CENTRO AMERICANO DE ESTUDIOS SUPERIORES

Inc. A la Secretaría de Educación Pública

CLAVE: 04MSU0017L

TEMA:

JAPON-CULTURE-GLOBAL WARMING

ALUMNO:

LUIS ANGEL HIDALGO LOPEZ

PROFESOR:

ANA PACHECO REYES

CIUDAD DEL CARMEN, CAMPECHE A 08 DE JUNIO 2024

Japanese Culture

Japanese culture is a set of values that puts importance on social

harmony and hard work. Up until the 10th century, Japanese culture was similar
to the Chinese culture, but the rise of the samurai in the Heian
Period and the isolation during the Edo Period changed the rules of society.
Overall, the culture was influenced by the local Shinto religion, Buddhism,
Confucianism and the limited natural resources.

While Japanese lifestyle has been Westernized recently, Japanese people still do
everything possible to preserve their rich cultural heritage by practicing tea
ceremony, wearing kimono and studying traditional arts and crafts from early
childhood.
Japanese culture, with its more than 2,600 years of rich history, represents a
fascinating synthesis of ancient traditions and adaptations over time. Its roots,
heavily influenced by China in its origins, have undergone notable transformations,
especially in the period following the devastating atomic bombs dropped on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.
This evolutionary process marked a milestone in Japan's cultural history, leading
it to adopt a new constitution that advocated democracy and individual rights.
Western influence became more evident in fields such as music, fashion, and film,
marking an openness to foreign influences and a shift toward demilitarization and
the promotion of peace as fundamental values in Japanese society.
Among the distinctive features of Japanese culture, the Japanese language
occupies a central place. In addition, the strong influence of China is reflected in
religion, architecture and crafts.
Two predominant religions, indigenous Shintoism and Buddhism imported from
China, coexist in a syncretistic relationship that has shaped Japanese spirituality
over the centuries.
Interpersonal relationships in Japan are deeply rooted in the concept of "giri," a
set of honors, duties, and obligations that govern social interactions. Traditional
clothing, symbolized by the majestic kimono, remains an important part of
Japanese culture, although today it is mainly reserved for special occasions.
Japanese cuisine, recognized worldwide, finds its essence in the simplicity and
freshness of ingredients such as fish, rice and seaweed. This culinary approach
has become a hallmark of Japanese culture, with the tea ceremony and attention
to the aesthetic presentation of dishes.
In recent decades, Japanese cinema has gained great prominence, with anime
standing out as a unique and distinctive form of artistic expression. Furthermore,
haikus, short poems that capturethe essence of nature and everyday life, are a
literary tradition that has endured over time.
Religion in Japan presents a notable duality. Almost 50% of the population
practices Shintoism, an indigenous religion that celebrates tradition, family and
connection with nature. Buddhism, introduced from China more than fifteen
centuries ago, has been intertwined with the Japanese cultural fabric, giving rise
to religious expressions that combine both beliefs in a synergistic way.
In the field of fine arts, Japan has left a distinctive artistic legacy. From sumi-e
painting to ikebana floral art, Japanese artistic expression is characterized by its
attention to detail and connection to nature. Traditional Japanese theater, with
forms such as noh and kabuki, has endured through the centuries, featuring
masked performances, mythical narratives, and a unique fusion of acting, singing,
and dance.
Japanese architecture is a tangible testament to the influence of China and local
sensibilities. Temples and sanctuaries exhibit wooden roofs and a layout that
respects the topography of the landscape, showing a harmonious connection with
nature. Over the last century, Japanese architecture has achieved a synthesis
between tradition and modernity, incorporating Western elements in a careful and
balanced way.
Traditional Japanese clothing, epitomized by the kimono, reflects elegance and
solemnity on formal occasions. Footwear like the geta, pants like the hakama and
sashes like the obi complement this rich tradition.
In sports, Japan has cultivated a wide variety of disciplines, from traditional
martial arts such as karate and judo to Western sports such as baseball, soccer
and table tennis. This sporting diversity reflects the versatility and adaptability of
Japanese culture over time.
In short, Japanese culture is a unique amalgamation of ancient traditions and
modern adaptations. From its distinctive language to its artistic expressions and
religious practices, Japan remains a cultural melting pot that embodies a rich
heritage and a continuing ability to fuse the traditional with the contemporary
Characteristics of the culture of Japan Some of the main characteristics of Japan's
culture are:
•The most spoken language is Japanese.
• It is greatly influenced by Chinese culture, especially religion, architecture and
crafts.
• The two predominant religions are Shintoism, indigenous to Japan, and
Buddhism, imported from China.
• Interpersonal relationships are governed by the giri, a set of honors, duties and
obligations that must be respected.
• The typical traditional clothing is the kimono, although currently it is used only
for special occasions.
• Fish, rice and seaweed are the basis of its cuisine.
• In recent decades, Japanese cinema became very relevant, especially anime. •
Short poems known as haikus are a tradition of Japanese literature.
• It has a great sporting tradition, and the city of Tokyo hosted the Olympic Games
in 196964 and 2020.
Likewise, dance in Japanese culture has been an artistic expression rooted in the
country's history. Over the centuries, Japan incorporated dance styles from
mainland Asia and developed various types of dances that were practiced in
monasteries and shrines. Traditional Japanese theater has also endured through
the centuries and encompasses a wide variety of forms and styles. Noh features
masked actors acting out mythical and literary stories and is accompanied by
traditional music and elaborate kimonos. Kabuki, for its part, was developed in the
Edo period (17th-18th centuries), and is a theatrical form that combines acting,
singing, dancing and physical skills.
One of the most popular traditions in Japan is cherry blossom season. All over
Japan from March to May, crowds flock to parks to see the stunning flowers
blossoming. Friends and family will bring a picnic filled with delicious sweets. The
picnic is called ‘hanabi’ - literally ‘flower watching’! Cherry Blossom (or ‘Sakura’)
season is so beloved to the Japanese, that the news tells you where the flowers
have already blossomed. Much like a weather report! We have this
lovely Cardboard Tube Blossom Tree Craft activity that bring a lesson
on Japanalive!

