I. Nature: history, culture and the arts deeply connected to the environment.
    Geographic facts about Japan
Population: 123 million; 2.5% of world total;
population densely concentrated into cities at lower elevations.
Land: archipelago containing over 1,000 islands; half the size of the UK.
Earthquakes - convergence of four tectonic plates.
Ocean: a natural insularity from the outside world.
Ocean storms turned away Mongolian invasion (13th cent.)
Climate: to the east of a giant land mass, Japan has extreme seasonal changes.
Agriculture: rice farming takes place on a limited amount of usable land.
Fragile balance has long existed between population and food supply.
Soil is mostly of poor quality necessitating irrigation.
Bamboo grows in abundance.
Land, climate have been obstacles to be overcome in development of society.

II. Religion: Shinto, Buddhism, Confucianism
 Shinto: surviving indigenous religious practices that pre-date Buddhism
 Kami - spirits of nature to be worshipped for protection and benevolence
  Worship entails purification and celebration (entertainment).
  Associated with birth and material benefits of life.
 Buddhism: religious teaching from India via China and Korea (6th cent.)
  Buddhism based on interior enlightenment as taught by the Buddha
   Suffering stems from desire; desire arises from ego.
   Buddhism associated with the dead and funeral practices.
 Confucianism: moral, cultural and political teaching from ancient China
  Self-fulfillment attained through appropriate behavior within hierarchy
   Values: harmony; filial piety (obedience of elders); education
   Confucianism survives today in politics, social, family practices.

III. Language: literature as performance tradition; arts based on poetry, storytelling.
 8th century: songs and stories from ancient rituals recorded using Chinese system
  Kojiki and Nihon shoki - early documents of Japanese history/mythology
 10th century: development of poetry into Japanese style (5-7-5-7-7 syllables)
 14th century: noh drama combines chanting of poetry, acting, music and dance.
 17th century: kabuki combines all previous performing arts

IV. Cultural process: appropriating, adapting and preserving imported culture.
 Religion: Buddhism, Confucianism from Asia (see above).
 Language: Chinese from Asia (see above); English from the West.
 Politics: ancient system from China; modern democracy from the West.
 Music: instruments and styles from Asia; modern music from the West.