Brief History Of Japan

From HyogoAJET

The following is a very brief summarazation of the history of Japan, broken up by period. For more information see this Wikipedia article: History of Japan

Jomon (縄文時代14,000-300 BC): Hunter gatherer.

Yayoi (弥生時代300 BC-250 AD ): Iron/Bronze making

Kofun (古墳時代 250-538): Military state centered around clans.

Asuka (飛鳥時代 538-710): Buddhism arrives.

Nara (奈良時代 710-794): Kojiki / Nihon Shoki written - the classical origins of Japan (incl. Emperor Jimmu, a direct descendant of the sun god Amaterasu).

Heian (平安時代 794-1185): Peak of Japanese imperial court system.

Kamakura (鎌倉時代 1185-1333): Beginning of feudal Japan. Samurai class are defacto rulers. "Kamikaze" wind defeats Mongol invasion.

Muromachi (室町時代 1336-1573): Intense internal fighting; first Westerners arrive.

Azuchi-Momoyama (安土桃山時代 1568-1600): Military reunification, invasion of Korea, China.

Edo (江戸時代 1603-1868): Tokugawa clan rules in Edo (Tokyo). Supression of Western influence. Commodore Perry forces Japan open. Collapses in Boshin War (Japanese Civil War).

Meiji (明治維新1868-1912): Emperor restored to power; Sino-Japanese War; Russo-Japanese War.

Taisho (大正時代 1912-1926): WWI.

Showa (昭和時代 1926-1989):WWII, US occupation and recovery.

Heisei (平成 1989-Present): Nikkei reaches all time record high.