The modern Japanese inhabited Japan loooooooooong before 297 A.D. Emperor Jimmu supposedly founded the Japanese Empire in 660 B.C.E. and archaeological evidence indicates population of Japan (by the Ainu) at least since 28.000 B.C.E. Nobody knows for sure how the modern Japanese came to be, but Tachikaze mentioned the theory of racial mixing between the Ainu and the people of the mainland which is very likely. Apparently, especially between 20,000 and 18,000 years ago, lowered sea levels periodically exposed land bridges from Korea and China to Japan, so it isn't hard to assume some people went for a walk.


[This message has been edited by Taohn (edited 07-27-2002).]