Population Density in Japan. Examine the population map above. In your notebook, write five facts about the geography of Japan that can be determined.

Population Density in

Japan

Examine the population map above. In your notebook, write five facts about the geography of Japan that can be determined from the map. Where do you think most of the people of Japan live?

Why? 

Watch the info graphic video to gain a better understanding of the country of Japan: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuS6YpyT06w

Japan is a country with a high population density. Population density is a term geographers use to talk about where on Earth’s surface people live. Some places, like Japan, are densely populated, which means millions of people live there. Other places, such as Antarctica, are

sparsely populated, which means few people live there. Japan is one of the most densely populated places in the world. It is slightly smaller than California, but its population is roughly half that of the United States. In addition, the vast majority of people who live in Japan are settled in only

about 16% of the country, which consists of the lowlands. Japan is a crowded place. Examine the picture above. What do you see in this

picture? What does it tell us about life in Japan?

How Does Population Density Affect the Way People Live? 

Examine the graphic below. The map in the center of this diagram shows where people live in Japan. The areas in red are the most densely populated parts of the country. Around the map are four symbols. They represent aspects of life that are affected by population density. Keep this diagram in mind as you work on the tasks below. 

TransportationWatch the following video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmEh-1pK87Y

Overcrowded subways are just one way in which population density affects life in Japan. You will now learn how population density affects other areas of life in Japan.

Land Use and Housing

How does population density affect land use and housing?

Watch the following video clip on the Micro Apartment Boom in Tokyo, Japan and on Capsule Hotels:

 http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/japans-micro-apartment-boom-18653607

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/01/07/japan.capsule.home/

Health

How does population density affect health in Japan? 

Read each of the statements below. One is false and the others are true. Which statement do you think is false? 

• Because of the crowding in Japan, most Japanese people live shorter lives than most people in the world. 

• Some Japanese wear face masks to avoid making others ill.• The Japanese recycle cookie wrappers to help reduce trash. 

Watch the following video about the aging population of Japan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuS6YpyT06w

Which statement above was false? How did this compare to your original response?