Two late prehistories in the north and south

Jomon culture spread over the whole territory of the present Japan. Yayoi culture, however, did not reach to the same extent, thus leaving remnant Jomon cultures in the north and south. The acquisition of writing in the latter areas was so late that the prehistoric stage lingered for a long time. Also late was the development of political complexity. Through most of the historical period, the Japanese considered these areas to be outside of their own world. The late prehistory of the north and south of the Japanese Islands provides us with interesting material to consider the relationships through time between natural environment, subsistence pattern, cultural area, nation and state.