There was also a blending of cultures when peoples from the Korean peninsula came into the area and greatly changed the civilization by bringing agriculture, which was only simple and underdeveloped before. Rice became the most popular crop, and there were now enough people for a basic government to evolve, including an emperor. It is

Another important discovery that gave clues into the prehistoric culture of Japan were the burial tombs or mounds that were covered with stone or pottery, and in time they became quite high and elaborate. Historian Sansom continues, "The tombs of the rulers, which are called misasagi, are of almost stupendous dimensions, that of the emperor Nintoku (died about A.D. 400) being some 1,200 feet in length and go feet in height, covering with its moats a space of 80 acres" (Sansom 12). These sepulchral mounds contained many items that gave historians and archaeologists more ideas about prehistoric Japan. They contained pottery vessels from the Yayoi culture (which ultimately blended with and then replaced the Jamon), jewelry, weapons and tools made of bronze and iron, and small clay figures (Sansom 12). All of these items helped tell experts about life at the time, and how the prehistoric Japanese culture evolved and grew.

interesting to note that these first "Jamon" people were Caucasian, and their culture and people still live on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. The new people were racially Asian, and they became the dominant people in prehistoric Japan. Historian G.B. Sansom notes, "The Japanese race is a compound of elements drawn in prehistoric times from different parts of the Asiatic mainland" (Sansom 1). Archaeologists have also found remains of cultures in Korea that were similar to the Japanese culture, further tying the two cultures together. Many historians believe there may also have been influences from the Kamchatka and Siberian areas (Sansom 5-8). The Stone Age culture of Japan continued until around the first century B.C., and the cultures continued to blend until the Korean influence became the dominant influence, and the Jamon people retreated to their island. When the Christian era took hold in Japan, the Japanese also gained a metal culture from the Chinese mainland, which also helped the culture grow and modernize.

In conclusion, it is clear the culture of Japan is vivid, artistic, and varied. The Japanese enjoy an advanced society infused with the arts and cultural awareness, even before the fifteenth century. However, the fifteenth century marked a time of great change in Japan, and really began the rise of Japanese art and culture that we know today. Another historian that G.B. Sansom interviewed said, "He adds the opinion that 'the artistic talent of later Japan was rooted in the prehistoric past'" (Sansom 5). Thus, prehistory helped form Japan's history, and in turn led to great artistic strides throughout the fifteenth century and beyond. This early history helped propel Japan into the modern age, and gave her a strong foundation for industrial and cultural growth.

Kabuki Theater also rose in prominence as the people searched for new and different forms of entertainment. Architecture also took on more prominence, and some of the buildings that still stand today, such as the Temple of the Golden Pavillion in Kyoto, and the Himeji Castle in Hyogo. These buildings were elaborate and highly decorated, and they indicate a society that is interested in outward appearances,

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Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)