Genetics of Japanese people similar to Koreans?

Wow — 91% Korean and 9% Jomon ancestry!

What percentage?

Based on a large-scale genetic study from 2021, modern Japanese populations can be modeled as deriving predominantly from Korean ancestry. Specifically, the study found that Japanese populations can be modeled as having approximately 91% Korean and 9% Jōmon genetic ancestry oai_citation:1,Genetic and anthropometric studies on Japanese people – Wikipedia. This reflects the significant historical migrations and interactions between the Korean Peninsula and the Japanese archipelago, particularly during the Yayoi period, when people from the Korean Peninsula migrated to Japan and mingled with the indigenous Jōmon population oai_citation:2,DNA Analysis Rewrites Ancient History of Japan | Smart News| Smithsonian Magazine.

The genetics of Japanese and Korean people have similarities due to shared ancestry and historical migrations, but there are also distinct differences. Both populations are part of the broader East Asian genetic group, which is characterized by certain genetic markers and traits.

Historically, the Japanese archipelago was first inhabited by the Jomon people, a hunter-gatherer group. Around 300 BCE, the Yayoi people, who were rice farmers, migrated from the Korean Peninsula to Japan. This migration had a significant genetic impact on the existing Jomon population. Modern Japanese people have genetic contributions from both these ancestral groups.

Korean genetics, on the other hand, have been influenced by various groups from Siberia, Central Asia, and China, in addition to their own indigenous populations. Over centuries, the Korean Peninsula saw numerous migrations and invasions, each contributing to the genetic landscape.

The similarities between Japanese and Korean genetics are thus rooted in shared ancestry and historical connections. However, each population has also been shaped by its unique historical and geographical context, leading to certain genetic distinctions.

In summary, while there are genetic similarities between Japanese and Koreans due to shared ancestry and historical migrations, each group has also developed unique genetic characteristics over time.