Mie Entrance Social Studies flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Archipelago

A chain of many islands. Japan consists of about 14,000 islands, with Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu accounting for most of its land area and population.

Omote-Nihon climate

The Pacific Ocean side of Japan. It has hot, humid summers with heavy rain and typhoons, and relatively dry, sunny winters because mountains block northwest monsoon winds.

Ura-Nihon climate

The Sea of Japan side of Japan. In winter, northwest monsoon winds pick up moisture over the warm sea and drop heavy snow on the mountains and coastal plains.

Contour lines

Lines on a topographic map joining points of equal elevation. Lines close together indicate a steep slope; widely spaced lines indicate a gentle slope.

Map scale

The ratio between distance on a map and distance on the ground. At 1:25,000, one centimeter on the map equals 250 meters in reality.

Keihin industrial belt

Japan's largest industrial zone, stretching around Tokyo Bay and including Tokyo and Yokohama. It concentrates machinery, printing, publishing, and consumer-goods production near a huge market.

Population aging

A rising share of elderly people in a population. In Japan, people aged 65 and over exceed 29 percent, one of the highest ratios in the world.

Rice-growing plains

Flat, well-watered lowlands suited to paddy rice. Japan's major examples are the Kanto, Nobi, and Echigo plains, which historically supported dense rural populations.

Taika Reform

A 645 reform that copied Chinese ritsuryo models to centralize government under the emperor, replacing hereditary clan control with state-appointed officials and a land and tax system.

Heian period

The era from 794 to about 1185, when the capital was Heian-kyo (Kyoto). Aristocratic court culture flourished, producing works such as The Tale of Genji.

Kamakura shogunate

Japan's first warrior government, established around 1192 by Minamoto no Yoritomo. It placed real power with the shogun and samurai while the emperor remained in Kyoto.

Sakoku policy

The Edo shogunate's restriction of foreign contact. Trade and diplomacy were limited mainly to Nagasaki with the Dutch and Chinese and to Tsushima with Korea.

Meiji Restoration

The 1868 overthrow of the shogunate that returned formal power to the emperor and launched rapid modernization, including conscription, land-tax reform, and state-led industrialization.

Haihan-chiken

The 1871 abolition of feudal domains and creation of prefectures. It centralized administration, ended samurai domain rule, and gave the Meiji state uniform national control.

Treaty of Portsmouth

The 1905 treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War. Mediated by Theodore Roosevelt, it recognized Japanese influence in Korea and transferred Russian rights in southern Manchuria.

San Francisco Peace Treaty

The 1951 treaty signed by Japan and 48 nations, effective in 1952, which formally ended World War II hostilities and restored Japanese sovereignty.

Plaza Accord

A 1985 agreement among major economies to weaken the US dollar. The resulting sharp yen appreciation hurt Japanese exporters and contributed to the later bubble economy.

Article 9

The constitutional clause renouncing war as a sovereign right and forbidding maintenance of war potential. Its interpretation remains a major political debate in Japan.

Popular sovereignty

The principle that political authority ultimately rests with the people. Japan's 1947 Constitution declares this in its preamble, replacing the earlier imperial sovereignty.

House of Representatives

The lower house of the Diet, with 465 members serving four-year terms. It can be dissolved and holds superiority over the upper house on budget and treaty matters.

House of Councillors

The upper house of the Diet, with 248 members serving six-year terms. Half of its members are elected every three years, and it cannot be dissolved.

Cabinet

Japan's executive branch, headed by a prime minister chosen by the Diet. Most ministers must be Diet members, and the Cabinet is collectively responsible to the Diet.

Right to live

Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees the minimum standards of wholesome and cultured living. It underpins Japan's public pension, health insurance, and welfare systems.

Bank of Japan

Japan's central bank, which issues currency and sets monetary policy. It targets stable prices, aiming for about two percent inflation, and influences interest rates.

Japan-US Security Treaty

The 1960 treaty allowing US forces to be stationed in Japan in exchange for US defense commitments. It is the foundation of Japan's security policy.

Local autonomy

The constitutional principle that local governments manage their own affairs. Governors, mayors, and assembly members are directly elected by residents of prefectures and municipalities.

Population pyramid

A graph showing the age and sex structure of a population. A wide base indicates many children and high fertility; a narrow base indicates aging and low fertility.

Percentage change

Calculated as (new value minus old value) divided by old value, times 100. A drop from 500 to 400 is a 20 percent decrease.

Correlation

A statistical relationship in which two variables change together. It does not by itself prove causation; a third factor or coincidence may explain the pattern.

Primary source

A record created by someone who witnessed or participated in an event, such as a diary, letter, or official document. It is closer to the event than later accounts.

GIS overlay

A technique that stacks map layers, such as population density and flood risk, to reveal spatial relationships. It supports urban planning and disaster preparation.

Pie chart limits

A pie chart shows each category's share of a total, not absolute amounts. To compare total volume across years, a bar or line graph is more suitable.