Even though the main religions of Japan are Buddhism and Shintoism (a
polytheistic religion native to Japan), Japanese people celebrate Christmas. You’ll
never guess what they eat on Christmas day. Kentucky Fried Chicken and
strawberry cake! Dating back to the 1970s, this was intended to be a replacement
meal for the American turkey dinner. To show children photos of Japan’s beautiful
traditions and culture.
Japan's Geography

Part of the continent of Asia, Japan is an island country. The country is located in
East Asia and stretches from the northern coast of Russia to the South
East China Sea. Japan is in fact not just one island, but many - making it an
archipelago. The main (and largest) island is called Honshu. This is where you’ll
find capital city Tokyo and Kyoto. Up north, you have Hokkaido island - home to
snowy Sapporo city. The largest southern islands are called Shikoku and Kyushu.
If we were to count all the islands, there would be more than 6,800!
Sitting in the Northern Hemisphere, Japan is often referred to as ‘the land of the
rising sun’. This is because the Japanese word for ‘Japan’ (‘Nippon’) means ‘sun
origin’! Interestingly, the English word for the country is based on the Chinese
pronunciation of 'Nippon'. It was introduced to European languages in the 13th
century, when the West began trading with the East.
The last census in 2019 reported that there’s approximately 126 million people
living in Japan. This is nearly double than the UK, which has a population of around
66.65 million. Considering Japan isn’t that much bigger than the UK (377,975
km² vs. 242,495 km
What are the main geographical features of Japan?
Japan is known for its diverse landscapes and climate. The north island, Hokkaido,
has long, cold winters. In fact, one of its main attractions is the Sapporo Ice
Festival! There you will find amazing ice sculptures and architecture. Meanwhile,
the southernmost island Kyushu has a subtropical climate. This leads to typhoons,
which occur in early autumn.
Speaking of natural disasters, Japan is located in what’s known as the ‘Ring of
Fire’. This is a horse-shoe shaped region of the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes
and volcanic eruptions are likely to occur. Japan has more than 100
active volcanoes, and records the most earthquakes in the world every year.
Sadly, Japan is also known for its tsunamis. The word ‘tsunami’ means ‘harbour
wave’ in Japanese. In 2011, there were devastating tsunamis in Tōhoku that killed
more than 20,000 people. Natural disaster preparation is such an integral part of
Japanese life that during Disaster Prevention Week (1st-5th September), children
are educated about how to stay safe if such an event should happen.
Three quarters of the country is mountainous, which means most of the population
live in narrow coastal areas. This makes it one of the most densely populated
countries in the world. About a third live in and around Tokyo! The Japanese Alps
divide the main island (Honshu) in the middle. The peaks are up to 3,000 meters
high!
Japan's Economic
Activity Current Situation of Economic Activity. The current situation of economic
activity in Japan.
Japan's economy has recovered moderately, with the materialization of pent-up
demand, i.e., demand that had been suppressed during the pandemic, and a waning
of supply-side constraints.
In the household sector, private consumption has increased moderately and
steadily, as pent-up demand has materialized, mainly for accommodations as well
as eating and drinking. In addition, inbound tourism demand has recovered rapidly
as entry restrictions to Japan have been lifted.
Turning to the corporate sector, activity for the nonmanufacturing industry has
improved due to a recovery in private consumption. In the manufacturing industry,
the favorable effects of an increase in automobile production, which reflects a
waning of supply-side constraints for semiconductors, have spilled over to related
industries. In this situation, exports have been at higher levels than before the
pandemic. Corporate profits reached a new peak for the April-June quarter of
