A. Previous Year Very Short Type Questions (MCQs – 1 Mark)

Q1. The percentage of agricultural land in Japan to the country’s total area is– (HSLC 2010)

(i) 25%
(ii) 20%
(iii) 5%
(iv) 15%

Answer: (iii) 5%

Q2. The north–south extension of Japan in terms of kilometre is– (HSLC 2011)

(i) 1500
(ii) 2100
(iii) 2400
(iv) 1800

Answer: (iii) 2400

Q3. Which one of the following is the largest city in terms of population size? (HSLC 2012)

(i) Beijing
(ii) Kolkata
(iii) Karachi
(iv) Tokyo

Answer: (iv) Tokyo

Q4. Which of the following islands of Japan is the biggest in area? (HSLC 2013)

(i) Hokkaido
(ii) Honshu
(iii) Shikoku
(iv) Kyushu

Answer: (ii) Honshu

Q5. The town located in the Hokkaido region of Japan is– (HSLC 2013)

(i) Sendai
(ii) Toyama
(iii) Kobe
(iv) Sapporo

Answer: (iv) Sapporo

Q6. One of the plain areas of the Central Japan region is– (HSLC 2015)

(i) China
(ii) Pakistan
(iii) Myanmar
(iv) Kwanto Plain

Answer: (iv) Kwanto Plain

Q7. The mountainous area of Japan is– (HSLC 2016)

(i) 50%
(ii) 60%
(iii) 75%
(iv) 65%

Answer: (iii) 75%

Q8. Which industrial zone provides about 30% of the industrial production of Japan? (HSLC 2017)

(i) Tokyo–Yokohama Industrial Region
(ii) Osaka–Kobe–Kyoto Industrial Region
(iii) Nagoya Industrial Region
(iv) North Kyushu Industrial Region

Answer: (i) Tokyo–Yokohama Industrial Region

Q9. The Kitakami Plateau of Japan is located in– (HSLC 2018)

(i) Hokkaido region
(ii) North-East Japan region
(iii) Central Japan region
(iv) South-West Japan region

Answer: (ii) North-East Japan region

Q10. The Kwanto Plain region is located in– (HSLC 2019)

(i) Hokkaido region
(ii) Central Japan region
(iii) North-East Japan region
(iv) South-West Japan region

Answer: (ii) Central Japan region

Q11. In which physical division of Japan is the Abukuma Plateau located? (HSLC 2020)

(i) Central Japan region
(ii) North-East Japan region
(iii) Hokkaido region
(iv) South-West Japan region

Answer: (ii) North-East Japan region

Extra Short Type Questions (MCQs – 1 Mark)

Q1. Japan is located off the east coast of– (HSLC)

(i) Europe
(ii) Africa
(iii) Asia
(iv) Australia

Answer: (iii) Asia

Q2. The ancient name of Japan was– (HSLC)

(i) Nihon
(ii) Nippon
(iii) Kyoto
(iv) Edo

Answer: (ii) Nippon

Q3. Japan is a country of– (HSLC)

(i) One island
(ii) Two islands
(iii) Three islands
(iv) Many islands

Answer: (iv) Many islands

Q4. Which of the following is the largest island of Japan? (HSLC)

(i) Hokkaido
(ii) Honshu
(iii) Shikoku
(iv) Kyushu

Answer: (ii) Honshu

Q5. Tokyo is the capital city of– (HSLC)

(i) China
(ii) South Korea
(iii) Japan
(iv) Thailand

Answer: (iii) Japan

Q6. Japan mainly falls under which climatic zone? (HSLC)

(i) Tropical
(ii) Equatorial
(iii) Temperate
(iv) Polar

Answer: (iii) Temperate

Q7. About how much percent of Japan’s area is mountainous? (HSLC)

(i) 50%
(ii) 60%
(iii) 75%
(iv) 85%

Answer: (iii) 75%

Q8. The total area of Japan is about– (HSLC)

(i) 277,765 sq km
(ii) 377,765 sq km
(iii) 477,765 sq km
(iv) 577,765 sq km

Answer: (ii) 377,765 sq km

Q9. Japan is frequently affected by earthquakes because– (HSLC)

(i) It is a desert country
(ii) It has old mountains
(iii) It is geologically unstable
(iv) It has less rainfall

Answer: (iii) It is geologically unstable

Q10. The highest peak of the Hokkaido region is– (HSLC)

(i) Mt. Fuji
(ii) Achahidak Peak
(iii) Kitakami Peak
(iv) Abukuma Peak

Answer: (ii) Achahidak Peak

Q11. The physiography of Japan is divided into how many regions? (HSLC)

(i) Two
(ii) Three
(iii) Four
(iv) Five

Answer: (iii) Four

Q12. Which region lies in the northernmost part of Japan? (HSLC)

