"Envision Tokyo, Japan, in 3,573 BC, a time deep in the Jomon period

"Envision Tokyo, Japan, in 3,573 BC, a time deep in the Jomon period, long before the rise of the modern city. The landscape is predominantly natural, with thick forests of ancient trees covering much of the region. The terrain is a mix of rolling hills, valleys, and rivers, with the area that would one day become Tokyo Bay being a coastal wetland teeming with wildlife. Small, scattered communities of Jomon people live in harmony with the land. Their settlements consist of simple, semi-subterranean pit houses (known as tateana) made of wood and thatch, with only the thatched roofs visible above ground. These houses are clustered together in small villages, usually near rivers or coastlines, where the Jomon people fish, hunt, and gather food. The people wear clothing made from plant fibers and animal skins, and they are skilled artisans, creating intricate pottery with rope-like patterns, as well as stone tools, and jewelry made from bone, shell, and jade. The area is rich with natural resources, and the Jomon people have a deep connection to nature, engaging in rituals and ceremonies that reflect their spiritual beliefs, often centered around nature and ancestor worship. The air is filled with the sounds of nature—birds, insects, and the rustling of leaves in the wind. There are no large man-made structures, roads, or towns, just the peaceful and undisturbed landscape of ancient Japan, where the Jomon people live a simple, yet rich and culturally vibrant life, deeply connected to the environment around them."