How Geography Shaped Japan

Japan's culture and history are deeply affected by the geography of it's homeland. Here is a brief video exploring how geography shaped the nation.

Music by Sam Kuzel and CadreCrimson

[Paul-A]

Just goes to show that you don't need natural resources to become a rich nation.

[hunterkiller]

Japan is basically Asian GB. Island filled with aggressive yet impressive bastards except highly influenced by the Chinese's Tang Dynasty, with Imperial lordship ideas which evolved into Samurai.

[AlltimeNumbers]

Great to be able to collaborate with you man. Loving Geography Hub. "We want more!"

[knowledgehusk]

So even though this video was short, I'm going to make these videos for frequently. At least once a week.

To Learn more about Japan. Check out AllTime Numbers 'Japan in Numbers'

[ilikestuff]

I can't stand the fact that they got Fallout 4 70 years before us. >:(

[theoneguyian]

I feel like you kinda forget about this channel you rarely upload

[yonatanrotbach]

You made a few videos about how isolated geographic areas like Japan and the Americas affected their population, but what about the opposite of that? What about extreme central areas. Like how the geographic location of Israel and the Levant as the crossing point between three major continents made it a popular place for foreign empires to rule (it's been ruled by 11 different empires in the span of 3000 years)

[OMGITSZANE]

If you want more info watch: the history of japan

[TheGmodParty]

now i want to play shogun 2 to hear angry japanese men slapping each other with wooden swords

[gargoyleex]

2:00 It's pretty interesting how much Japan and Germany have in common despite being located in such different regions. Both committed horrible war crimes in the relatively recent past and yet managed to become a constitutional democracy. Both countries are lacking natural ressources and therefore are relying on their technical industry. Japan and Germany, both being nearly gutted after WWII, still became the economic superpowers they are known as today. Also the population of these states are pretty high compared to its land area and last but not least there's the stereotype of the hardworking Japans and Germans. I think you're getting my point.

[thesuperproify]

Japan imported many of it's culture from Imperial China, hence why you see similar building designs, the widespread use of Chopstick, confucianism and eastern philosophy, and also the widespread use of Kanji, which is Chinese characters

[jomiga]

How geography shaped Chile would be an awesome video. The Andes to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west, a lot of earthquakes and a lot of volcanoes. Desert on the north, forest, lakes and rivers in the south. A lot to talk about this land strip.

[Skeloperch]

Japan has quite a bit of stone and metals, owing to their mountainous homeland. Southern Hokkaido has abundant farming area, whereas central Honshu had abundant stone and metal resources, giving them the edge when it came to warfare. The Northern and Central clans of Honshu ended up unifying all of Japan because of their strategic position.

Kyushu is also an interesting island. About 60% of it is mountainous, but it has some of the biggest cities in Japan, barring the Economic Hub of Asia, including Fukuoka, Kagoshima, and Nagisaki. Meanwhile, fertile Hokkaido has only one major city - Sapporo. This is a cause of geographical codependence, which states that weaker, more fertile states will trade for metals and materials from more resource endowed states. No one is looking to Alaska or Arizona for food, but we do look to those 2 states because they have abundant resources, and we, in return, give them food. Hawaii, on the other hand, has abundant food (especially fruits), and trades these in return for materials, which it so sorely lacks.

I would love to see you do a video on geographical codependence. It's a very powerful force throughout history, because resource rich countries generally need to have a "breadbasket", whom they either have to conquer, or trade with. That is a driving force behind rich Britannia going out to find a breadbasket, while the French, with their full stomachs, needed more natural resources.

[keelahrose]

Every country on Earth has "a deep cultural and political history."

Interesting how island nations with *few* natural resources wind up turning to violent subjugation and colonization to prosper.

[bravotone]

Great video Cody.

I'd be interested hear what you have to say about the geography of Israel and the Middle East in general, if you ever get around to.

[wiscause]

OMG I HAD TO DRAW THAT TSUNAMI PICTURE IN ART CLASS OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!

[Lexyvil]

I like how the more compacted a country is, the more people are close when working together, which encourages courtesy.

[gabrielfrund]

@Cody, do you know Geography Now from Paul B. ?

[alexc]

Considering all of this, it's a bit of a miracle that Japan turned out so well, even when we don't consider the US's postwar help.

[Wolcik]

how much USA pomped money into Japan since that Island can hold USA army against Russia and China?