(i) Central Japan
(ii) North-East Japan
(iii) South-West Japan
(iv) Hokkaido

Answer: (iv) Hokkaido

Q13. The Fossa Magna is located in– (HSLC)

(i) Hokkaido region
(ii) North-East Japan region
(iii) Central Japan region
(iv) South-West Japan region

Answer: (iii) Central Japan region

Q14. Which plain is located in Central Japan? (HSLC)

(i) Kitakami Plain
(ii) Abukuma Plain
(iii) Kwanto Plain
(iv) Ishikari Plain

Answer: (iii) Kwanto Plain

Q15. The main occupation of people in Japan is– (HSLC)

(i) Mining
(ii) Fishing
(iii) Agriculture
(iv) Industry

Answer: (iv) Industry

Q16. Terrace cultivation is mainly practised in Japan due to– (HSLC)

(i) Flat land
(ii) Desert climate
(iii) Mountainous relief
(iv) Low rainfall

Answer: (iii) Mountainous relief

Q17. Which industrial region is the largest in Japan? (HSLC)

(i) Nagoya region
(ii) North Kyushu region
(iii) Tokyo–Yokohama region
(iv) Osaka–Kobe–Kyoto region

Answer: (iii) Tokyo–Yokohama region

Q18. The Osaka–Kobe–Kyoto industrial region is also known as– (HSLC)

(i) Kwanto industrial region
(ii) Hanshin industrial region
(iii) Keihin industrial region
(iv) Chukyo industrial region

Answer: (ii) Hanshin industrial region

Q19. Which of the following is an important port of Japan? (HSLC)

(i) Tokyo
(ii) Osaka
(iii) Kobe
(iv) All of these

Answer: (iv) All of these

Q20. Japan is one of the developed countries of the world mainly due to– (HSLC)

(i) Availability of minerals
(ii) Large land area
(iii) Rapid industrialisation
(iv) Favourable monsoon

Answer: (iii) Rapid industrialisation

B. Previous Year Very Short Type Questions (1 Mark)

Q1. Mention the position of Japan among the countries of the world in terms of population size. (HSLC 2011)

Answer: Japan is the tenth largest country in the world in terms of population.

Q2. Which country of the world is called the “Land of the Rising Sun”? (HSLC 2013)

Answer: Japan.

Q3. What is the ancient name of Japan? (HSLC 2014, 2018)

Answer: Nippon.

Q4. With which European country can Japan be compared? (HSLC 2015)

Answer: The United Kingdom.

Q5. How many major islands are there in Japan? (HSLC 2016)

Answer: Four major islands.

Q6. Write the name of one industrial region of Japan. (HSLC 2017)

Answer: Tokyo–Yokohama (Keihin) Industrial Region.

Q7. Which industrial region of Japan is known as the “Detroit of Japan”? (HSLC 2018)

Answer: Nagoya Industrial Region.

Q8. What is the name of the largest island of Japan? (HSLC 2019)

Answer: Honshu.

Q9. What is the capital city of Japan? (HSLC 2020)

Answer: Tokyo.

Extra Very Short Type Questions (1 Mark)

Q1. Where is Japan located geographically?

Answer: Japan is located to the east of the Asian continent, off the east coast of Asia.

Q2. In which ocean is Japan situated?

Answer: Japan is situated in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean.

Q3. What does the ancient name “Nippon” mean?

Answer: The word “Nippon” means the Land of the Rising Sun.

Q4. Name any one of the four major islands of Japan.

Answer: Hokkaido is one of the four major islands of Japan.

Q5. Which island of Japan lies in the northernmost part?

Answer: The island of Hokkaido lies in the northernmost part of Japan.

Q6. What is the capital city of Japan?

Answer: Tokyo is the capital as well as the largest city of Japan.

Q7. Japan mainly falls under which climatic zone?

Answer: Japan mainly falls under the temperate climatic zone.

Q8. What is the total geographical area of Japan?

Answer: The total geographical area of Japan is about 3,77,765 square kilometres.

Q9. Which sea lies to the west of Japan?

Answer: The Japan Sea lies to the west of the country.

Q10. Why does Japan frequently experience earthquakes?

Answer: Japan experiences frequent earthquakes because its geological structure is unstable.

Q11. What percentage of Japan’s total area is mountainous?

Answer: About three-fourths, or nearly 75% of Japan’s area, is mountainous.

Q12. Into how many major physiographic divisions is Japan divided?

Answer: Japan is divided into four major physiographic divisions.

Q13. Name the highest peak of the Hokkaido region.

Answer: Achahidak Peak is the highest peak of the Hokkaido region.

Q14. In which region is the Fossa Magna located?

Answer: The Fossa Magna is located in the Central Japan region.

Q15. Name the largest plain of Japan.

Answer: The Kwanto Plain is the largest plain of Japan.

