Sonia Contreras Arizona State University When it comes to biodiversity, Japan is on a league of their own. Japan has a wide range of ecosystems and biodiversity, from astonishing mountain peaks, to beautiful seascapes, the range of life species is vast. Japan is quite diverse, not just biologically, but culturally as well. There are several layers to the culture in Japan, from traditional values, to more modern beliefs. The balance between cultural and biological diversity, however, is not well-balanced. Some of the changes occurring in Japan are not beneficial. Japan is an archipelago consisting of over six-thousand islands (Rosenberg, 2016). There are four main islands, Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. Honshu is the largest of the islands and is home to the capital of Tokyo (Rosenberg, 2016). Honshu is quite mountainous and holds many volcanoes. Mount Fuji resides on this island. Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan (The Editors of Encyclopdia Britannica, 2013). It is considered sacred and is worshipped by the people. Japanese people feel a sense of personal identification with the mountain. Every year, thousands climb to a shrine that stands at the peak of Mount Fuji, many doing this as a religious practice (The Editors of Encyclopdia Britannica, 2013).
Figure 1: Mount Fuji in Japan
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The area of Mount Fuji is surrounded with groundwater and streams. This makes agriculture a successful part of Japanese life. With the abundance of water in Japan comes an abundance in fishing. Japan is home to the largest wholesale fish and seafood market (Youmeandbiodiversity, 2011). Along with fish, another food item that is well cultivated in Japan is rice. Rice farming, along with other farming, is an important aspect of Japan. Almost half of the land in Japan is covered by either plantations or farmlands. Another large portion is covered by forests. Forests are home to much of Japans wildlife.
Figure 2: Map stating the levels of vegetation in Japan.
Japan is home to a vast variety of organic life. There are approximately seven-thousand species of vascular plants in Japan, almost half of them being endemic to Japan (BCGI, 2016). Cherry blossom trees are very much admired in Japan. They are considered symbolic of clouds or the nature of life. The natural conditions, along with human efforts, support the diversity in the plants. Animal life is also quite diverse. From brown bears to tropical snakes, the diversity of animals in Japan is great (Youmeandbiodiversity, 2011). Out of the fifty species of amphibians
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alone, Japan is home for forty-four of those species. For a national bird, Japan is represented by the green pheasant (Youmeandbiodiversity, 2011). Japans biodiversity is suffering as well. In 2012, the Japanese river otter, along with the Japanese black bear, was declared extinct (Editors at the Japan Times, 2013). Two mammals important to the ecosystem were lost. Japan is currently following the Act for the Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Editors at the Japan Times, 2013). Not enough measures are being take, to protect the wildlife. It has been recommended that the government of Japan change laws to maintain their biodiversity. The threat to wildlife in Japan is suspected to come from the rise in rice paddy production. With increase in productivity comes an increase of the use of chemicals which end up harming the environment (Editors at the Japan Times, 2013). Japan is home to a plethora of wildlife. The diversity of plant and animal life is clear. With increases in agricultural work, the biodiversity of Japan takes a toll. The survival of these living organisms is dependent of human activity. The government holds the key to prevent other extinctions like that of the black bear or river otter. If a culture of environmental awareness is established by the government, the survival of the diverse life in Japan is safe.
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Works Cited BCGI. (2016). The Rich and Diverse Flora of Japan. Retrieved November 23, 2016, from https://www.bgci.org/japan/home_01/ Editors at the Japan Times. (2013). Protect Japans Biodiversity. Retrieved November 23, 2016, from http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2012/09/18/editorials/protect-japansbiodiversity/#.WDVQatUrJhF The Editors of Encyclopdia Britannica. (2013). Mount Fuji. Retrieved November 23, 2016, from https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Fuji Rosenberg, M. (2016). What Are the Four Main Islands of Japan? Retrieved November 23, 2016, from http://geography.about.com/od/countryinformation/fl/Discover-the-Four-PrimaryIslands-of-Japan.htm Youmeandbiodiversity, B. (2011). Biodiversity Hotspot: Japan. Retrieved November 23, 2016, from https://biodilloversity.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/biodiversity-hotspot-japan/