Populating & Settlement of Japan: a brief history
Clues to how Japan was originally settled are all that archaeologists have to go by. Due to Japanese culture, there are many myths and theories as to how the first hunter gatherers arrived. The prevalent and most popular theory among the Japanese is that people crossed a land bridge which “connected Japan’s main islands to one another, to the Russian mainland, and to South Korea.” (Diamond,1998). Around 8000 BC, people most likely traveled across Sakhalin Island or across the Kuril Islands to arrive at the north end of Japan’s island chain, Hokkaido, Japan (Gascoigne, 2001). Archaeologists found evidence of stone tools which place humans there at about a half million years ago. (Diamond,1998). The earliest group of people were called the Jomon in reference to the type of cord pottery they made. The Jomon were hunter gatherers. When the glaciers melted, the seas rose and Japan became an archipelago 13,000 years ago. (Diamond,1998). Around 250 BC, another group of people, the Yayoi, appeared on Japan’s southwestern most Island of Kyushu. The Yayoi were most likely from Korea, as were evident in artifacts.(Diamond,1998). Today's population of Japan thus originated from a combination of the Jomon and the Yayoi people.(Diamond,1998).
Research findings of Settlement
The clues to Japan’s history lie in analyzing language, tools, and pottery. Pottery shards from the Jomon people resemble those from Siberia. (Gascoigne, 2001). The trail of pottery follows north to Hokkaido, most likely along a trail of food, nuts in the forest. (Diamond). Language comparisons render Japanese language to be a member of Asia’s Altaic language family. Linguists suggests that the Japanese language was closest to Korean, but separated from it about 4000 years ago. (Diamond,1998). The fertile land enabled the Jomon hunter-gatherers to form villages. The remains of homes, villages, heavy stone tools and large heavy pottery suggest that the Jomon were sedentary and not nomadic. (Diamond, 1998).
The Yayoi people were separate from the Jomon, and appear to be more closely related to the South Koreans. Yayoi pottery found near Tokyo was most similar to modern South Korean pottery. The bronze objects, weaving, glass bead, and styles of tools and houses also suggested the Yayoi were connected to the Koreans. Excavations in Kyushu, revealed evidence of rice farming. The evidence of canals, dams, banks, paddies, and rice residues suggested full-scale agriculture. (Diamond, 1998).
The Yayoi people were separate from the Jomon, and appear to be more closely related to the South Koreans. Yayoi pottery found near Tokyo was most similar to modern South Korean pottery. The bronze objects, weaving, glass bead, and styles of tools and houses also suggested the Yayoi were connected to the Koreans. Excavations in Kyushu, revealed evidence of rice farming. The evidence of canals, dams, banks, paddies, and rice residues suggested full-scale agriculture. (Diamond, 1998).
Internet Resources
For more information, visit the following websites:
National Geographic has a webpage titled National Geographic Japan facts located at
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/japan-facts/
The Lonely Planet has a webpage titled Ancient japan: from hunter-gatherers to divine rule located at
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/japan/history
National Geographic has a webpage titled National Geographic Japan facts located at
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/japan-facts/
The Lonely Planet has a webpage titled Ancient japan: from hunter-gatherers to divine rule located at
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/japan/history
Types of Settlements
The different types of settlements in Japan history are seen in the Jomon period, Kofun period, and the Edo period. (Sasaki).
During the Jomon period (14000 to 300 BC), the people built pit houses that houses four to five people. Larger pit house settlements appeared around 9000BC. Up to a hundred pit houses might be found in one area. Towards the end of the time period, the settlements grew even bigger. Remains of a large village, Sunnai Mayumara, had about 700 pit houses. (Sasaki).
The Yayoi period (300BC to 300 AD), had similar settlements to the Jomon, and may have evolved from the Jomon. The Yayoi had permanently settled villages, and cultivated rice. The Yayoi lived in thatched homes which were clustered in villages. ("Yayoi culture,").
The Kofun period (300-538) is defined the homesteads, or farm villages owned by aristocrats. On the homestead the house was separate from the surrounding land. The homesteads were often grouped together. During this time a caste system began, and the dead were buried in large tombs called Kofun. (Sasaki).
During the Edo period (1603-1868), Japan was no longer a collection of villages, but a powerful nation-state. Tokugawa Ieyasu established a city around his castle, Edo Castle. People began to live within the city limits, in close residential housing communities. (Sasaki).
During the Jomon period (14000 to 300 BC), the people built pit houses that houses four to five people. Larger pit house settlements appeared around 9000BC. Up to a hundred pit houses might be found in one area. Towards the end of the time period, the settlements grew even bigger. Remains of a large village, Sunnai Mayumara, had about 700 pit houses. (Sasaki).
The Yayoi period (300BC to 300 AD), had similar settlements to the Jomon, and may have evolved from the Jomon. The Yayoi had permanently settled villages, and cultivated rice. The Yayoi lived in thatched homes which were clustered in villages. ("Yayoi culture,").
The Kofun period (300-538) is defined the homesteads, or farm villages owned by aristocrats. On the homestead the house was separate from the surrounding land. The homesteads were often grouped together. During this time a caste system began, and the dead were buried in large tombs called Kofun. (Sasaki).
During the Edo period (1603-1868), Japan was no longer a collection of villages, but a powerful nation-state. Tokugawa Ieyasu established a city around his castle, Edo Castle. People began to live within the city limits, in close residential housing communities. (Sasaki).
Dipity Timeline
Japan on Dipity.
Population Pyramids
The following population pyramids show a definite trend. In the first image taken of the population in 1950, the population consisted of young people and children. By the year 2010, the younger generation is getting older, and seen by the bulges in the middle of the pyramid. However, the population is no longer continuing the trend to have children. By the year 2100, Japan's population is predicted to be pretty equal. The older generation dies off at the same rate as it is replaced by the younger generation. The population of Japan is not growing as evident by the graphs and the statistics.
References for the page
Ancient Japan: from hunter-gatherers to divine rule. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.lonelyplanet.com/japan/history
Diamond, J. (1998, June 01). Japanese roots. Retrieved from http://discovermagazine.com/1998/jun/japaneseroots1455
File:japan topo en.jpg. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Japan_topo_en.jpg
Gascoigne, Bamber. “History of Japan” HistoryWorld. From 2001, ongoing. http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?groupid=2008&HistoryID=ab84>rack=pthc
Japan facts. (1996-2013). Retrieved from http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/japan-facts/
Natural resources of Japan. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.harpercollege.edu/mhealy/g101ilec/Japan/jpe/res/jperesfr.html
Sasaki, U. (n.d.). Types of settlements in japan. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/list_6953421_types-settlements-japan.html
The distribution of vegetation in Japan. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/npr/wetland/vegetation.html
Yayoi culture. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/yayo/hd_yayo.htm
Diamond, J. (1998, June 01). Japanese roots. Retrieved from http://discovermagazine.com/1998/jun/japaneseroots1455
File:japan topo en.jpg. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Japan_topo_en.jpg
Gascoigne, Bamber. “History of Japan” HistoryWorld. From 2001, ongoing. http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?groupid=2008&HistoryID=ab84>rack=pthc
Japan facts. (1996-2013). Retrieved from http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/japan-facts/
Natural resources of Japan. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.harpercollege.edu/mhealy/g101ilec/Japan/jpe/res/jperesfr.html
Sasaki, U. (n.d.). Types of settlements in japan. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/list_6953421_types-settlements-japan.html
The distribution of vegetation in Japan. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/npr/wetland/vegetation.html
Yayoi culture. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/yayo/hd_yayo.htm