When we think of Japan , images of sushi, anime, and cherry blossoms often come to mind. But beneath the modern pop culture lies something much deeper: the influence of geography. Japan is an island nation, and being surrounded by the sea has shaped its history, trade, conflicts, and even the way Japanese people interact with one another. Let’s take a closer look at how living on an island made Japan what it is today. The Advantage of Being an Island Unlike continental nations, Japan is separated by the sea, which naturally served as both a shield and a barrier. While land-based countries had to constantly defend porous borders, Japan only had to monitor the sea routes. On the other hand, launching attacks overseas was costly and risky. Armies required ships, supplies, and manpower. This is why, before the Meiji era , Japan fought only three major international wars: The Battle of Baekgang (663) The Mongol Invasions (1274–1281) Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s Korean campaigns (1592–1...