1.

Japan
Japan is an archipelago (group of islands) of volcanic islands in the North
Pacific Ocean. About 80% of the country is covered by high, steep sides.

Location: japan is located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies on ‘the Pacific Ring of
Fire’, where several continental plates meet; hence it experiences about 1500
earthquakes per year. The strongest earthquake was recorded in 2011, it
measured 9 on Richter scale it caused a massive tsunami and a nuclear
accident (what is a tsunami?). Japan has about 200 volcanoes.

 The islands stretch from the sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East
China Sea in the South.
 It is boarded by the Pacific Ocean in the North and East, by Philippine
Sea and East China Sea in the South and Sea of Japan in the West.

Neighbouring countries

 Since Japan is completely surrounded by the Pacific Ocean it shares

maritime borders with China, North Korea, South Korea, the
Philippines, Russia and Taiwan.

The main islands

 Hokkaido- the second highest island connected to Honshu by an

undersea tunnel
 Honshu- the largest island with a population 100million, ranked the
second most populous island in the world after Java. Tokyo the
largest city in Japan is found here.
 Shikoku- the smallest connected to Honshu by several bridges.
 Kyushu-the third largest, where Japan’s most active volcano Mount
Also is found.

Industrial development in Japan

Most of the manufacturing industries are found in a region called Pacific

Industrial belt.it runs from Kanto plain in Honshu to Northern Kyushu. This belt
covers a number of conurbations such as Tokyo-Yokohama, Osaka-Kobe and
Nagoya.

Why are Industries located on the south coastal areas?

 It is easier and cheaper to import and export goods.

 The gently slopes makes it suitable for industrial development.
 Transport networks are well developed in the coastal areas.
 The densely populated areas provide labour and market for the goods.
 The relief and soil is suitable for agriculture.

Industry location
Heavy industries: Nagoya, Osaka, Yokohama
shipbuilding industries
Motorcar assembly Nagoya, Osaka, Yokohama

Iron and steel industries Nagoya, Osaka, Yokohama

Chemical production industries- Osaka, Otsuka
fertilisers, soaps, rubber,
Aerospace industries-produce aircraft Kawasaki, Nagoya
and their parts
Light industries: Tokyo, Osaka, sakari,
Precision instruments- cameras, Hiroshima, Okinawa
microscope, telescope

Textiles, rayon and silk(synthetic fibre),

cotton Osaka, Fukushima
Tokyo, Osaka
Ceramics clay products- dinner sets
Tokyo, Osaka, Okinawa,
Electronics- computers, mobile phones, Hiroshima
robots, television, video recorders

Explain how success was achieved in industrial development

 Machine guns factories were redesigned to produce sewing machines

instead of weapons of war.
  The education and training systems were geared towards producing
highly skilled labour force.
 The government encouraged the creation job opportunities for all rather
than supporting unemployed citizens who do not contribute to the
economy.
 To increase production especially cars, robots and skilled manpower is
used.
 Japan sent people to USA and Europe to learn about technology.
 The attitude of Japanese towards work, they are highly skilled,
disciplined and very committed to their work.
 There is a good relationship between the government and the private
sector and policies that encouraged economic growth guided industrial
development.
 Optical weapons factories were converted to make consumer goods
such as camera and binoculars.
 The government invested in building industrial and public infrastructure,
she has efficient roads, railways, harbours, factory shells and airports.
 There was a close cooperation between manufacturers, suppliers,
distributors and bankers. This cooperation promoted industrial
development.

Explain the advantages Japan has for industrial development

 Japan has abundant supply of a highly educated and skilled labour force.
 The large population provide a huge internal market for local products.
 Availability of reliable supply of electricity produced from the fast
flowing rivers.
 Japan is close to large international markets from neighbouring
countries, China, USA, and South Korea.
 Japanese education is orientated towards industry and people are
trained in manufacturing.
 Japan has deep natural sea ports making transportation costs cheaper.
 Japan has a well-developed transport network, e.g. railway links and
harbours.
  Japanese workers and loyal and hardworking they place their interest in
their companies and their country.

Explain the limitations japan has for industrial development

 Japan does not have the essential minerals for industrial development she imports
them such as iron ore, crude oil coal copper.
 The immigration laws restrict the movement of people into Japan thus limiting the
number of possible investors that would contribute to the industrial development
of the country.
 Japan has an ageing population which pose a threat to industrial development
because in the future Japan will have a shortage of skilled labour force working in
the industries and a reduced market size since the population will be small too.
 About 80% of the land is mountainous, that means there is very little land available
for industrial development and residential.

