Abstract
A perspective of human adaptability was described, and it was clarified that human adaptation to environment should be classified into two categories, i. e, natural adaptation and cultural adaptation; natural adaptation includes physiological adaptation and adaptive differentiation (genetic adaptation). Physiological mechanisms underlying the heat acclimatization and cold acclimatization was described based on the observations of Japanese. It was clarified that patterns of physiological reactions observed in acclimatization varied according to the changes of environmental factors and of living conditions. It was emphasized that patterns of adaptative functions in long term acclimatization were quite different from those in short term acclimatization. Racial characteristics of the Mongoloid were described in relation to the adaptability to cold by referring to the hypothesis of Coon, Garn and Birdsell. The distribution of the Mongoloids throughout the known-world of the fifteenth century, and the prosperity and decline of their nations on the American-Continent, and the success of modernization and industrialization of the Japanese who are Mongoloids were discussed by criticizing John Hall's historical view of Japan. In the discussion, the author emphasized that a distinguished socio-cultural adaptability of the Japanese, and the special geographical situation of the Japan islands are important factors in the dissolution of cultural shocks from foreign countries, and in the modernization of Japan.
