Japan’s 10,000-Year Cannabis Legacy and Its Place in the Global Green Rush
Ancient Hemp Discoveries Reveal Japan’s Deep Connection to Cannabis
The global “Green Rush”—the widespread legalization and commercialization of the cannabis industry—has sparked renewed interest in Japan’s historical relationship with cannabis (大麻). In December 2023, Japan took its first step toward cannabis legalization by revising the Cannabis Control Act and the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act, allowing for the use of medical cannabis starting from December 2024. However, at the same time, Japan imposed stricter criminal penalties for recreational cannabis use, introducing a new offense of “cannabis use” that carries severe punishments.
Although this marks a significant first step in Japan’s cannabis legalization efforts in 2025, the relationship between the Japanese people and cannabis is far deeper than most realize.
In fact, archaeological discoveries have confirmed that cannabis played an integral role in Japan as far back as the early Jōmon period, approximately 12,000 years ago. Excavations at the Torihama Shell Mound in Fukui Prefecture (鳥浜貝塚遺跡) revealed cannabis ropes and seeds dating to this remarkably early period—making it the oldest known archaeological evidence of cannabis use in the world. Additional findings have reinforced this connection: pollen from cannabis plants dating around 9,400 BCE was discovered at a Jōmon site in Tsunan, Niigata Prefecture, and cannabis seeds dating around 10,000 BCE were unearthed at a site in Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture.
These discoveries, mostly reported in the late 2000s and 2010s, indicate that cannabis was widely distributed across the Japanese archipelago long before recorded history. Moreover, the connection between cannabis and Jōmon pottery provides compelling insights into Japan’s ancient culture. The term “Jōmon” (縄文), which literally means “cord-marked,” refers to the distinctive patterns formed on pottery by pressing ropes and fibers into clay. Recent archaeological findings confirm that some of these ropes were made from cannabis, directly linking cannabis to the very identity of Jōmon culture.
While early Jōmon society primarily followed a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, meaning large-scale cultivation was not yet practiced, it is highly likely that wild cannabis naturally grew throughout Japan and was harvested by the Jōmon people. Although there is still some debate as to whether cannabis was indigenous to the Japanese islands, one prevalent theory is that the plant originated in Central Asia and traveled eastward along what later became known as the Silk Road. By the Jōmon period, cannabis had undoubtedly reached Japan via China.
Today, discussions about cannabis are often narrowly focused on its medical and recreational applications, overlooking its diverse historical uses. For the Jōmon people, however, cannabis was a vital resource that transcended simple consumption. Due to the unique properties of cannabis—fast growth and resilience across diverse environments—Jōmon communities integrated it deeply into their daily lives. Cannabis served not only as a food source but also as essential material for fishing lines, nets, clothing, and ropes.
This widespread practical application established cannabis as an indispensable part of Jōmon society. Furthermore, ancient Japanese people embodied a zero-waste philosophy with cannabis, utilizing every part of the plant—including roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds—in daily life. In today’s world, as zero-waste movements gain global traction, this ancient practice highlights cannabis’s potential role as a model of sustainable living.
While cannabis was certainly not the only resource shaping Jōmon society, its significance cannot be overstated. As global trends continue to reevaluate cannabis, Japan’s rediscovery of its deep historical relationship with this plant offers profound insights for future discussions. With Japan beginning its tentative journey toward legalization, understanding the country’s 10,000-year cannabis legacy could profoundly shape future cultural and policy decisions.
In the next article, we’ll explore how Japan’s unique Shinto faith was inseparably connected to cannabis.