Foreign Student (hereinafter FS): Quite a stir was caused when, at an auction held in London on May, 2015, a Jomon period clay figure sold for 190 million yen. Could you explain the reasons for this high price? Teacher (hereinafter T): The Jomon period denotes the period from 15,000 years ago to 2,300 years ago. In February 2014 in Toyoma Prefecture, there was a huge buzz surrounding the discovery of 91 sets of human bones from the Jomon period. This discovery and other scientific investigations like it revealed that the Jomon civilization kept going for more than 10,000 years, a longer period than any other civilization in the world. FS: They say that during the Jomon period, people had to move around in order to hunt. Isn’t this correct? T: In recent years, international studies have revealed that the Jomon people enjoyed a rich lifestyle by settling and forming large communities. FS: I was taught that humans started building settlements from the Yayoi period when agricultural practices such as rice farming were imported from the continent. Isn’t this correct? T: This was our understanding up until now. However, the discovery of a large settlement among the Sannai-Maruyama ruins in Aomori Prefecture changed our perceptions about life during the Jomon period. Among the remains discovered here was the site of a huge house, a 15-meter wide street, and six large wooden pillars from what appears to be an observation tower. In addition, the excavation of tens of thousands of pieces of pottery, including clay figures, proved that a high level of technology existed during this period. FS: How did they obtain food? T: Because there were forests close to the settlement, the environment provided them with abundant sources of food – most notably chestnuts and acorns – to harvest. It seems that they made the best use of the changing seasons by harvesting seasonal plants, and hunting fish and other animals. Furthermore, traces of cooked food, such as fish or meat were found on pottery shards. Also it was discovered that the people of the period wore garments made of cloth. FS: During this period agriculture began in Western Asia and China. It must have had been introduced to Japan, but why didn’t Japan adopt these methods? T: In order to begin farming, it is necessary to clear land; the natural environment must be destroyed. It is thought that at that time Japan had such abundant natural resources that it was not necessary to do this. They were able to live in harmony with nature, a sustainable lifestyle that is now sought by people all over the world. FS: Why is the period called the Jomon period? T: This is because patterns created with ropes have been seen in many excavated pieces of pottery; the kanji for “jo” from the word “Jomon” refers to a kind of rope made from plant fibers. Fine patterns in the pottery signify that gods and spirits dwell inside these objects. The well-known Japanese artist OKAMOTO Taro said that he was inspired by Jomon patterns and clay figures. You might say that the origins of the Shinto religion – which places an emphasis on our coexistence with nature’s gods – are in Jomon culture.