The Lay of the Land
Japan is an archipelago, meaning it is made up of 4 main ones and over 3,000 miniature ones.
What are islands?
These divine beings, Izanagi and Izanami, are credited with doing what to create the islands of Japan?
What is stirring up the Salt Water?
This ancient religion of Japan, practiced by about 70% of the population, is centered on an ideal of harmony with nature.
What is Shinto?
This labor-intensive crop was the main food in Japan and also served as its money system.
What is rice?
Japan is known as this type of society because its people share a similar nature, character, and common values.
What is a homogenous society?
Because 80% of Japan's landscape is made up of steep valleys and these features, most of the population lives along the coast.
What are mountains and/or forests?
Japan is often called the "Land of the Rising Sun" because of this Sun Goddess who once hid in a cave and plunged the world into darkness.
Who is Amaterasu?
The blooming of these flowers signifies new beginnings and the shortness of beauty and life in Japanese culture.
What is the cherry blossom?
Due to Japan's coastal location, this was the primary source of protein in the Japanese diet.
What is fish/seafood?
Japan adapted the Chinese writing system, known as this, into their own script.
What is kanji or katakana?
By physical space comparison, Canada is approximately this many times larger than Japan. (I'll take within 2 above or below)
What is 31.4?
In 1274 and 1281, the Mongol fleets were pushed back and destroyed by these "divine winds" sent by the gods.
What is kamikaze?
When visiting a shrine, you should not walk in the center of this entrance structure, as the middle is reserved for the spiritual realm.
What is a Torii Gate?
Besides rice and fish, these other two foods were crucial, mineral-rich parts of the traditional diet.
What are seaweed and soy?
Traditional poetry tied to celebrations follows a 5-7-5 syllable pattern and is known as this.
What is a haiku?
Because Japan sits where several tectonic plates meet, it frequently experiences this type of devastating "harbour wave".
What is a tsunami?
According to the Ainu people, gods who visit Earth as elements like fire, water, or animals are known by this name.
What are kami/kamuy?
Worshippers write prayers and wishes on these small wooden plaques, which are eventually ritually burned.
What are ema?
Unlike many other world religions, the ancient Japanese religion of Shinto does not have religious laws or one of these.
What is no founder?
This Indigenous group lived in the northern part of Japan, taking pride in their heritage despite historical conflicts.
Who are the Ainu?
Before modern technology, reaching Japan by sea was difficult because the West coast featured rough waters and limited places for these.
What are harbours (or bays/inlets)?
Historical Japanese Emperors were considered to be descendants of the Sun Goddess, giving them this godlike status. What word am I looking for?
What is divine (or godlike)?
Many Japanese homes contain a small Shinto shrine called this, where offerings of water or rice are placed.
What is a kamidana?
Japan's land value was based on how much rice it could produce. That being said, what were Japan's 4 main islands named?
What are: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku & Kyushu?
The Japanese government used this practice on the Indigenous population, forbidding their language and forcing them to become farmers on restricted lands.
What is assimilation?