Historical Perspectives on the Relationships between Humanity and Nature in Japan

Abstract

The Japanese Archipelago extends over 3 000 km from north to south, and includes subarctic, cool temperate, warm temperate and subtropical climatic zones. These various climatic zones were present even during the dramatic environmental changes of the past 1 00 000 years (e.g., Tsukada 1967). The Japanese Archipelago has been densely populated since the Neolithic Age, and most of the natural environment has been strongly influenced by human activities (Koyama and Sugito 1984). The life patterns of humans have, in turn, been shaped by their use of biological resources in the shape of the fauna and flora they encountered. Moreover, although the Japanese biota is derived from life forms which migrated from the continental mainland when sea-levels were lower, the biodiversity has been augmented by human beings, who have introduced species at various times.