The first humans to populate Japan traveled over a land bridge during an ice age around 35,000 BCE. There they developed an agrarian society that had a reverence for nature. Contact with early Korea and China helped model the Japanese alphabet, religion, and political systems. Periods of great intellectual and artistic growth followed. Divisions concerning warring factions kept the people from uniting under one ruler for a long stretch of Japanese early history. After one leader was able to unify the country, he closed the borders to isolate Japanese culture from outside influences. Eventually Japan reopened borders and became a world leader.
Ramen
Mochi
Tempura