2023, partly due to progress in the Corporate profits reached a new peak for the
April-June quarter of 2023, partly due to progress in the 2 pass-through of cost
increases to selling prices, and business fixed investment has continued to see
firm developments.
Although real GDP for the April-June quarter showed that domestic demand was
somewhat weak, this improving trend in economic activity is likely to continue.
However, pent-up demand and the waning of supply-side constraints, which have
been driving economic recovery so far, cannot be expected by their nature to
continue for long. In terms of economic developments after these tailwinds have
subsided, it will be important to examine two points.
The first involves developments in overseas economies. As inflation rates have
turned to a clear decline, the real economies of the United States and other
countries have been firm and expectations for a soft landing have heightened. At
this point, however, inflation rates are still somewhat high relative to the central
bank targets. It is difficult to predict whether it is possible to maintain economic
growth while bringing inflation rates back down to these targets. In the United
States, some indicators suggest a softening in the labor market, such as a decline
in the number of job openings; on the other hand, wages have continued to grow
at a high rate and there is a possibility that the inflation rate will not decline as
much as expected. In addition, continued attention is warranted on the risk that
the impact of rapid interest rate hikes to date will turn out to be significant, with
a lag, on both the real economy and the financial system. Moreover, due attention
needs to be paid to the impact that developments in U.S. financial conditions have
on global financial and foreign exchange markets. The slowdown in the pace of
pick-up in the Chinese economy is also of concern. The recent weakness in the
economy may be attributable to structural factors such as adjustments in the real
estate market and a high youth unemployment rate. As there seem to be high
uncertainties surrounding the momentum for economic recovery in China, the
Bank will closely monitor developments in the economy
JAPAN-FOOD
Cuisine is a product of cultural imagination and is thought to include the range of
practices and preferences that are shared broadly across the members of a
society as they prepare and partake of food. This culinary imagination reflects,
therefore, a loose agreement on a common and sustained template of cuisine as
something definable and distinctive, something with more-or-less known qualities
and boundaries. In the case of Japan, this self-defined (or self-appreciated)
template includes a key element: fresh or raw ingredients. Most cultures frame
their ideas about food culture around concepts such as the bounty of the land and
the changing seasons, the natural world.
Food is nature transformed by culture, and culture is a powerful force with which
to fasten symbolism and meaning to the mundane facts of life, such as cooking
and eating. In the following sections, we sketch some of the most significant
aspects of cultural symbolism, ideas about tradition, and other aspects of
Japanese food culture, belief, and food lore seen— as they so often are—as stable
and relatively unchanging. One of the most central of culinary things in Japan, in
both practical and symbolic terms, is rice.
Rice cultivation is a hallmark of East and Southeast Asian agriculture, where
seasonal monsoons provide the water necessary for elaborate irrigation systems.
Japanese civilization developed around rice cultivation, made indigenous through
the myths and rituals of Shinto religion that are closely tied to rice (as well as to
the gods who gave mythological rise to the Japanese imperial line). Many Shinto
rituals are linked to the calendar of rice production, and even the present-day
emperor annually transplants rice seedlings in a paddy inside the Imperial Palace
at the center of Tokyo.
The emperor celebrates not only the ritual event of rice planting but also the flow
of the agricultural year: cuisine is constructed across calendars that reflect many
