Who am I?
I was an expert warrior hired to protect land. Who am I?
Samurai
What is Japan’s native religion?
Shintoism
Why did Japanese people rely heavily on the sea for food?
Much of Japan is mountainous, leaving little farmland
What crop became one of the main staples of the Japanese diet?
Rice
Which group was more associated with stealth and spying: samurai or ninja?
Ninja
I was a feudal lord who controlled territory and hired samurai to protect it. Who am I?
Daimyo
What are the sacred spirits found in nature in Shintoism called?
Kami
Why did daimyo hire samurai?
To protect their land and territory
What did the steep roofs of Gassho-style homes resemble?
Praying hands
What is the main difference between sushi and sashimi according to the reading?
Sashimi is raw fish; sushi includes rice and often vegetables
I was a warrior without a lord, often because my lord had fallen or I lost his favor. Who am I?
Ronin
What style of Japanese theater uses puppets, often about human emotions and social obligations?
Bunraku
Why did ninja turn farming tools into weapons?
Lower-class people were often forbidden from carrying weapons, so they adapted ordinary tools for protection
Why do sumo wrestlers throw salt into the ring?
To purify the ring as part of Shinto tradition
Give two purposes Japanese castles served for daimyo.
Protection/retreat after battle, storing food or weapons, or showing wealth and power
I was a 14th–15th century actor and director whose work helped create a style of theater using masks and supernatural stories. Who am I?
Zeami
What Japanese martial art means “gentle art” and focuses on joint locks, throws, pins, and holds rather than weapons?
Ju-jitsu
Why did ju-jitsu become useful against samurai even though it did not use weapons?
Samurai armor was difficult to pierce, so fighters used throws, locks, and the opponent’s own energy instead
How did Japanese temple architecture change after being introduced from China?
Temples became better adapted to local regions and began incorporating gardens and the surrounding natural landscape
How did Japan’s geography influence both warfare and food?
Limited farmland made land valuable and encouraged conflict between clans, while the mountainous landscape also pushed people to rely heavily on seafood
I might have started as a farmer or villager, was not part of the nobility, and learned stealth and disguised weapons because people of my class were often forbidden from carrying weapons. Who am I?
Ninja
What two traditions together formed the Samurai Code described in the reading?
Bushido and the Way of Horse and Bow
Why might Zen Buddhism have appealed especially to samurai compared with other groups?
Zen emphasized meditation, self-discipline, and control, which matched qualities already expected of samurai
Give two examples of how Zen Buddhism influenced Japanese culture outside of religious worship.
Possible answers include martial arts, tea ceremonies, gardens, and simple black-ink artwork
Using two different readings, explain how religion influenced everyday Japanese culture.
Possible responses include Shinto purification in sumo, Buddhist restrictions on eating animals, Zen influence on martial arts, gardens, tea ceremonies, and art, or Shinto respect for nature.