Arrow Downward Arrow Downward Close Close Done Done Cart Cart clock clock
iGENEA
Personal guidance

We are always happy to help you! Contact us via e-mail or Whatsapp.

If you would like us to call you back, please provide your phone number and how you can be reached. We will be happy to call you for a personal consultation.

info@igenea.com WhatsApp

Ancient tribe Japanese people - Ancestry and origin

Order DNA origin analysis

Where is the origin of the Japanese?

Humans had already colonized Japan according to some sources 100,000 years ago, at the latest though, this occurred by 25,000 B.C., when Japan was connected to the continent during the Ice Age.
After the Ice Age there arose in Japan the Jomon-Culture, a hunter-gatherer culture that became famous because of the Jomon-ceramics. In the late Jomon-Period, the transition to settled living occurred, when people began to live from agriculture.
From the first millennium B.C. on, the Yayoi people emigrated from or through Korea to northern Kyushu. From there they spread out into the Kanto plains. The Yayoi were rice farmers, who practice paddy-style planting. The further they spread to the north, the lower their yields became, and it took a very long time before rice plants adapted to the cold climate of northern Japan (rice has only been planted on Hokkaido in north Japan since the end of the 19th century).

What is the ancestry of the Japanese?

Archeological finds such as skulls, teeth, grave mounds, but also genetic investigations have discovered significant differences between the Jomon and Yayoi with respect to modern Japanese, but also commonalities between the Yayoi and Koreans, Jomon and Ainu, as well as the inhabitants of the Ryukyu Islands. Yayoi and Jomon intermarried. The percentage of Yayoi genes decreases in the population of northern Kyushu from the north to the south, and is smallest among the inhabitants of the Ryukyu islands and among the Ainu.
According to current theories, the Ainu are to be regarded as descendants of groups of he Jomon culture, who were displaced to the north by the Yayoi and interbred there with Siberian people groups (the Niwchen). Genetic research supports this thesis.
The geographic and ethnic origin of the Japanese people is however still not completely explained. The immigration of what were likely Mongolian and Mallian tribes proceeded either from the south or in two waves from the south and one from the north during the Middle Stone Age. The newest archeological finds provide evidence of a Old Stone Age life in Japan 20,000 years ago. The Jomon, who lived from 7,000 to 300 B.C., are considered the indigenous people. They lived an independent existence as fishermen, hunters and gatherers, untouched by the influences of small village life. They were likely strongly Animistic in religion. Around 250 B.C. the Yayoi culture began to displace the Jomon culture. They brought the wet-field rice planting (paddy system) simultaneously from southern China and Korea to Japan. Through the gradual melding of the handcrafts and skills of the Asian continent with the practices of the indigenous people, the Japanese way of life and state organization were formed.

Genetic indigenous peoples by iGENEA

Jews Vikings Celts Germanic Tribes Basques show all ancient tribes

iGENEA DNA Test: An Excursion into My Celtic Ancestry and the Reshaping of My Fain Family Identity

Taking the iGENEA DNA test has profoundly shaped my understanding of my family's identity and the significance of my surname 'Fain'. Discovering a lineage that traces back to the ancient Celts, I discovered my roots, recognized inherent family traits, and felt a sense of belonging to an ancient and resilient civilization.
» Field report from T. Fain

Revelations from my Oestreich Lineage: Detailed iGENEA DNA Analysis Experience

I decided to delve into my family's history with iGENEA DNA analysis, revealing a detailed map of my lineage. The results not only provided geographical insight into my family name, Oestreich, but painted an extraordinary portrait of my ancestors' journey through the epochs of history, introducing me to my roots in a profound new way.
» Field report from Z. Oestreich

Unraveling the Threads of My Ancestry: A Journey Through iGENEA DNA and The Tale of Wiegmann

Through the all-revealing lens of the iGENEA DNA test, I embarked on a soul-searching journey deep into the roots of my ancestry and the origins of my surname, Wiegmann. An exploration that unveiled a rich tapestry woven with the threads of German culture, history, and an enduring survival instinct. The test lent insights into how Wiegmanns were key to the local economy and culture of Lower Saxony, renowned for their craftsmanship and resilience.
» Field report from J. Wiegmann

This is how the DNA origin analysis works

A Mucus Sample suffices to get a sample of your DNA. Taking the sample is simple and painless and can be done at home. Send the samples with the envelop included in the sampling kit.

Order test kit
Get test kit
Take samples

at home, simple and painless

Send in samples

with the enclosed envelope

Result

online after approx. 6-8 weeks

Your origin analysis
-10%