The document summarizes key issues facing East Asian nations, including natural disasters, economic challenges, population growth, and societal changes. It then covers the geology of Japan and its vulnerability to earthquakes and tsunamis. Finally, it discusses the economic rise and occasional downturns of East Asian countries in recent decades as they industrialized and globalized.

1. Today’s Issues:
East Asia
The issues facing East Asian nations include
earthquakes, economic recessions, growing
populations, and rapidly changing societies.
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2. SECTION 1 The Ring of Fire
SECTION 2 Trade and Prosperity
Today’s Issues:
East Asia
Case Study Population and the Quality of Life
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3. Section 1
The Ring of Fire
• The islands of Japan form part of a
geologically active area called the Ring of
Fire.
• Because of its location, Japan has faced
disastrous earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
and tsunamis.
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4. Physical Forces in the Ring of Fire
Shifting Plates
• Many Japanese cities are threatened by
earthquakes
- Japan is on the Ring of Fire—chain of volcanoes
around Pacific Rim
• Subduction—oceanic plate slides under continental
plate
• In East Asia, Pacific oceanic plate meets Eurasian
continental plate
- crumpled continental crust forms mountains,
volcanoes
- stress builds where plates meet; sudden slip
creates earthquake
SECTION
1 The Ring of Fire
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5. The Geology of Japan
Volcanoes
• Subduction of Pacific plate under Eurasian plate
created volcanoes
- volcanoes formed Japanese islands
• Since first records, at least 60 Japanese volcanoes
have been active
- best-known Japanese landform, Mt. Fuji, is a
volcano
SECTION
1
Continued . . .
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6. SECTION
1
Earthquakes and Tsunamis
• An average of 1,000 earthquakes occur in Japan
each year
- most are mild, but some cause many deaths,
great destruction
• 1923 Great Kanto earthquake and its fires killed
140,000 people
- left Tokyo in ruins, damaged or destroyed
700,000 homes
• Underwater earthquakes move ocean floor; can
create tsunami
- huge wave of great destructive power that can
reach over 100 feet
continued The Geology of Japan
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7. Preparing for Disasters
Problems
• Older buildings won’t withstand earthquakes as well
as newer ones
- some are built on less stable ground or landfill
• Underground gas lines are likely to rupture in an
earthquake
- leaking gas can catch fire
• Crowded blocks and narrow streets hinder rescue
operations
SECTION
1
Continued . . .
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8. SECTION
1
Solutions
• Japan has strict building code
- engineers study how different buildings withstand
quakes
- studies affect codes governing construction
materials, techniques
- this makes newer buildings safer than older ones
• Schoolchildren have yearly disaster drills with
firemen
continued Preparing for Disasters
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9. Section 2
Trade and Prosperity
• East Asian economies became global
powerhouses in the 1970s and 1980s.
• The decline of Asian economies in the 1990s
created a crisis that spread around the globe.
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10. Opening Doors
Opening to the West
• East Asian nations are isolated from world until
1500s
- Europeans use various means, including force, to
end isolation
• By 1800s, treaties give Europeans spheres of
influence in East
- exclusive areas where specific nations control
trade
• Commodore Matthew Perry sails to Japan in 1853
to open U.S. trade
- U.S. warships intimidate Japan into opening up to
U.S., West
Trade and Prosperity
SECTION
2
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Continued . . .

11. SECTION
2
Industrialization and Globalization
• After WWII, nations industrialize, East-West trade
increases
- “Made in China,” “Made in Japan” labels are
common in West
• Regional economies merge, global economy
develops
- global economy—nations are interdependent for
goods, services
• Japan imports resources, exports manufactured
goods worldwide
• East Asian nations use cheap labor to become
manufacturing powers
continued Opening Doors
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12. Powerful Economies of East Asia
Zone of Prosperity
• Many Asian economies do very well in 1980s, early
’90s
• Economically powerful nations in Pacific Rim zone
of prosperity
- called the Jakota Triangle—Japan, Korea
(South), Taiwan
• But by mid-1990s these economies are having
problems
SECTION
2
Continued . . .
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13. SECTION
2
Economic Problems Arise
• Asian economies run on efficiency, innovation, and
cheap labor
• 1995 report from UNICEF (the United Nations
Children’s Fund)
- over 500,000 East Asian children work in
factories, beg on streets
• Bank, business bankruptcies in mid-1990s panic
foreign investors
- they sell Asian stocks; riots occur; governments
topple
• Japan enters recession—an extended decline in
business activity
continued Powerful Economies of East Asia
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Continued . . .

14. SECTION
2
A Global Ripple Effect
• Many of the world’s economies are interconnected
- Asian economic crisis spreads through the world
- creates concern on New York Stock Exchange,
other exchanges
• Steps are taken to prevent global economic
downturn
- World Bank, International Monetary Fund step in
- they lend money to East Asian countries that
promise reform
• The economic downslide begins to reverse
continued Powerful Economies of East Asia
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Continued . . .

15. SECTION
2
The Promise of Reform
• Crisis shows East Asia that serious reform is
needed
- increased wages for adult workers
- ban on child-labor, forced-labor practices
• Reform also requires an end to using sweatshops
- places where people work long hours in poor
conditions for pennies
continued Powerful Economies of East Asia
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16. Case Study Population and the Quality of Life
BACKGROUND
• Some East Asian countries, cities are among
world’s most prosperous
• Japan, South Korea, Taiwan have high incomes,
life spans, literacy
• Economies are strong, but today’s problem is
managing population
What Pressures Does
Population Put on the
Environment?
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17. Case Study
The Situation at Mid-Century
• In mid-1900s, East Asian nations are among
world’s least developed
- poor health, literacy, economic statistics
- widespread poverty, short life expectancy
• High fertility rates, but also high infant and
maternal death rates
- in 1950, region’s women marry young, average
six children
• Economies remain rural through mid-century
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Patterns of Population

18. Case Study
Environmental Stress
• Policy makers know population control is key to
solving problems
• Unrestricted population growth strains quality of
life, environment
- food production is barely adequate
- lack of sanitation fouls water supplies
- water tables are drained to low levels
• East Asian governments move to prevent
catastrophe
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Addressing Population Problems
Continued . . .

19. Case Study
Problems and Policies
• Aggressive family planning programs level, then
lower birth rates
- by 2000, region’s women marry later, average
2.5 children
• In China, 1950-55 birth rate was 6.2 children per
woman
- drops down to 1.82 children per woman in 2000
continued Addressing Population Problems
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Impressive Results
• Drop in birth rate, industrialization lead to fast
economic growth
- life expectancy, literacy rates are now among
world’s highest

20. Case Study
Some Ongoing Problems
• Region’s huge populations still put pressure on
environment
- a 1% growth rate in China equals 13 million
people each year
• Population growth is concentrated in cities
- more people require more housing, sanitation,
transportation
• Citizens don’t always like family planning programs
- feel China’s one-child-per-family policy
compromises rights
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The Quality of Life

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