Japan - Imformation report

For literacy, we had to write an information report on Japan. Miss Farr gave us five sites to get our research from but we could use others if we needed to. I think I could have made it longer, but then you would be sitting here for ages reading about all the wars Japan took part in. I enjoyed getting to read all about Japan. I found it challenging to write a conclusion. To be BTB (Better Than Before) I could write a better conclusion.

Japan, home to cherry blossoms and samurai. The small islands of mainland Asia make up the famous city-filled country. 

Culture and traditions

Japan's culture is heavily influenced by China, but during the Edo era they were isolated from the world. After the Edo era Japan was influenced by the western world. Then the was the Heian era - the 'golden' age. Today Japan has taken traditions from all over the world. They still have some things of their own though - including the cherry blossom. Cherry blossoms are what Japan is known for, and they are Japan's national plant.

History

Tokyo has three main ages: Samurai, stronghold, and future. City of the future is the Tokyo we know now. During the samurai age Tokyo, known then as Edo, ranked each other. The higher rank you were, the better place you got to live. The ranks went as following: nobility, daimyо̄ and samurai, farmers, and chо̄nin (Townspeople). At noon on the first of September 1923, there was an earthquake that killed an estimated 142,000 people.

Location and geography

When the people of Tokyo lived by ranks their homes were in different areas. Yamanote was where the samurai lived, with the nobility south of them. Yamanote was at the foot if a mountain giving it's meaning 'hand of the mountain'. The chо̄nin lived in a place called Shitamachi. Shitamachi had buildings close together, giving the lower-ranked people a feeling of being trapped. The farmers, who could live anywhere, took to the fields. Turning the lush green grass into food. Japan has approximately 6,900 islands and is 73% mountains. It also has a number of 'green spaces'.

People and population

Japan is the 11th largest country in the world (By population) having been shy of 1.5 million people in1898, but over 2 million people in 1909. People of Japan speak Japanese but write in three alphabets. The alphabets are Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana. Hiragana is the easiest to learn because it's sounds like the English alphabet.

Climate

Japan's climate is mild (Meaning not severe or harsh) in the winter, and hot and humid (Meaning there is lots of water vapor) in the summer. These conditions make Japan good for growing plants. Japan's coldest month, January, is 6.6667 degrees Celcius, while their hottest month, August, is 28.3333 degrees Celcius.

Flora and fauna

Japan has many flora and fauna- cherry blossom, camellia, lily, hosta, and maple are Japan's native flora. Japanese macaque, green pheasant, red-crowned crane, sika deer, and Steller's sea lion are Japan's native fauna. Japan has 140 identified species of fauna, including 32 carnivores! Japan is also home to tigers. Many people associate tigers with Japan because tigers live in Asia, and Japan is a country in Asia. Japan's animals live in jungles and near rivers, in villages and beside roads.

Weird things

Japan has many strange things like the fact number four is avoided at all costs. This is because the Japanese word for four (四, Shi) sounds like the Japanese word for death (死, Shi). Two things that are considered rude are these: blowing your nose in public and pouring your own glass.

So now you know about Japan's history, its climate, and its geography.

Author Biography - David Hill

 For literacy, we had to write about the author of our literacy groups' book. My group, Aroki A, was reading 'My Brother's War'. I enjoyed getting to study David Hill. I found it challenging to write. To be BTB (Better Than Before) I could make it longer.

David Hill is many things; an author, playwright, critic, poet, and columnist. He was born in Napier but now lives in New Plymouth. He was born in 1942 and is 78 now. He has written over 40 books, including My Brother’s War, The Red Poppy, and See Ya, Simon. He loves fried potatoes and would want to be an astronomer if he wasn’t a writer. His favorite author is Maurice Gee, and his favorite children’s authors are Joy Cowley and Margaret Mahy. His advice for aspiring writers is this: don’t throw away your work, read lots, and give your writing to places like The School Journal. He likes writing because he makes people happy, and he gets to meet other authors. According to an article interviewing him, his most embarrassing moment was when he accidentally stuck his finger up a stranger’s nose!

Exploring the charcter

 For literacy, we had to write the traits of the main character(s) in our book. My group was reading 'My brother's war'. I enjoyed getting to read it so I could work out the traits. I found it challenging to think of ways to describe William. To be BTB (Better Than Before) I could add more detail and more traits.