Final answer:
The Japanese lived mainly on the coastline due to the better trading opportunities offered by coastal areas, which were vital for an island nation with limited domestic resources. This, coupled with the urbanization of coastal areas and Japan's unique historical development, supports the prominence of coastal living.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main reason Japanese people historically lived along the coastlines is due to the better trading opportunities that coastal areas offered. Japan is an archipelago with mountainous terrain, which naturally concentrated populations in coastal areas where the land was more conducive to settlement and where the sea provided abundant resources. Given Japan's geographic isolation, trade was essential for obtaining resources not available domestically. Moreover, Japan's coastal regions rapidly became urbanized as the country's industrial sector grew, further solidifying the importance of coastal living for economic opportunities.
Japan's development strategy starkly contrasts with other nations due to its unique historical isolation, structured society, and semi-urban communal living along the coasts. Agriculture played a role, but so did fishing and trade. Moreover, the industrialization of Japan demonstrates the nation's capacity to leverage its coastal geography for economic expansion without substantial overseas colonies, relying instead on trade networks and the growth of urban centers.