Jay Kim

 Japan is a group of islands isolated from a mainland so people could not leave whenever they wanted, causing people to learn to live with each other and avoid conflict.
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 People were born into social classes and showing respect to one of a higher status was mandatory.
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 Battles drove the Japanese to produce instruments of war, which are unique to
Japan, such as the katana and armor.
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Because of the interactions with China, the following are a few of the things introduced to Japan that became a major part of their culture:
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Silk
Tea
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Language
Religion
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 In 552, Buddhism was introduced to Japan via the Korean peninsula.
 Francis Xavier, a
Jesuit, started to preach Christianity in
Japan when he arrived in August
1549.
 Shinto was first written about in 712.
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 Japan historically did not have many domestic animals, such as cows, pigs, etc.
However, being a group of islands, Japan had an abundant supply of fish and vegetables, the two being the main sources of food.
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 With the opening of
Japan due to
Commodore Perry’s arrival in 1853,
Japanese culture and lifestyle changed dramatically with the embracing of Western influences. The following are just a few categories affected:
 Hairstyles+clothes
 Literature+art
 Education systems
 Western-style houses
 Abandonment of women shaving eyebrows and blackening teeth
 Food

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 A portion of Japanese culture has been influenced by foreigners such as the Chinese and Americans. Looking at Japanese kids today, we see teenagers in sweatshirts, baggy jeans, and dyed hair eating McDonald’s and Pizza Hut. Even some words sound like English words now. However, even with Commodore Perry’s arrival, the old customs of Japanese culture still exist, such as the worship of traditional religions, traditional clothes, holidays, food, etc.

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“Japan’s Religion and Philosophy” Asian Info 11th November
2008
< http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/japan/religion.htm>
“Japanese Tea Ceremony” Wikipedia 16th May 2009
< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_tea_ceremony>
“Japanese Language” Wikipedia 25th May 2009
< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_language>
“Japanese Cuisine” Wikipedia 25th May 2009
< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_food>
“Culture of Japan” Wikipedia 20th May 2009
< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_culture>
“Meiji: Not Just a Political Change, but a Real Cultural
Revolution” Japan Reference 14th March 2004
< http://www.jref.com/culture/meiji_revolution.shtml>