2. Feudal Japan

3. Japan is an archipelago…a chain of islands. About 3,500 islands make up this chain.

4. There are four main islands with Honshu being the largest. Tokyo is on Honshu.

5. The Japan of today ships automobiles and electronics all over the world.

6. From 1600-1800 Japan lived in self-isolation.

7. The Japanese cut themselves off from Europeans and Americans.

8. Japan is part of the Ring of Fire so there is a lot of tectonic activity. There are 7,500 earthquakes per year.

9. Japan lived in clans each having their own chief.

11. In A.D. 400, the Yamato clan claimed power.

12. The Legend of Amaterasu

13. The god and goddess were strolling on the rainbow bridge that led from the sky to the sea below.

14. They dipped a jeweled spear into the ocean and shook it into the sky.

15. Drops of the sea spray became the first island of Japan.