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Running head: JAPAN AN ISLAND NATION1

Japan An Island Nation: A View from a Global and Domestic Scale


Samantha Bautista
Ottawa University

JAPAN AN ISLAND NATION

Japan An Island Nation: A View from a Global and Domestic Scale


Japan, which population runs around 127, 728,000 million people, only has about 18
percent of habitable land (National Geographic, 2014). Its strong economic market and output
underscores Japans tense relationship with neighboring countries, including China, Russia, and
North Korea. Japan, a major economic power, is still harmed by environmental problems
stemming from their own industrial output. For much of its history, Japan remained isolated from
the rest of the world, wary of Western influences and expansion. After World War II and into the
late 20th century, Japan has become a leader in economic standards, but falls short on the
geopolitical scale. Also, as a country known for its appreciation for nature, Japan and its people
have taken strides to protect the environment and limit environmental degradation. In the last
decade, Japan has entered a precipice when it comes to the countrys international position and
their domestic goals. Whatever happens in the years to come, Japan has shown, despite countless
adversity, the strong will of its people through environmental obstacles and its global position on
the economic, social, and political stage.
Japans Physical Geography and Environmental Challenges
Japan is an island nation. The four main islands of Japans archipelago are Honshu,
Shikoku, Kyushu, and Hokkaido. According to Rowntree, Lewis, Price, and Wyckoff (2014), 80
percent of Japans land is covered by mountains, making it one of the most rugged countries in
the world (p. 363). Japans climate varies depending on the area and island. In the northern
island of Honshu, the climate is sub-arctic. The southern island of Kyushu, along with the
Ryukyu archipelago, is subtropical. While the rest of the country has temperate climate

JAPAN AN ISLAND NATION

(Rowntree et al, 2014). Moreover, Japan is widely known for its earthquakes and volcanic
activity. The country of Japan lies upon the Ring of Fire, where roughly 90 percent of the worlds
earthquakes occur (Israel, 2011). In 2011, a 9.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Honshu. This
earthquake, known as the Tohoku earthquake, was centered on two tectonic plates. The
earthquake triggered a tsunami that, along with the earthquake, devastated the Northern part of
Honshu. The tsunami caused a nuclear failure at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
Two years after the earthquake and tsunami 300 tons of radioactive water was still leaking on a
daily basis (Oskin, 2013). Because of Japans seismic activity, the Japanese government has an
extensive early warning system for earthquakes. For example, during the Tohoku earthquake
residents in Tokyo received text messages, train systems were shut down, and factories were shut
down until the major earthquakes and aftershocks were over (Oskin, 2013). Sea walls can be
found all along the coast of Japan, however most were either destroyed or not strong enough to
withstand the tsunami waves that hit the Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures, areas hit by
the earthquake and tsunami (Supparsi, Shuto, Imamura, Koshimura, Mas, & Cevdet Yalciner,
2013). Much discussion and new engineering plans would need to take place. In addition, Japan
recently suffered a volcanic eruption at Mount Ontake, which erupted without notice, placing
dozens of people in danger and ultimately killing more than fifty people (Mount Ontake,
2014). Nozawa, Watanabe, Katada, Minami, and Yamamoto (2008) note the early warning
systems for earthquakes, volcanoes, typhoons and other climate hazards make it easier to
evacuate people. These early warning systems have saved lives and prevented more human
casualties during these catastrophic events. As well as volcanoes and earthquakes, Japan is also
plagued by frequent floods, a product of strong typhoon storms that ravage the country during
the summer (Nozawa et al, 2008). Typhoon storms can become even more dangerous if the

JAPAN AN ISLAND NATION

current climate change trend continues. If the temperature rises, Japan will experience stronger
typhoon storms along with more frequent heatwaves (Climate Change, n.d.). Coupled with
concerns for natural environmental concerns and climate change, environmental issues, such as
air pollution and nuclear power, are at the core of citizens and governments concern. Japan is the
fifth largest emitter of greenhouses in the world, but the government still plans to reduce its
emissions (Japan cuts, 2013). After the Fukushima disaster, Japan had to reallocate its energy
source. Nuclear energy had given Japan about a quarter of its energy (Japan cuts, 2013).
Young, environmentally conscious citizens are wary of returning to nuclear power to energize the
country again. The Fukushima disaster was the worst nuclear incident since Chernobyl, effecting
Japan by the radiation and even countries beyond Japan (Ogawa, 2013). The nuclear accident has
fired up anti-nuclear sentiments. Consequently, because of the environmental hazardous equated
with Japanese topography, the people and government have had to adapt to the land. The island
nation of Japans physical geography offers up much variety from snow peaked mountains to
tropical like beach fronts. Although the land limits the settlement and movement of people, Japan
has been able to foster cultural and economic growth side by side with the land.

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