It is only common knowledge that the majority of the Japanese population resides in Japan. As mentioned, Japan consist of many islands, although the four principal ones are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. The Asian Sea separates Japan from the Asian continent. The area of Japan can be compared to that of Germany or California. Over 50% of the country is mountainous and covered by forests. Politically, the country is structured into 8 regions and 47 prefectures, or districts. The population is about 125 million, out of which 97.5% are Japanese.
Approximately 78% of the country’s inhabitants live in urban areas. Tokyo is by far the most populated city with nearly 9 million residents. The meeting of several continental plates in the region is the reason for frequent earthquakes and the existence of volcanoes. The climate varies depending on the region of Japan. In most major cities, the climate is temperate to subtropical, where winters are mild and summers hot and humid. The rainy season in early summer causes typhoons. In the northern island of Hokkaido, the coast is colder and snow falls in large amounts.
Japan and the Japanese
Japanese Outside of Japan
During the Meiji Restoration in the late 1800s, the government was restructured and many social systems, such as feudalism, were altered or dismantled. The overwhelming change disrupted the lives of many, with urbanization and industrialization contributing, forcing them to look for opportunity. Such was found within the Americas, particularly Brazil and the United States.
Japanese in Brazil
As mentioned, Brazil actually houses the largest Japanese population outside of Japan, amounting to 1.5 million. The opportunity offered within Brazil was the increasing demand for coffee and laborers. Unfortunately, those hopeful of returning to their home country did not make much money, and thus stayed within Brazil. Many Japanese settled within the city of São Paulo.
Japanese in the United States
The United States houses the third largest Japanese population with approximately 1.3 million people of Japanese descent. Between 1886 and 1911, over 400,000 Japanese men and women left Japan for the U.S. Significant emigration continued for over a decade. Hawaii and America’s Pacific Coast were the most popular destinations. As such, the city of Honolulu shows a significant amount of Japanese citizens, along with the Californian cities of Torrance and Gardena. The opportunity to work in railroads was the primary draw factor.