dimensions, including concepts of seasonality. Even in a globalized food system
that delivers products from around the world without much regard for month of
the year, Japanese food culture places great emphasis on seasons. Seasonality
defines varieties of seafood, not just by availability and quality, but also by their
essential characteristics. That is, fish of the same species may be known by
different names depending on the time of year they are caught, their size, their
maturity, or the location where they are taken (all of which may be closely
interrelated).
This degree of concern over hyper-seasonality is most pronounced in top-end
restaurants and among professional chefs, food critics, and travel writers.
Culinary seasonality is complemented by many other traditional contexts of
Japanese culture that mark divisions of the year through such things as
wellknown poetic allusions, customary greetings, or color combinations and
patterns (of kimono, for example) that are appropriate to and emblematic of the
rapidly passing seasons. Closely related to notions of seasons are so-called
hatsumono (first things), the first products of a season: the first bonito; the first
apples from Aomori; the first tuna of the year to be auctioned at Tsukiji. Stores,
restaurant menus, and the mass media trumpet the arrival of the “first” as a
harbinger of the season. For true connoisseurs of Japanese cuisine, the first
products (of whatever kind) may be awaited with as much excitement as wine-
lovers (in Tokyo as much as in Paris) muster for the arrival of a new vintage from
an exalted vintner. Culinary calendars also mark events, holidays, and festivities
that occasion particular kinds of foods.
The celebration of the New Year has many food associations, ranging from the
simple act of eating especially long noodles on New Year’s Eve to ensure long life
and prosperity to the extremely elaborate banquets for the holiday itself. Many
osechi (New Year’s foods) have auspicious meanings based on color combinations
(lobsters and crabs, for example, combine celebratory red and white) or double
meanings (the word “tai” for sea bream also means “congratulations”).
Osechi is served in elaborate sets of stacking and nesting lacquered boxes and
trays, and the food is prepared in advance, the folklore being that housewives
should be spared from cooking during the holiday. In the past, cooking fires were
supposed to be extinguished during the first days of the New Year.
Bentō: Portable Meals One of the most common ways that Japanese consume food
outside the home is bentō (sometimes more formally called o-bentō, the “o” being
an honorific). Bentō are box lunches, carefully packed into compartmentalized
containers, with small portions of cooked meat, poultry, or fish; one or two
vegetable dishes; and always a good serving of boiled rice. In the past, bentō were
served in elaborate lacquered boxes; today the lacquer is reserved for special
occasions. Workers and students carry homemade bentō in plastic or metal
containers on their daily commutes or buy bentō in disposable packages from
retailers in stations, at specialized take-out shops, or at the ubiquitous konbini.
Bentō are available everywhere and are the midday meal for millions of students
and workers. Travelers also pick them up as a treat for a journey and may bring
bentō home as gifts containing famous local culinary specialties. Homemakers
often lavish enormous amounts of attention on the ingredients and cooking
techniques, as well as on the appearance of the bentō itself, which reflects well
on her skills. Some go to extraordinary lengths to craft bentō in the image of
cartoon characters and other fanciful scenes (examples of which are easily found
on the Internet). Although some schools allow bentō, many public schools instead
serve hot lunches in the classroom. This assures that all students eat equally
nutritious meals, social status is not highlighted in the richness or meagerness of
food brought from home, and students shoulder responsibility by serving food
themselves and cleaning up afterward.

