A Tentative Study on Japan's Geographical Location in the World
1991 Volume 39 Issue 1 Pages 21-32
Details
1991 Volume 39 Issue 1 Pages 21-32
The purpose of this paper is an attempt to consider Japan's geographical location, its special character, and its role to the world from the geographic educational point of view
The results of the study are summarized as follows:
1. Regarding its natural environment, Japan is an isolated, insular state, being located between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan. As a result, the Japanese have, from ancient times, had a great curiosity towards outside cultures.
2. Japan is located at the point of contact between; the Eurasian plate and the Pacific plate, the Eurasian Continent and the Pacific ocean, continental climate in the winter and marine climate in the summer, warm and cold currents. Therefore, Japan's natural environment are consists of complex factors which are caused by points of contact, collision (contradiction), overlap, confluence (fusion), etc.
On the other hand, such complex factors harmonize and synthesize each-other making the beautiful scenery of the four seasons. Japanese cultivate adoption of nature and a sense of unity with the natural world.
3. Formerly, Japan had an isolated character. Now, Japan has overcome natural restrictions through acquiring scientific techniques and a capitalistic economy. As a result, the Japanese trading sphere has enlarged throughout the world.
4. Regarding its social environment, Japan have several special characteristics. These have been gained through experiences which other advanced nations have not had. For example, Japan has had the experience of being an agricultural country and an advanced country. It experienced an earlier interchange with capitalist and socialist countries than Europe, and it has abandoned war to pursue passivism.
5. Material culture in western countries, being based on rationalism, has brought forth the menace of atomic warfare and environmental destruction. To avoid these crises, humans need a new sense of values. The above mentioned characteristics which the Japanese have cultivated may serve in this way. The oneness with nature and the ability to synthesize contradictions, which has been gained from its natural and social environments, gives a useful way of approaching the many problems of the future.
