Why Nobody Lives In Japan's Northern Island (Hokkaido)

Grab your General Knowledge Plushie here: https://memeshapes.com/products/general-knowledge-plush In this video I look into why Japan's northernmost island, Hokkaido, is home to only 5 million people despite its vast size - comparable to neighboring South Korea or Austria. Exploring the details of Japan’s unique population distribution as a whole, where a small percentage of the population resides in the expansive rural areas while major cities like Tokyo house millions. We'll understand Japan and Hokkaido's geographical challenges, and specifically the island's harsh climate, historical context (namely the forced integration of the native Ainu), and economic factors that contribute to its low population density and number compared to the rest of Japan. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Quick Answer 00:17 Japan's Population Density 00:55 Japan's Second Largest & Emptiest Island 01:39 General Knowledge Plushie Campaign 02:05 The Most & Least Populated Areas of Japan 02:56 The Impact of Geography/Topography 03:32 Economic Impact 03:50 Industrialization & Urbanization 04:50 Hokkaido's Size and Population 05:11 Hokkaido's Population Density 06:05 The Island's Terrain 06:20 Local Infrastructure 06:48 Cold Climate 07:44 Impact on Agriculture 08:20 Earthquakes, Volcanos, Natural Disasters