Page 66 - South Korea & Japan: Temples, Shrines & Seaside Treasures

• Time Zone: Japan is on Japan Standard Time, 14 hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is 6am
in Washington D.C., it is 8pm in Tokyo.

National Holidays: Japan

In addition to the holidays listed below, 05/03 Constitution Memorial Day
Japan celebrates a number of national
05/04 Greenery Day
holidays that follow a lunar calendar. To
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holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.
com/holidays. 11/03 Culture Day

01/01 New Year’s Day 11/23 Labor Thanksgiving Day

02/11 National Foundation Day 12/23 Emperor’s Birthday

04/29 Showa Day 12/25 Christmas

Historical Overview of Japan

Early History

Japan today is one of the world’s most modern countries, but it retains parts of its ancient
past in its customs and daily living habits. The natural drive and restlessness of the Japanese
people manifested itself early on. Japan’s recorded history begins in AD 400 with one group,
the Yamato clan, controlling much of the central and western lands in the country. The
Yamato clan conquered its rivals and also introduced the concept of an imperial court similar
to China’s court. Buddhism was introduced to Japan by way of neighboring Korea at about this
time. Much of the country’s early history prior to the Tokugawa period, which began in 1603,
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neighbors or intruders.

Foreign Influence

Japan, like many of its Asian neighbors, was changed by the waves of foreigners who came
seeking trade and riches. Before the Meiji period (1868-1912), Japan was a closed and secretive
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and Korea and then from Western nations.
In 1543, Portuguese ships brought traders and missionaries to Japan, with Spanish, Dutch,
and English traders soon following. The Tokugawa were a particularly successful family of
warlords or shoguns who managed to take control over most of the country in the early 17th
century. They became distrustful of the foreigners and banned Christianity and for the next
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were allowed to trade at the port of Nagasaki. During this period of isolation the shoguns
controlled the country and divided the people into four classes: samurai (warriors), farmers,

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