well as their fads. These technological advances and fads have quickly spread the globe. Fads like Pokémon and Tamagotchi started in Japan and took America by storm in the 1990's.

REGION

Japan is normally divided into eight regions: Hokkaidō, Tōhoku, Kantō, Chūbu, Kansai, Chūgoku, Shikoku, and Kyūshū. weather is given by region and many businesses and institutions use their home region as part of their name (Wikipedia). Tokyo is in the Kantō region.

HUMAN/ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTION

Japan is quite mountainous, however life seems to adapt with the terrain. Japan faces environmental problems such as volcanic activity, tsunamis, earthquakes, typhoons, etc. The deep and long standing tradition that Japan practices very important to citizens.