Q16. Which type of cultivation is widely practised in Japan?

Answer: Terrace cultivation is widely practised in Japan due to its mountainous land.

Q17. Name the largest industrial region of Japan.

Answer: The Tokyo–Yokohama or Keihin industrial region is the largest in Japan.

Q18. Name one important port of Japan.

Answer: Kobe is one of the important ports of Japan.

Q19. Which industrial region is located in the Kyushu island?

Answer: The North Kyushu Industrial Region is located in the Kyushu island.

Q20. What is the main reason behind Japan’s economic development?

Answer: Japan’s economic development is mainly due to rapid industrialisation.

C. Previous Year Short Answer Type Questions (2–3 Marks)

Q1. Name two plains of Japan. (HSLC 2010)

Answer: Two important plains of Japan are the Kwanto Plain and the Ishikari Plain.

Q2. Name two important crops of Japan. (HSLC 2010)

Answer: Rice and wheat are two important crops grown in Japan.

Q3. Name two islands of Japan. (HSLC 2011)

Answer: Hokkaido and Honshu are two major islands of Japan.

Q4. Mention the factors affecting population density in Japan. (HSLC 2011)

Answer: Population density in Japan is influenced by mountainous relief, limited cultivable land, industrial development and employment opportunities in urban areas.

Q5. State the major economic activities of Japan. (HSLC 2011)

Answer: The major economic activities of Japan include industry, agriculture, fishing and trade and commerce.

Q6. Name two industrial regions of Japan. (HSLC 2012)

Answer: Tokyo–Yokohama (Keihin) industrial region and Osaka–Kobe–Kyoto industrial region.

Q7. Mention two agricultural regions of Japan. (HSLC 2013)

Answer: Hokkaido agricultural region and Central Japan agricultural region.

Q8. Name three major cities of Japan. (HSLC 2013)

Answer: Tokyo, Osaka and Kobe are three major cities of Japan.

Q9. Mention three important industrial regions of Japan. (HSLC 2013, 2015, 2018)

Answer: Tokyo–Yokohama industrial region, Osaka–Kobe–Kyoto industrial region and Nagoya industrial region.

Q10. Name two important plains of the Central Japan region. (HSLC 2014)

Answer: Kwanto Plain and Nobi Plain are important plains of the Central Japan region.

Q11. Name three major rivers of Japan. (HSLC 2014)

Answer: Shinano-gawa, Tone-gawa and Ishikari-gawa are three major rivers of Japan.

Q12. Name three agricultural regions of Central Japan. (HSLC 2014)

Answer: Kwanto region, Nobi region and Chubu region are agricultural regions of Central Japan.

Q13. Write the names of two urban centres of the North-Eastern region of Japan. (HSLC 2015)

Answer: Sendai and Morioka are two urban centres of the North-Eastern region of Japan.

Q14. Mention three geographical characteristics of Japan. (HSLC 2015)

Answer: Japan is an island country, it is largely mountainous and it is geologically unstable.

Q15. Write the names of four physical divisions of Japan. (HSLC 2016)

Answer: Hokkaido region, North-Eastern Japan region, Central Japan region and South-Western Japan region.

Q16. Why is the distribution of population not uniform throughout Japan? (HSLC 2016)

Answer: Population distribution in Japan is uneven due to mountainous land, limited plains, variation in climate and concentration of industries in certain regions.

Q17. Though Japan is a mountainous country, agriculture is significantly developed. Explain. (HSLC 2016)

Answer: Despite mountainous relief, agriculture has developed in Japan through terrace cultivation, use of modern techniques and intensive farming on limited plains.

Q18. Mention two physical divisions of Japan. (HSLC 2017)

Answer: Hokkaido region and Central Japan region are two physical divisions of Japan.

Q19. Mention the names of three agricultural regions of Japan. (HSLC 2017)

Answer: Hokkaido region, Central Japan region and South-West Japan region are agricultural regions of Japan.

Q20. Mention the factors which affect the density of population of Japan. (HSLC 2017)

Answer: Relief, industrial development, employment opportunities and availability of cultivable land affect population density in Japan.

Q21. Mention the name of two towns of the Hokkaido region of Japan. (HSLC 2018)

Answer: Sapporo and Asahikawa are two towns of the Hokkaido region.

Q22. Write about three physiographic characteristics of Japan. (HSLC 2018)

Answer: Japan has rugged mountains, narrow plains and an unstable geological structure with frequent earthquakes.

Q23. Mention two important southern islands of Japan. (HSLC 2019)

Answer: Shikoku and Kyushu are two important southern islands of Japan.

Q24. Write two geographical characteristics of the Hokkaido region of Japan. (HSLC 2019)

Answer: The Hokkaido region is mountainous in nature and experiences cold climatic conditions.