In broader terms, Japanese foodways have become a focus of contemporary

discussions among journalists, business leaders, diplomats, and other government
officials about “Cool Japan” or “Japan’s Gross National Cool,” a term coined by the
American journalist Douglas McGray.4 “Cool Japan” is the product of Japan’s so-
called “content industries”—such as anime, manga, video games, fashion, music,
Hello Kitty, and, yes, cuisine—that have generated highly popular (and highly
profitable) markets for things Japanese outside of Japan, all the more noteworthy
during the past couple of decades in which the Japanese economy as a whole has
only stuttered along. The “content industries” (or culture industries) are the
beacons of “Cool Japan” and are officially promoted by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. Domestically, Japanese cuisine is very well branded as a cultural
product—an icon of national cultural identity. Internationally, for both foreign
observers and food tourists, Japanese cuisine is part of the enticement of Japan’s
“soft power” (the ability to project attractive cultural influence without
international coercion). Clearly “soft power” works! A 2008 Japanese government
survey revealed that the leading reason foreign tourists gave for visiting Japan
(64.5 percent) was “to eat Japanese cuisine.
The Japanese cuisine is considered to be one of the healthiest in the world. This
could be because there’s plenty of fish in their diet. The tradition of eating fish
instead of meat arose from Buddhist dietary practices. The most famous food is
sushi, normally comprising sushi rice and raw fish. Many believe that sushi should
be eaten with chopsticks, when in fact it’s perfectly normal to eat with your hands!
JAPAN- GLOBAL WARMING
Asia, including Japan, is warming faster than the global average, as the trend has
nearly doubled since the 1961-1990 period and many countries in the region
observed their hottest year on record in 2023, according to a U.N. weather agency.
The annual mean near-surface temperature over Asia last year was the second
highest on record, particularly high from western Siberia to central Asia and from
eastern China to Japan, with Japan seeing its hottest summer on record, the World
Meteorological Organization said in its report released in late April.
"It's possible that the rate of warming in some regions may be too fast for fish to
adapt, and so relocating may be their best coping strategy," said Carolin Dahms,
lead author on a separate study by the University of Glasgow.
Shaun Killen, senior author of the study, said that though relocation to cooler
water may allow these species to persist in the short term, it is necessary to keep
a close eye on how food webs and ecosystems will be influenced by these changes.
How has Japan been addressing climate change issues?
The transition to a decarbonized society is accelerating in countries around the
world, as well as the business sector and civil society. How about Japan?
Japan has shown her presence in international climate change negotiations since
1997 when the Kyoto Protocol was adopted at the 3rd Conference of the Parties of
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP3) in Kyoto. Being
recognized as a country with advanced energy-efficient and environmentally
sound technologies, Japan has been contributing to international cooperation in
the field of climate change in various ways as well.
However, the performance of Japan up to 2013 was not satisfactory (see the
attached Diagram1. on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions of Japan), in particular,
after the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011. Since then, dependence
on coal-fired power has increased as well as GHG emissions which have increased
substantially.
 (Diagram1. Trends of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Japan)

