Japan is close to china. religion tends to travel. its the same way America learned about Christianity, Catholicism, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. it was brought over.
In the 6-8Th centuries AD, Japan looked to China as the source of sophisticated, modern ideas in everything from urban planning to diet, warfare and religion. Although never adopted as a "religion", the philosophies of uniformity and community derived from Confucianism were quickly assimilated in Japanese culture-the layout of city streets in Nara is a good example.
How did the Japanese learn about Confucianism?
