the Pleistocene Epoch (更新世) ,or the Ice Age

A Journey into the Ice Age and the Beginning of Japan

Long, long ago — from about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago — the Earth went through a time called the Pleistocene Epoch,(更新世) or the Ice Age. During this time, the world was much colder, and huge parts of it were covered in ice. Many giant animals like woolly mammoths and saber-toothed cats lived then, and early humans were learning how to survive in a harsh and changing world.

Early humans learned to make stone tools, use fire, and work together to find food and stay safe. These skills helped them travel to new places — even to what is now Japan.
Back then, the Japanese islands were sometimes connected to the Asian continent by land bridges, because sea levels were much lower. This allowed animals and people to walk from places like Korea or Siberia into Japan. They followed herds of animals and settled in forests and caves. Some of these people made stone tools, which scientists have found at places like Iwajuku in Gunma and Minatogawa in Okinawa.

These early people lived by hunting, fishing, and gathering plants, and they learned to live in harmony with nature. They respected the land and the animals that gave them life. Over thousands of years, this deep connection to nature became an important part of what we now think of as Japanese culture — a love of balance, beauty, and community.

The Ice Age may seem far away, but it was the time when the first humans came to Japan and began the story of the Japanese people. Their strength, creativity, and closeness to nature still live on in Japan today.

Comprehension Questions:

What was another name for the Pleistocene Epoch?

a. The Stone Age
b. The Ice Age
c. The Bronze Age
d. The Modern Age

 

During the Ice Age, large parts of the Earth were:

a. Covered in forests
b. Covered in ice
c. Covered in deserts
d. Covered in oceans

 

What kind of animals lived during the Ice Age?

a. Dinosaurs
b. Lions and tigers
c. Woolly mammoths and saber-toothed cats
d. Kangaroos and koalas

 

What skills did early humans learn during this time?

a. Writing stories and poems
b. Making stone tools and using fire
c. Building tall houses
d. Planting rice and wheat

 

How did early humans and animals get to Japan?

a. By sailing in boats
b. By flying
c. By walking across land bridges
d. By swimming across the sea

 

What kind of life did early people in Japan live?

a. They were farmers who grew rice
b. They were hunters and gatherers
c. They lived in cities and traded goods
d. They built castles and temples

Which of the following is a place where scientists found stone tools?

a. Tokyo
b. Kyoto
c. Iwajuku
d. Mount Fuji

 

What value from the Ice Age people still remains in Japanese culture today?

a. A love of nature and community
b. Building tall skyscrapers
c. Making new technology
d. Fighting for land

 

Part B: Short Writing Questions

 

In your own words, explain what the Ice Age was like.
(Write 2–3 sentences.)

Why were land bridges important for early humans coming to Japan?

 

What do you think early humans needed to survive in Japan during the Ice Age?
(Think about tools, food, or teamwork.)

 

How do you think the early people’s respect for nature influenced Japan’s culture today?
(Give your opinion with an example, like festivals, traditions, or art.)