How was Japan discovered and how did Japanese culture emerge?
Today's text begins with a question about history: who knows how Japan was discovered? Come and learn a little more about the history of this culture!
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It is undeniable that one of the most popular cultures in the world is Japanese culture. And Japanese immigrants around the world have played a very important role in this popularization.
After all, among many other points, it was through the individual customs of each of them that Japanese culture began to conquer the world and, over the years, became a significant part of most countries in the world.
And it is after praising this rich culture that we announce that Japan will be the theme of our content today.
A culture as important as this deserves to become the main subject of one of our materials. And it was thinking about the origin of this country that we had the idea of creating this content!
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Throughout today's text, you will discover how Japan was discovered and how Japanese culture emerged!
In addition, we will also talk a little more about the historical events that contributed to shaping Japanese culture in general, thus helping to make it one of the most popular and influential in the entire world!
How was Japan discovered?
The vast majority of countries have the same discovery process that we already know.
And much is said about the process of discovery and colonization of various countries around the world. Brazil was discovered in 1500 by the Portuguese and then underwent the colonization process. The United States was discovered and colonized by the English.
Although hundreds of years have passed since these events, the colonization process is what shaped the culture and customs of each country that was discovered throughout history – even though each of them gained its own individual traits over time.
But one country in question raises a lot of doubts regarding this discovery process.
Who knows how Japan was discovered?
Unlike what is expected of a discovered country, Japan follows a different flow.
According to history, the region – which is now where Japan is located – began to be inhabited as early as the 3rd century BC. After hundreds of years, in the 6th century, the region began a process of unification.
And according to what is known, contact with the European people only began in the 16th century. The first contact with the Western world began with Portuguese and Spanish navigators, through the process of commercial exchanges.
But after a certain period of commercial exchanges, a factor began to shake this relationship: the imposition of Christianity by the Portuguese who traded with the Japanese people.
As the Japanese had their own beliefs, local rulers began to view this commercial exchange with disfavor and, over time, came to prohibit both the entry of foreigners and the exit of Japanese from there.
This regime – led by the Tokugawa clan – lasted until 1853, when the North Americans arrived in the country.
Soon after, Japan signed the Treaty of Kanagawa, resulting in the end of Tokugawa rule.
How did Japanese culture come about?
Remember when we mentioned that the first people in the region where Japan is located date back to the 3rd century BC? That says a lot – or rather, little – about the origin of the culture.
Because they are very old, it is difficult to precisely define the origins of Japanese culture.
It is possible to say that, among the various cultures that emerged in this initial period, Japan had already begun to acquire a multifaceted culture and, at the same time, with ancient traditions.
And despite having roots in Chinese culture, the geographical distance between the two countries favored the gradual enrichment of Japanese culture, as it allowed the country to establish the construction of a differentiated and unique cultural model.
But generally speaking, what did not come from China was presented by the Jomon, Yayoi and Ainu peoples. These peoples occupied the region where Japan began to form.
In fact, it is estimated that, to this day, the vast majority of the Japanese people – something around more than 90% – are descendants of these groups.
This scenario only began to change after the arrival of groups of immigrants who began to land in the country, especially in the period after the Second World War.
It is no wonder that the country managed to expand – through its immigrants all over the world – its culture in several aspects.
The relationship between Brazil and the Japanese community
After talking a little more about the origins of Japanese culture, it's time to talk about the relationship between Brazil and Japan, since the two countries have a very close relationship.
As a result of World War II, the Japanese faced great hardships. This caused many to seek a better life in other countries. And one of them was Brazil – even though this immigration had already begun at the beginning of the century, in 1908.
This partnership was very successful and proof of this is that, currently, the population of Japanese people and descendants in Brazil is already the largest population of Japanese origin outside of Japan.
This shows that, despite being totally different and opposite in many aspects – from cultural to even gastronomic – both cultures got along very well and pleased both people, becoming a successful partnership to this day!
Conclusion
So, did you enjoy learning a little more about how Japan was discovered?
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why Japanese culture has become so popular around the world.
In addition to being a true attraction in itself, Eastern culture is also extremely culturally rich and, over the centuries, this entire culture has only become increasingly richer, making Japan a reference in several areas of our society, such as art, gastronomy, science and several other fields of knowledge.
Did you like this content? Then why not take the opportunity to read it too Japan Festival: when does it happen and how much does the ticket cost?
