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Background: In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For 250 years this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Following the Treaty of Kanagawa with the United States in 1854, Japan opened its ports and began to intensively modernize and industrialize. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. It occupied Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. In 1933 Japan occupied Manchuria and in 1937 it launched a full-scale invasion of China. Japan attacked US forces in 1941 - triggering America's entry into World War II - and soon occupied much of East and Southeast Asia. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and a staunch ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, actual power rests in networks of powerful politicians, bureaucrats, and business executives. The economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the 1990s following three decades of unprecedented growth, but Japan still remains a major economic power, both in Asia and globally. In 2005, Japan began a two-year term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.




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By Erieru
October 1st 2009
The last days... Asia » Japan » Hokkaido » Sapporo
As of tomorrow, there are only four more days of school left until I leave for home. And, sad as I am to be leaving Japan, I will be so very, very, happy to be on my house with my oven again. Ecstatically happy to be reunited with my oven again. Sorry everyone. >_< Also, as a result of of the short time span I have left here, Naganuma-sensei has been planning my days like mad to include various club activities and electives. She's so considerate, especially since she has a lot of grading to do being the end of the [View Full Entry]

Erieru - Arielle | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
1014 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 0 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 1st 2009 | 24 Views | [diary=441244]


In preparation for our trip, Glenn and I went to the Japan National Tourist Office in Toronto for some information. When we mentioned we were going to Hokkaido, the lady said “Why??? It’s just like Canada!!!”. Hokkaido is considered one of the last frontiers of Japan. There are no less than 5 National Parks on that one island so there is a lot of nature and not a very many people on most of it. In this way, it is like Canada. The scenery is more like the west coast of Canada except the mountains are only in the 6000 ft [View Full Entry]

RanshaReetro - RanshaReetro | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
1430 Words | 1 Comment(s) | 37 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 23rd 2009 | 87 Views | [diary=447395]

Outdoor BBQ grill tent in Kushiro
Helping a whigger out at the BBQ in Kushiro
Dinner on the Grill

Mioka and her family love karaoke. Like, really, really, love it. Mioka and I had to be at school on Saturday due to it being the 60th anniversary, but Mioka's mother and brother went to sing at the local karaoke joint. The 60th anniversary "celebration" took place in a concert hall by Odori Station, and consisted of speeches and a concert. Many of the previous principles and staff were there to make appearances, and each of the four principles had to make a speech. Speeches alone took about and hour to and hour and a half! Not the most interesting thing [View Full Entry]

Erieru - Arielle | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
952 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 0 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: September 28th 2009 | 28 Views | [diary=440409]


Wednesday 16th September to Wednesday 23rd September The home of indigenous peoples. The land of the gods. A geological textbook of volcanic landforms. The brewery of Japan. Home to it's last wilderness. Hokkaido can be described in many terms, but all of them identify it's unique nature both in Japan and in this part of the world. The northern-most island of 'mainland' Japan, it's climate is that of Siberia, which is only a few miles across the water from it - from November to April the land is covered in astonishing amounts of snowfall and the sea is full of the [View Full Entry]

Westie4044 - Liz Weston | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
3726 Words | 5 Comment(s) | 63 Photo(s) | 1 Video(s)
Published: September 28th 2009 | 285 Views | [diary=440287]

Mashu-ko and the Ainu 'Isle of the gods'
Sun through clouds
Panorama of Akan National Park

By Erieru
September 21st 2009
Hakodate Asia » Japan » Hokkaido » Hakodate
YAYYYYY! I got to skip school (and thusly Sports Days) on Friday and Thursday. The occasion you ask? Mioka's mother planned a trip to take Mioka and I sightseeing in Hakodate. Hakodate is a small port town about 4 hours away from Sapporo. While we were in Hakodate, otoosan would stay at home because of work, and Mihiro would spend the next three days at his grandmother's. As I mentioned before, Hakodate is about a four hour drive from Sapporo. However, this time frame seems to have been calculated "as the crow flies" rather than taking into acount the actual road [View Full Entry]

Erieru - Arielle | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
497 Words | 4 Comment(s) | 0 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: September 21st 2009 | 42 Views | [diary=438358]


By Erieru
September 14th 2009
Exchange Meeting Asia » Japan » Hokkaido » Sapporo
Today was the echange student meeting, where all the students travelled back to Sapporo to chat with eachother, as well as to inform the Japanese students on the details of their flights to Alberta. And Mioka and I tried to skip. Her mom was willing to let us as Mihiro has caught the new influenza, but, unfotunately Naganuma-sensei made sure we attended by offerering us a ride. Darn. It was a three hour long meeting, with only a five minute break. I definately could have missed. Yasumitai!! However, I did learn an interesting bit of gossip. Apparently, one of the two [View Full Entry]

Erieru - Arielle | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
171 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 0 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: September 14th 2009 | 38 Views | [diary=436419]


By Erieru
September 13th 2009
Directionally Challenged Asia » Japan » Hokkaido » Sapporo
Mioka's finals started on Thursday, and, while this isn't neccessarily the best thing for her, it does make me a bit happy, for school ends at 11:45. And, of course I do not need to take the finals and just get a two hour spare and 1 hour kanji lesson. Of course, being the slacker that I am, I've been napping through my spare, or reading the magazines in the library. I cannot bring myself to stare at my physics text for more than an hour at a time, or at least not when I'm doing questions. It makes me far [View Full Entry]

Erieru - Arielle | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
340 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 0 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: September 13th 2009 | 25 Views | [diary=436142]


By ck64
September 8th 2009
Day 19: Farmlands, Yeehaw Asia » Japan » Hokkaido
Woke up from naka-furano hostel. Took train to Biei. Saw sweet trees and farmland. Later, we took a train to Hakodate to visit "the boss" [View Full Entry]

ck64 - Christopher Northington | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
25 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 0 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: September 9th 2009 | 45 Views | [diary=435190]


Ok, the title lies a bit. But here's yesterday's story. During lunch (because this is obviously the time that weird boys come to visit me), I met another odd boy. He was just passing our classroom in the hall, and noticed me sitting by the door (for this is where my seat is, which doesn't make for a quick get away from weird guys most times >_<). Anyways, he started off just remarking to his friends that I was there and passed me by. Then he came back, popped his head in, and said hi. Ok, all is normal... so far. [View Full Entry]

Erieru - Arielle | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
449 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 0 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: September 8th 2009 | 36 Views | [diary=434836]


By ck64
September 7th 2009
Day 18: Rain and a Cabin Asia » Japan » Hokkaido » Furano
Left Obihiro for Furano. Checked it out, took train the naka-furano. Found location via map with phone number. [View Full Entry]

ck64 - Christopher Northington | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
18 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 0 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: September 9th 2009 | 35 Views | [diary=435188]



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