What are the ancestors of the Japanese?

Research into the ancestry of the Japanese people has been conducted mainly in the fields of archaeology, genetics, and anthropology. Based on the results of research in these fields, it is believed that the ancestors of the Japanese people have multiple roots. The origins of the people living in the Japanese archipelago involve two main groups , the Jomon and Yayoi people, who are thought to have arrived in Japan at different times.

1. Jomon people

Period: Indigenous people who lived in the Japanese archipelago from about 16,500 years ago to around 300 BC.
Origin: The Jomon people are people who migrated to the Japanese archipelago from East Asia and Southeast Asia and lived a life centered on hunting and gathering and fishing. They lived in the Japanese archipelago for a long time and developed their own unique Jomon culture.
Characteristics: The Jomon people have unique genetic characteristics that are different from modern Japanese and other Asians, such as mitochondrial DNA haplogroups N9b and M7a. The Jomon culture is known for its advanced pottery making techniques.

2. Yayoi people

Period: New people who migrated to the Japanese archipelago from around 300 BC to around 300 AD.
Origin: The Yayoi people were an agricultural people who migrated from mainland China and the Korean peninsula. They brought rice agriculture and had a different lifestyle from the Jomon people. The Yayoi culture is primarily characterized by agriculture and the use of iron tools.
Characteristics: The Yayoi people, unlike the Jomon people, are genetically closer to the people of modern China and the Korean peninsula. With the arrival of the Yayoi people, interbreeding with the Jomon people progressed, forming the genetic foundation of modern Japanese people.

3. Genetic makeup of modern Japanese people

Modern Japanese people are believed to have been formed mainly by interbreeding between the Jomon and Yayoi peoples. After the Yayoi people migrated to the Japanese archipelago, the Jomon and Yayoi people interbred, which has influenced the genetic characteristics of modern Japanese people. Genetic studies have shown that the DNA of Japanese people contains about 20% to 40% genes derived from the Jomon people, and the rest is derived from the Yayoi people.

4. Genetic Evidence

Analysis of mitochondrial DNA (maternal lineage) and Y chromosome DNA (paternal lineage) has revealed the genetic characteristics of the Jomon and Yayoi people.

Mitochondrial DNA (maternal lineage):
Common haplogroups in the Jomon people include N9b and M7a , which are unique to Japan and indicate the ancestry of the Jomon people.
On the other hand, haplogroups common among the Yayoi people include D4 and B4 , which are commonly seen in China and the Korean Peninsula and reflect the lineage of the Yayoi people.
Y chromosome DNA (paternal lineage):
The haplogroup associated with the Jomon people is D1b , a genetic lineage unique to Japan.
The haplogroup associated with the Yayoi people is the O lineage, a genetic lineage commonly found in China and the Korean peninsula.

5. The influence of immigration from ancient times to the Middle Ages

In addition to the Jomon and Yayoi people, various other immigrants have historically visited the Japanese archipelago, which has also influenced the genetic makeup of modern Japanese people.

Immigrants from the continent: After the Yayoi period, especially during the Kofun and Asuka periods, many immigrants (immigrants) arrived from China and the Korean peninsula. This led to further genetic interbreeding.
Ainu and Ryukyu people: The Ainu people are in the northern part of the Japanese archipelago, and the Ryukyu people (Okinawa) are in the southern part. They also have their own unique genetic characteristics. The Ainu people in particular are said to have a strong connection to the Jomon people.

Conclusion

The ancestors of the Japanese people are mainly the mixture of Jomon and Yayoi people, and the genetic characteristics of modern Japanese people were created by the influence of immigrants from the continent. Genetic research has revealed that the roots of the Japanese people are diverse, and that the Japanese people of today exist as a result of the interaction of various groups over a long history.