Japan Political Geography by Arjun Karanam

Japan 1525

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Japan 1920

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Japan 1947

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Japan 2010

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Political Border Changes

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Over the past hundred years, Japan's borders have fluctuated. It started off as a collection of tribes which were then unified to form what we now know as Japan. In the first picture, we see Japan in 1525. In this period, Japan controlled much of the land that we see modern Japan controlling today. This includes the mainland and a few surrounding islands. At this time period, the exact area controlled is a little fuzzy due factors such as inaccurate maps. The next picture of Japan is Japan during the 1920's. This is when the Japanese Empire began to rise. It colonized both Korea and Taiwan prior to 1920. In the next two decades, Japan would take over Manchuria and much of Polynesia. In the next picture, we see Japan divided up to different allied powers. This is due to their loss in World War 2 to the Allied powers. Since the United States fought much of the Pacific theater, it gained the most occupation area of Japan. The USSR gained the Kuril islands, China regained Manchuria and received Taiwan, and Britain occupied Hong Kong. By 1952, mainland Japan was given back to the Japanese people, Taiwan became independent (sort of), and Hong Kong was ceded to China. The only territory that still remains with its occupying country is he Kuril islands, which is a border dispute between Japan and Russia. In the final picture, we see Japan in the modern world. It controls four main islands, and several smaller ones, and countless smaller ones. Japan today has similar boundaries to Japan hundreds of years ago, with a lot of history in between.

Japan Physical Map

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The boundary of Japan is closely related to the physical features.. This is so because Japan is a collection of 4 main islands, and numerous smaller islands. Since Japan is an island nation, it's boundaries are defined by the size of the islands it controls, which are physical features upon the Earth. Japan is seperated from its neighbors by water, which is a physical feature.

Japan Political Map

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Border Disputes

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Japan has 2 main border disputes - 1 With China and Taiwan and another with Russia

Senkaku Islands

arjunkaranam10 — 2015-01-27 00:17:54 UTC

These islands are currently disputed between China-Japan and Taiwan-Japan. In 1896, Japan was given these islands by China following the first Sino-Japanese war along with Taiwan. After WW2, the U.S took control of these islands and occupied them until 1971, in which the islands were returned to Japan. Shortly afterwards, oil was discovered on the island, and shortly after this discovery, both China and Taiwan placed their own claims on these islands. Up till recently, no activity has taken place on the island, with Japan banning development on the island. But, in 2012, the Japanese government declared that they would buy the islands from a private holder, and would start developing those islands. This sparked a conflict with China, and only time will tell how this dispute will be settled.

Kuril Islands

arjunkaranam10 — 2015-01-27 00:33:12 UTC

These islands are currently in dispute between Japan and Russia. After the occupation of Japan, many parts of the the country's former empire were given to the Allied Powers. Russia occupied the Kuril islands. Over the years, territories such as Taiwan and Korea have either been given back to another country or been freed. But, the Kuril islands still remain in Rusia's posession, and Japan demands them back .

Supranational - United Nations

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The United Nations is a organization whose purpose is primarily political. It is an organization that is dedicated to maintaining international peace and security. Japan has been a member of the UN since December 18th, 1956.

International - FATF

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The Financial Task Force (On Money Laundering) is an organization that is economic in nature. It's purpose is to combat money laundering and terrorism financing around the world. Japan entered this organization in 1990, and has been an active member since.

Regional - ADB

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The Asian Development Bank is a economic organization. The purpose of the organization is to aid in the economic development of Asia. Japan entered as a member in 1966.

Japan - A Fragmented Elongated State

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Because Japan is a fragmented state, it faces problems commonly associated with fragmented states., and that is a disconnect between the people, and lack of infrastructure. It is noted that Japan seems to have preferential treatment to those living on the mainland in comparison to those living on one of the smaller islands. Also, in the extreme south of the country, there have been many conflicts between Japan and the Ainu people. This is partly due to the fact that they have a feeling of disconnect from the rest of the Japanese population (Another factor is that they an ethinic minority in a predominantly nation state).

Japanese Flag

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According to mythology, the Sun Goddess Amaterasu founded Japan thousands of years ago.. The emperor is Japan is said to be a descendant of Amaterasu and is often called "Son of the Sun", and is the Land of the Rising Sun. The sun symbol on the flag represents Amaterasu and her brightness, sincerity and warmth. The white background represents honesty.

Japan - The Unitary Government

arjunkaranam10 — 2015-01-27 01:42:32 UTC

Japan has a unitary government as most of the power lies within the hands of the Central Government.

Japan is a parliamentary government with a constitutional monarchy.

Branches of Government -

Judicial - Highest Court is Supreme Court, Chief Justices designated by Cabinet and Appointed ny Emperor
Legislative -

Bicameral Diet

House of Representatives (Upper)
House of Councillors (Lower)

Executive -

Head of State - Emperor Akihito
Head of Government - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
Cabinet - Elected by Prime Minister

Works Cited

arjunkaranam10 — 2015-01-27 03:08:27 UTC

"Asian Development Bank | Fighting Poverty in Asia and the Pacific."Asian Development Bank. 2 Apr. 2014. Web. 27 Jan. 2015. .

"Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering."Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 25 Jan. 2015. .

"Government of Japan."Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 26 Jan. 2015. .

"How Uninhabited Islands Soured China-Japan Ties."BBC News. BBC. Web. 23 Jan. 2015. .

"Imperial Japan." ZUM. Web. 21 Jan. 2015. .

"Japan."Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 26 Jan. 2015. .

"Japan 1525."Photobucket. Web. 21 Jan. 2015. .

"Japan Physical Features." Japanrah. Web. 22 Jan. 2015. .

"Japan Today." Kokhaviv Publications. Web. 21 Jan. 2015. .

"Japanese History: Militarism and World War II."Japanese History: Militarism and World War II. Japan-Guide. Web. 22 Jan. 2015. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2129.html

"List of Japanese Islands."Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 22 Jan. 2015. .

"Nations Online Project."NationsOnline. Nations. Web. 23 Jan. 2015. .

"Occupied Japan." Wikimedia. Web. 21 Jan. 2015. .