Who Are the Japanese? New DNA Study Shocks Scientists

By studying the genomes of more than 3,000 people across Japan, researchers have shed light on the population’s complex ancestry. The work may also pave the way for future precision medicine.

Researchers discovered that the genetic lineage of Japan’s population includes three ancestral groups, revising the previous understanding of just two. By using whole-genome sequencing of over 3,200 individuals from across Japan, the study identified significant genetic variations and ties to north-east Asia, particularly the Emishi people.

Genetic Diversity in Japan

A genetic study led by scientists from RIKEN’s Center for Integrative Medical Sciences has uncovered evidence that people in Japan descend from three ancestral groups.^[1]

The findings, published recently in the journal