In May 2016, based on the Act on Promotion of Global Warming Countermeasures,

the Cabinet approved Japan’s Plan for Global Warming Countermeasures and the
Government Action Plan. The Plan for Global Warming Countermeasures is Japan’s
comprehensive plan for dealing with global warming. Based on the Paris
Agreement and Japan’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution submitted to
the United Nations in July 2015, it establishes a medium-term goal (to be achieved
by FY2030) of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26% compared to the FY2013
level, and a long-term goal of reducing them by 80% by 2050. It also outlines
measures to be taken by business operators, citizens, and other entities, as well
as measures to be taken by national and local governments to enable the
achievement of the Plan’s goals.
The Government of Japan decided by the Cabinet on June 11, 2019, shortly before
the G20 Summit in Osaka, to put into place the “Long-term Growth Strategy based
on the Paris Agreement” (hereinafter, “Long-Term Strategy”).
The Long-Term Strategy sets forth a vision of achieving a “decarbonized society”
as early as possible in the second half of this century. To enable it, Japan needs to
realize a “virtuous cycle of environment and growth” through business-led
disruptive innovation, which is included as a basic concept. Japan’s Long-Term
Strategy, like the one in EU, is positioned as an investment strategy, and states that
“we will lead international discussions including the creation of frameworks and
standards in the field of climate change in the future.”
For Japan to take the lead and become a role model in global climate change
measures, it is imperative that at the government level they take several
measures: 1) set ambitious GHG reduction targets such as 40-50% reduction by
2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050, 2) radically reform current coal-fired power
policy, including stopping construction of new coal-fired power plants, and
discontinue providing financial assistance for the construction of coal-fired power
plants abroad, and 3) to introduce full-fledged carbon pricing.
By setting clear and ambitious targets and identifying innovative pathways to
transition to a zero-carbon society, Japan can exert its leadership in the
international community through cooperating with other nations. At the same
time, the government can boost investment in the private sector by sending a clear
and positive signal to the business community on climate change, which has
become a very important issue in business decisions today.
Also, major changes to the current Energy Basic Plan are needed. According to the
current Fifth Strategic Energy Plan, power sources in 2030 will be “26% coal-fired
power, 22-24% renewable energy, and 20-22% nuclear power.” Coal-fired and
nuclear power plants have large numbers and renewable energy is too small. In
the sixth revision, these figures must be drastically changed to increase
renewable energy and reduce dependence on coal and nuclear.
In the world, not only climate change but also various social and technological
changes are taking place simultaneously. How can we draw innovative transition
pathways to a zero-carbon society in this rapidly changing world?
In innovative transition pathways, electrification would progress in all areas of the
home, business, transportation, and industry; and the efficiency of energy use per
service would increase. In the industrial sector, the use of hydrogen for some high
heat demands and the use of hydrogen as a raw material will increase. As a result,
a society that uses little fossil fuels will be established. Almost all of the energy
will be provided by renewable energy. Eliminating the use of fossil fuels will also
reduce fossil fuel imports by around ¥19 trillion compared to that of 2015.
At the same time, due to the thorough efficiency of energy use, the required
amount of energy will fall within the domestic renewable energy potential. As a
result, the use of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) can be kept to a minimum, so
that highly available domestic CO2 reservoirs can be used for a long time.
Utilizing innovative transition pathways is the direction that Japan should aim
towards to achieve a zero-carbon society. To that end, it is necessary to introduce
various measures in all sectors of society. This cannot be done by one organization
alone but must be positioned as a national strategy that all stakeholders in Japan
should work for in tandem. In particular, for those infrastructures that will be used
for a long time, such as buildings, large-scale power generation facilities, and
equipment in the industrial sector, a long-term plan should be set immediately.
When taking advantage of the opportunities for renewing various facilities,
significant changes must be made to adapt to the social change in the future. It is
critical to respond to social changes in advance.
If such new and innovative transition pathways can be realized in Japan, including
changes in technology, social systems, and lifestyles to a zero-carbon and
sustainable economy, there is a high possibility that Japan will greatly contribute
to transitioning to a more sustainable world.
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