Japan is a group of islands. Man has lived on these islands, since about 100,000 BC. Since the New Stone Age, Japan has been colonized by several groups of people from Korea. The bearded Ainu, the Karafuto and the Kurils are the more important groups. Islands are difficult to reach. Therefore, Japanese culture developed without outside influence.
The Jomon period is the period between 10,000 and 300 BC. It is named after its ceramics. The Yayoi period extended from 300 BC to 300 AD. This period was known for its high quality ceramics. Larger communities were the norm. Bronze and iron working, as well as wet field rice cultivation took off. The first trading states emerged. The Kofun period, extended from 300 to 710 AD, and was named for its graves. Close contacts existed with Korea and China. They tried to invade Japan, but they succeeded only in bringing house building techniques, medical knowledge, and Buddhist literature to Japan.