why is land scarcity important to Japan's history?

Question

Because very little land can be cultivated, land ownership became very important to political power.
It made rice more valuable to the Japanese economy and gave farmers an important status.
The Japanese always had to trade with other countries because they could produce all their food.
The shogun moved the daimyo to the city after the seventeenth century because he wanted their land.

Answer 1

All of the given statements are true and contribute to the importance of land scarcity in Japan's history.

1. Land ownership and control played a crucial role in determining political power in Japan. Due to limited cultivatable land, owning and controlling land became vital for sustaining economic wealth and obtaining resources. Those who possessed large tracts of land held significant political influence and could establish their authority over others.

2. The scarcity of land made rice, a staple crop in Japan, more valuable to the economy. Rice was not only a food source but also served as a currency and a measure of wealth. The control and production of rice became a key determinant of socioeconomic status and political power.

3. Japan's limited land availability meant that it could not produce all the food required to sustain its population. This compelled the Japanese to engage in trade with other countries, leading to the emergence of a robust merchant class and the development of international economic relationships.

4. The shogun, the military ruler of feudal Japan, sought to consolidate power and minimize opposition. In the seventeenth century, the shogun implemented policies to centralize control by relocating daimyo (feudal lords) and their samurai warriors from their rural domains to the city. This allowed the shogun to seize and redistribute their land, further emphasizing the significance of land ownership and control in Japan's political landscape.