Features of agricultural farming in Japan

There is a serious shortage of land for farming in Japan, about 13% is used for agriculture.
Mountain slopes are terraced to create land for farming, (what are terraces). The main crop
grown is rice which is grown in rice paddy fields on terraced slopes, wetlands, alluvial plains.
Other crops grown are sweet potatoes, barley, soybeans, vegetables and wheat. To increase
food production intercropping is practised since farm holdings are small. Farm machinery is
used for ploughing, sowing, weeding and harvesting. Farm chemicals are used too to
improve the yield. Organic and inorganic fertilisers are used to improve soil conditions and
improve the yield.

Rice farming

 To create rice paddies, the earth is raised on the sides and some outlets are made to
control the flow of water. The fields are then flooded with water, rice seedlings are
transplanted in the fields. Weeding, application of fertilisers and pest control is
done to get a high yield. After harvesting rice cobs are threshed to get rice grains.
 Inputs; labour, capital, rice seeds, machinery (tractors) and irrigation systems. Land.
Rainfall or water, sunshine, warm temperature (210C), clay soil.
 Processes; ploughing, terracing, fertilisation, flooding, transplanting, weeding, pest
control, harvesting, threshing.
 Outputs; white or brown rice, rice seeds,
 Uses of rice; to make alcohol, vinegar, rice flour, rice bran.

What are problems faced by agriculture industry?

  Limited land for farming (shortage of arable land).
 Shortage of farm labourers because of ageing population.
 Japanese take farming as apart time job.
 Reduction in use of chemical in urban farms lead to poor yields.
 High land values (taxes) in urban areas discourages farmers.
 Farmers concentrate in rice production and overlook other crops.
 Natural disasters like typhoons and volcanoes destroy the crop.

What can be done to solve these problems?

 The government should encourage the youth to take over farming.

 The government should provide incentives to farmers to encourage them to do
farming on full time basis.
 Urban farmers should be exempted from paying high taxes.
 Encourage farmers to use organic fertilisers.
 Encourage farmers to diversify their farm produce.
 Farmers take advantage of the long growing season by planting rice twice a year.
 Heavy machinery is used to clear land and terrace the slopes to create more land
for farming.
 Japanese practice intercropping, which is the growing of different crops in one field
in different rows.

Fishing in Japan

Name the fishing grounds and type of fish caught


 Sea of japan- mackerelmarkerel, sardine, salmon, crab, pilchard
 Arctic ocean-whale
 Pacific ocean-sardinesardines

Uses of fish

 Sold as fresh fish

 Processed as canned fish
 Used to make fish oil
 Used to make fish oil
 Used to make fish sauce
 Poor quality is used to make fertiliser and fish glue.

Factors promoting fishing in Japan

 the Japanese fishing grounds are rich in plankton (fish feed)

 Fish is the main source of protein in Japan.
  Where the warm Kuroshio and cold Kurile current meet, a large variety of fish is
found there.
 Japan has a large continental shelf that promotes fishing.
 The indented coastline provides good conditions for fish to breed.
 Advanced fishing technology is used for fishing, such as the use of trawlers.

Fishing methods used

 Onshore fishing- small vessels are used along the coast.

 Offshore fishing- large vessels are used in deep sea away from the coast, the boats
are refregarated.

Problems of fishing in Japan

 Japan is involved in disputes with other countries over fishing rights and limits.
 Toxic waste deposited in the ocean kills fish.
 Oil slicks are a general problem that faces the fishing industry in Japan. Oil tanker
sometimes burst in the ocean and kill fish because spilled fish prevent the sunlight
from reaching the sea floor and deprive fish of oxygen.
 Overfishing is a problem along the coast.

Solutions

 Restocking of overfished waters.

 Protection laws againstfrom pollution.
 International agreements a signed with other marine countries concerning fishing
rights and limits.
 Fishing companies obtain licenses before they fish to prevent overfishing.

The silkworm industry

Characteristics

 Silkworm feed on the mulberry tree, farmers plant it in rows.

 Farmers buy the silkworm eggs from special producers.
 Women and children care for the silkworms.
 The silkworms spin cocoons around themselves made of silk fibre.
 This silk fibre is then harvested to produce raw silk thread.
 At the end of the silkworm season farmers prune the trees to the ground to
maintain the high quality.

Problems facing the silkworm industry

 There is a shortage of silkworms because they are only found in few areas, Honshu,
Shikoku and Kyushu.
 Shortage of skilled labour.
 High production costs make it expensive to produce silk.
 Competition with synthetic silk producing countries.
Geography of less economically
developed countries