Where can I find information on Ancient Japan's social structure? (Ancient= 8000 BCE to 600 CE)?

Question

I do know that none existed till the Yayoi period. Other than that, I'm stuck! :)

Answer 1

That is what is called "before writing existed". :)

Probably the Japanese natural history museums might be a good place to start. I went to one in Nara many years ago, not sure if there is any reference that far back. Same for Kamakura.

And since ancient Heian is modern Kyoto, you could start looking there too... I think the street layouts near the oldest sections match what is described in Sei Shonagon's Pillow Book.

I bet you would surely find access or leads to scholars that could guide you in those areas, especially if you read/speak Japanese.

I also believe Harvard's East Asian department may have scholars worth contacting.

But you are probably looking at the lives of native people, not the people we call Japanese today. The Japanese creation myths don't really go back that far IIRC.