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Moved the "History" header up a couple of paragraphs, as the preceding paragraphs deal strictly with history.
'''Japan''' is a nation that consists of a group of islands off the eastern coast of [[Asia]]. The principal islands are, in the [[Romanization|Roman alphabet]], [[Hokkaido]], [[Honshu]], [[Kyushu]] and [[Shikoku]]. Japan also controls many smaller islands, notably the [[Ryuku]] chain south of Kyushu, for a total land area slightly smaller than California. The islands of Japan are scattered between 24ºN and 45ºN lattitude (roughly 1,800 miles, or [[Florida]] to [[Maine]]). As a result, the climate varies greatly. Its capital, [[Tokyo]], is the largest metropolitan area in the world. [http://www.demographia.com/db-world-metro2000.htm]
'''Japan''' is a nation that consists of a group of islands off the eastern coast of [[Asia]]. The principal islands are, in the [[Romanization|Roman alphabet]], [[Hokkaido]], [[Honshu]], [[Kyushu]] and [[Shikoku]]. Japan also controls many smaller islands, notably the [[Ryuku]] chain south of Kyushu, for a total land area slightly smaller than California. The islands of Japan are scattered between 24ºN and 45ºN lattitude (roughly 1,800 miles, or [[Florida]] to [[Maine]]). As a result, the climate varies greatly. Its capital, [[Tokyo]], is the largest metropolitan area in the world. [http://www.demographia.com/db-world-metro2000.htm]
== History ==
=== Origins ===
Early signs of human life appeared in Japan around the year 3000 BC. The wild Japanese Bison was an early target of wild game, hunted to extinction within 500 years.
Early signs of human life appeared in Japan around the year 3000 BC. The wild Japanese Bison was an early target of wild game, hunted to extinction within 500 years.
According to tradition, Japan was unified by [[Emperor]] [[Jimmu]], the grandson of the [[goddess]] [[Amaterasu]], in the year 660 B. C. He conquered Honshu, the largest island, in a series of expeditions starting from his home base of [[Setsuma]] in Kyushu.
According to tradition, Japan was unified by [[Emperor]] [[Jimmu]], the grandson of the [[goddess]] [[Amaterasu]], in the year 660 B. C. He conquered Honshu, the largest island, in a series of expeditions starting from his home base of [[Setsuma]] in Kyushu.
=== The Feudal Era ===
=== The Feudal Era ===