Q25. Mention the names of any three seas surrounding Japan. (HSLC 2019)

Answer: The Japan Sea, Okhotsk Sea and East China Sea surround Japan.

Q26. Write a note on the mineral resources of Japan. (HSLC 2019)

Answer: Japan has very limited mineral resources and depends largely on imported raw materials for industrial development.

Q27. Migration of people from rural areas to urban areas is rapidly increasing in Japan. Why? (HSLC 2020)

Answer: Rural-to-urban migration in Japan is increasing due to better employment opportunities, industrial growth and improved living conditions in cities.

Extra Short Answer Type Questions (2–3 Marks)

Q1. Describe the location of Japan with reference to surrounding seas and oceans.

Answer: Japan is situated in the Pacific Ocean. It is surrounded by the Okhotsk Sea in the north, the Japan Sea in the west, the East China Sea in the south and the Pacific Ocean in the east.

Q2. Why is Japan called an island country?

Answer: Japan is called an island country because it consists of a chain of several small and large islands and is completely surrounded by water.

Q3. Write a short note on the size and shape of Japan.

Answer: Japan is a long and narrow country extending from north to south. Its total area is about 3,77,765 square kilometres.

Q4. Why is Japan included among the developed countries of the world?

Answer: Japan is included among developed countries due to rapid industrialisation, advanced technology, efficient use of resources and high economic development.

Q5. What is meant by the Inner Zone and Outer Zone of Japan?

Answer: The Inner Zone lies along the Japan Sea side, while the Outer Zone lies along the Pacific Ocean side of Japan.

Q6. Name the four major islands of Japan.

Answer: The four major islands of Japan are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu.

Q7. Why is Honshu island important for Japan?

Answer: Honshu is important because it is the largest island and contains major cities, plains and industrial regions of Japan.

Q8. Write two characteristics of the physiography of Japan.

Answer: Japan is highly mountainous and has a very unstable geological structure.

Q9. Why are volcanoes common in Japan?

Answer: Volcanoes are common in Japan because the country lies in a geologically unstable region with newly formed folded mountains.

Q10. Write two characteristics of the climate of Japan.

Answer: Japan has a temperate climate and the temperature decreases gradually from south to north.

Q11. Why is cultivable land limited in Japan?

Answer: Cultivable land is limited in Japan because a large part of the country is covered by mountains.

Q12. What is terrace cultivation? Why is it practised in Japan?

Answer: Terrace cultivation is farming on stepped slopes. It is practised in Japan due to steep mountainous terrain.

Q13. Mention two reasons for the high density of population in some parts of Japan.

Answer: High industrial development and availability of employment opportunities cause high population density in some regions.

Q14. Write two features of the Kwanto Plain.

Answer: The Kwanto Plain is the largest plain of Japan and supports dense population and industrial development.

Q15. Why is fishing an important occupation in Japan?

Answer: Fishing is important because Japan is surrounded by seas and has rich fishing grounds.

Q16. Mention two reasons for rapid industrial growth in Japan.

Answer: Availability of skilled labour and use of advanced technology have helped rapid industrial growth.

Q17. Write two characteristics of the Tokyo–Yokohama industrial region.

Answer: It is the largest industrial region of Japan and contributes a major share of industrial production.

Q18. Why is Nagoya industrial region important?

Answer: Nagoya industrial region is important for automobile and engineering industries.

Q19. Write two features of the Osaka–Kobe–Kyoto industrial region.

Answer: It is an old industrial region and is known for heavy and light industries.

Q20. Why is North Kyushu an important industrial region?

Answer: North Kyushu is important due to availability of coal and development of heavy industries.

Q21. Write two causes of urbanisation in Japan.

Answer: Industrial growth and better employment opportunities have caused rapid urbanisation.

Q22. Why does Japan depend on imports for raw materials?

Answer: Japan depends on imports because it has very limited mineral resources.

Q23. Mention two agricultural problems faced by Japan.

Answer: Limited cultivable land and mountainous terrain are major agricultural problems.

Q24. Write two features of agriculture in Japan.

Answer: Agriculture in Japan is intensive and highly mechanised.

Q25. Why is Japan’s transport system well developed?

Answer: Efficient transport is needed to support industries and connect densely populated regions.

Q26. Write two reasons for uneven distribution of population in Japan.

Answer: Mountainous regions and unequal industrial development cause uneven population distribution.

Q27. Why is Japan prone to natural disasters?

Answer: Japan is prone to disasters due to earthquakes, volcanoes and unstable geological conditions.

Q28. Write two features of the Hokkaido region.

Answer: Hokkaido has cold climate and mountainous landforms.

Q29. How does industrialisation affect the economy of Japan?

Answer: Industrialisation has increased national income, employment and overall economic development.

Q30. Why is Japan economically strong despite scarcity of natural resources?

Answer: Japan is economically strong due to efficient use of resources, skilled labour and advanced technology.