Both Japanese and Korean are predominantly Altaic languages (Tungusic), but both show underlying strata from other language families. Around 2000 BC, the Huaxia people of the Huang He valley in China conquered and absorbed other peoples found there and nearby, including the Dongyi people of Shandong (related to the Hmong). Many of the Dongyi fled across the sea to Korea and mixed with the Tungusics they found there; these gave rise to the modern Korean people. This would explain why Korean is not fully Altaic. Not long after, mixed Dongyi and Tungusics migrated to Kyushu and southern Honshu, where they existed in various tribes; these were the Yayoi people of Japan. Around the time of Christ, the Yayoi absorbed the Kumasi (Austronesians from Taiwan) and the Jomon people (indigenous Austroasiatics) to form the nucleus of the modern Japanese people. Later they absorbed the remaining Ainu, who not only were archaic Caucasians (possibly related to Finns and Yukaghirs), but probably had proto-Amerind blood as well (they intermarried extensively with the nearby Gilyaks, who have proven language affinities with the Almosans of North America). So the Japanese, while being largely Tungusic from Manchuria, also have many other strands in their makeup, like most peoples. Oh wait, the bird? Gee. I dunno. Eggs? Like, on my face? Well, at least you know the origin of the Japanese themselves, now you can ask one of them about the quail.
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