Abstract: The original connotation of the Silk Road referred to the route for trade between the East and the West with silk as the main trading product in the first place. Afterwards, the function and significance of the Silk Road has been extended to multiple aspects including political interaction as well as economic and cultural exchange. An important role was ever played by the Silk Road in the enrichment and development of ancient Japanese culture. It is conducive to enhancing the comprehension and support towards our plan of "the Belt and Road" for Japanese society to study the positive historical influences of the Silk Road on the formation of Japanese culture comprehensively and systematically.

Key words: The Belt and Road, Silk Road, Japanese culture, historical influences