Geography & Culture

— Latest update: July 2022 —

Japan is quite isolated in geographical terms and, as is often the case with island countries, many of Japan’s cultural traits and its differences from overseas neighbours are attributed to this geographic isolation. In the case of Japan, the country’s cultural evolution is further explained by factors such as cultural homogeneity, overcrowding brought about by limited inhabitable land and intensive rice production. Anthropologists and other observers, both Japanese and foreign, often invoke its geographical conditions to explain Japan’s uniqueness.

Table of Contents

• Geographic location and seismic activity
• Topography and climate
• Appreciation of nature
• Historical overview
• Japan’s national seclusion and its contemporary effects
• Further Reading