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HISTORICAL
TIMELINE
660 B.C. Ascension of Japan’s first
emperor, Jimmu according to legend
| 300-645
A.D. |
YAMATO
PERIOD |
| 538-552 |
Introduction
of Buddhism
from Korea |
| 593-622 |
Reign
of Prince Shotoku |
| 607 |
First
Japanese envoy visits China |
| 645 |
Rise
of the Fujiwara clan |
| 702 |
Japan’s
first constitution |
| 710-784 |
NARA
PERIOD |
| 712 |
Historical
record of ancient Japan, Kojiki
is published |
| 720 |
Nihon
Shoki (Chronicle of Japan) is published |
| 752 |
Dedication
of the Great Buddha of Todai Temple in Nara |
| 794-1185 |
HEIAN
PERIOD |
| 894 |
Travel
to China is prohibited |
| 995-1027 |
Golden
years of the Fujiwara clan |
1002-1019 |
Genji
Monogatari (Tale of Genji) by Murasaki Shikibu is written |
| 1180-1185 |
War
between the Taira and Minamoto clans |
| 1185-1333 |
KAMAKURA
PERIOD |
| 1192 |
Kamakura
Shogunate is formed |
| 1274 |
First
Mongol invasion of Japan |
| 1281 |
Second
Mongol invasion |
| 1333 |
Kamakura
Shogunate falls |
| 1338-1573 |
MUROMACHI
PERIOD |
| 1338 |
Ashikaga
Shogunate is formed |
| 1467-1477 |
Onin
War between clans |
| 1543 |
First
Portuguese ship arrives in Japan |
| 1549 |
Catholic
Missionary is formed by Francis Xavier in Kagoshima |
| 1568-1600 |
MOMOYAMA
PERIOD |
| 1568 |
Nobunaga
Oda takes over Kyoto |
| 1582 |
Nobunaga
is assassinated |
| 1585 |
Hideyoshi
Toyotomi becomes civil dictator |
| 1592 |
Hideyoshi
sends army to invade Korea |
| 1600 |
Ieyasu
Tokugawa wins battle of Sekigahara |
| 1600-1868 |
EDO
(TOKUGAWA) PERIOD |
| 1602 |
Dutch East India Company is formed |
| 1603 |
Tokugawa Shogunate is formed |
| 1615 |
Tokugawa
Shogun captures Osaka
Castle |
| 1637-1638 |
Christians
in Shimabara rebel |
| 1639 |
Japan
closes its doors to the outside world (sakkoku) expelling
foreigners |
| 1853
|
Commodore
Matthew Perry arrives in Japan (Uraga port near Tokyo) |
1854 |
Japan signs Treaty of Kanagawa with U.S |
| 1858 |
Japan signs Treaty of Friendship and Commerce with U.S. |
| 1867 |
Tokugawa
Shogunate falls |
| 1868 |
Emperor
Meiji ascends the throne |
| 1868-1912 |
MEIJI
PERIOD |
| 1868 |
Feudal
clan system abolished |
| 1877 |
Satsuma
Rebellion quelled |
| 1889 |
First
modern constitution established |
| 1894-1895 |
Japan
goes to war with China |
| 1902 |
Japan
establishes alliance with England |
| 1904-1905 |
Japan
goes to war with Russia |
| 1910 |
Japan
annexes Korea |
| 1912-1926 |
TAISHO
PERIOD |
| 1914 |
Japan sides with Allied Nations in war against Germany |
| 1918 |
Japan’s parliamentary cabinet is formed |
| 1923 |
Great
Kanto earthquake destroys Tokyo
and Yokohama |
| 1926-1989 |
SHOWA
PERIOD |
| 1931 |
Japan
takes Manchuria |
| 1933 |
Japan
leaves the League of Nations |
| 1940-1941 |
Japan
expands war to Southeast Asia |
| 1941 |
Japan
bombs Pearl Harbor |
| 1945 |
Atomic
bombs destroy Hiroshima
and Nagasaki, Japan surrenders |
| 1945-1952 |
U.S.
Occupational Army occupies Japan under General MacArthur |
| 1947 |
Constitution
of Japan is enacted |
| 1952 |
Treaty
of San Francisco ends occupation |
| 1989 |
HEISEI
PERIOD |
| 1989 |
Emperor, Akihito accedes the throne upon the death of
his father, Hirohito |
| 1991 |
Japan’s
bubble economy bursts |
| 1997 |
Takao Doi is first Japanese astronaut to walk in space |
For a comprehensive
culture history with photos, please visit JapanCorner’s
Cultural
History page.
 
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