This book provides an overview of the distribution, properties, and function of soils in Japan. First, it offers general descriptions of the country's climate, geology, geomorphology, and land use, the history of the Japanese soil classification system and characteristics and genesis of major soil types follow. For each region - a geographic/administrative region of the country - there is a chapter with details of current land use as well as properties and management challenges of major soils. Maps of soil distribution, pedon descriptions, profile images, and tables of properties are included throughout the text and appendices.