Some things you may not know about the origins of the Japanese
The people of Japan belong to the Mongolian family of mankind, which includes the Chinese and Koreans as well as the people of the Mongolian steppe lands. The Japanese, almost without exception, have the black hair, dark eyes, yellow skin pigmentation, high cheekbones, comparatively flat plane of the face and eyelid-fold. In smaller stature and more delicate bone-structure, they resemble the southern Chinese rather than their nearer north China neighbors.
Their exact racial origins are obscure. One strain in the early mixture that gave rise to the Japanese of historic times seems to have come from Siberia and Mongolia over the Korean land-bridge, another strain from south China and possibly by a long sea-route.
By temperament the Japanese have a natural enjoyment of life; by circumstances and necessity they have become extremely industrious; and through their history, they have developed a sense of loyalty and national solidarity second to none. Someones would say they combine the qualities of warriors and artists. As fighters they have courage, endurance and a streak of cruelty; as artists, they have an unusual sensitivity to the beauties of Nature and an ability to use with simplicity and unerring taste the natural substances of stone, wood, and clay.
In addition to the Japanese, there are still a few pure Ainu tribe’s people living on reservations in the northern part of the country. These are descendants of early inhabitants of Caucasian origin whose totem is the bear, who live by fishing and hunting, and who were once widespread over the country but were conquered by the Japanese. Another minority group is that of the eta. These people were in earlier Japan a servant class who performed tasks such as the slaughter of animals and the tanning of leather considered unclean in Buddhist belief. Although they now enjoy complete equality under the law, there is still some social discrimination against those of eta origin, especially in regard to marriage
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