Japan

by Shelley, Rex

• ISBN13: 9781608707843
• ISBN10: 1608707849
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-02-01
• Publisher: Benchmark Books

Summary

The highly regarded Cultures of the World ® series celebrates the diversity of other cultures in this fully updated and expanded edition. As has always been true of these outstanding titles, an abundance of vibrant photographs-including those new to this edition-stimulate the imaginations of young readers as they travel the globe.

Table of Contents

Japan Today	p. 5
Geography	p. 11
A land of mountains
Earthquakes
Rivers and lakes
Climate
"Plum rains" and typhoons
Vegetation
History	p. 19
The early Japanese
Heian, a golden age
Feudal Japan
Unification
Western influence
The 200-year isolation and the Western "invasion"
Transformation
Military might
The war in the Pacific
World War II ends
The occupation
Government	p. 31
Democracy and the government
The legal scene
Defense
The police
Economy	p. 39
The Japanese worker
Counting the cost
Environment	p. 45
Pollution
Nature conservation
Waste management
Recycling
Environmental programs and initiatives
Fukushima daiichi nuclear crisis
The Japanese	p. 53
The Ainu
The Japanese diaspora
The Japanese character
Relationships
A sense of duty
"Saving face"
Body language
Women in Japan
Lifestyle	p. 63
Homes
Dress
Good manners
Relaxation
Courtship
The family
A typical day
Religion	p. 73
Shinto
Buddhism
Zen and other Buddhist sects
Christianity
Language	p. 81
Social tones
Verbs
Pronunciation
"Adopted" English
Japanese examples
Scripts
Arts	p. 89
Visual arts
Ikebana and landscape gardening
Painting
Woodcuts
Pottery
Architecture
Poetry
Historical novels
Decline and revival of literature
Modern literature
Japanese theater
Art today
Music
Leisure	p. 107
Travel, reading, and Pachinko
Festivals	p. 111
New Year festival
Tanabata
Bon
Hinamatsuri
Toshogu Shrine festival
Daimonji
Gion Matsuri
Boys' Day
Kurofune Matsuri
Aoi Matsuri
Hamamatsu Matsuri
Hakone Torii Matsuri
Tenjin Matsuri
Shiraoi-no-iomante
The Buddha's birthday
Izumo-taisha Jinzaisai
Sapporo snow festival
Namahage
Chakkirako
Hanagasa-Odori
Deer-dance festival
Food	p. 123
Staples
The Japanese and their fish
Meat
Vegetables
Eggs
Tofu
From shabu-shabu to sake
Map of Japan	p. 132
About the Economy	p. 135
About the Culture	p. 137
Time Line	p. 138
Glossary	p. 140
For Further Information	p. 141
Bibliography	p. 142
Index	p. 143
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