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| Time | Period | Headlines |
| circa 30,000-10,000BC | Ancient Japan | The Beginning of the Settlement of Japan |
| 10,000BC- 300BC | Jomon Period | 660BC- Yamato State Founded pre-555 A.D.-Archaic Art Period |
| 300BC-300AD | Yayoi Period | 1 AD-Reign of Jimmu Tenno as ruler of Japan 57 AD- Japan is first mentioned in a historical account- though |
| 300AD-710AD | Yamato/Kofun Period | 400- Emergence of Yamato Clan 405- Japan adopts the usage of Chinese characters for their official written language 538-552 Buddhism and Confuciansism enter Japan 552-645 Asuka Art Period 592-Reign of Suiko and Regent 594-Buddhism declared state religion. 604-Japan's first constitution issued. 607-First Japanese ambassador to China 628-Reign of Shotoku Taishi 645-Taika Reform-Chinese style of administration and land distribution implanted. Taxes and a legal system are introduced. 645-794 Nara Art Period 702-Taiho Code |
| 710AD-794AD | Nara Period | 710-First Imperial Capital established in the city of Nara. 712-Japan's first written history, the Kojiki is published. 752-Daibutsu (a big bronze statue of Buddha) erected 781-806-The Reign of Emperor Kammu |
| 794AD-1185AD | Heian Period | 794-Capital moved to Heian-Kyo (modern-day Kyoto) 974-1185 Heian Art Period 1000-Lady Shikubu Muraskaki's novel, The Tale of Genji, written. This is the world's first novel. 1088-1150 Samurai culture emerges;the warrior class is managing affairs in the provinces. 1159-Taira Kiyomori usurps government control |
| 1185AD-1333AD | Kamakura Period | 1160-1180 Reign of the Taira Family 1185-Minamoto Yoritomo conquers the Taira clan. 1185-1333 Kamakura Art Period 1191-Zen Buddhism is imported from China.The Zen priests start a trend by drinking tea for meditation. Later, tea becomes Japan's national drink. 1192-Yoritomo named the first shogun (military ruler). 1199-Hojo Regency starts. 1253-Nichiren sect founded. 1274-First invasion attempt by Chinese Mongols led by Kublai Khan proves unsuccessful 1281-Second invasion attempt- Japan saved by Kamikaze ("Divine Winds") or typhoons 1333-Hojo Regency ends. Direct imperial rule is instituted by Emperor Go-Daigo |
| 1333AD-1568AD | Ashikaga/Muromachi Period | 1333-1569-Muromachi Art Period 1338-Ashikaga Takauji becomes the new shogun 1397-Golden Pavilion built. 1467-Onin Civil War leads to a century of war and disorder. 1543-Portuguese introduce Christianity. They are the first Europeans to ever visit Japan. 1549- Jesuit movement introduced by St. Francis Xavier |
| 1568AD-1600AD | Azuchi-Momoyama Period (Period of Unification) | 1568-Nobunaga reign 1568-1615 Azuchi-Momoyama Art Period 1582-Nobunaga dies and is succeeded by Toyotomi. 1587- Persecution of Christians starts 1587-Hideyoshi takes control of Japan and issues an Anti-Christian edict. 1592-1597 Hideyoshi's Korean expeditions- attempts to conquer Korea 1597-At Nagasaki, 26 Christians are crucified. 1598-Hideyoshi dies. |
| 1603AD-1867AD | Tokugawa/Edo Era | 1600-Tokugawa Ieyasu takes control after the Battle of Sekigahara. 1603-Foundation of bakufu founded. 1637-Shimbara revolt. Death to Christians and rebels. 1639-Seclusion edicts lead to Japanese isolation 1703-The 47 Ronin Incident 1688-1704 Genroku Period- Japanese Renaissance 1707-Mount Fuji erupts for the last time 1715-yoshimune becomes new shogun and starts reform 1783-1786 Period of great famines and epidemics. 1789-The Matsudaira Sadanobu reforms. 1808-First european attempt to break Japan's isolation. 1853-Arrival of Commodore Perry of the US 1854-Japan signs Treaty of Friendship wtih US 1867-Tokugawa Shogunate destroyed by Emperor Meiji. |
| 1867AD-1912AD | Meiji Period | 1868-Capital transfered to Edo (modern-day Tokyo) post-1868-Meiji and Modern Art Periods 1869-Feudalism abolished -the start of modern Japan 1874-First popular Assembly 1877-The last attempt to overthrown the Meiji Restoration- failed 1885-1890 First elections for Parliament held. Prime minister and Cabinet appointed. 1889-Prince Ito's Constitution grants limited suffrage 1894-1895 Sino-Japanese War; Japanese is victorious 1902-Anglo-Japanese Alliance 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese war: Japan wins again 1910-Korea annexed |
| 1912AD-1925AD | Taisho Period | 1912-Meiji dies and Taisho ascends throne 1914-1918 World War I 1920-Japan joins League of Nations 1923-Devastating earthquake in Tokyo and Yokohoma. 1925-Universale adult male suffrage granted. |
| 1926-1989 | Showa Period | 1926-Emperor Hirohito ascends the throne as a result of the death of Taisho. 1931-Japan conquers Manchuria. 1933-Japan drops out of League of Nations after League opposes Japan's Manchuria action. 1937-Japan invades China 1940-Japan joins alliance with Germany and Italy. 1941-Japan attacks Pearl Harbor 1942-Battle of Midway is Japan's first major defeat of World War II and the turning point of the war. 1945-Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki; American occupation of Japan and the end of WWII 1947- Japan's democratic constitution comes into effect. Woman suffrage. 1952-End of US occupation 1955-Liberal Democratic Party formed. 1956-Japan joins United Nations and relations wtih U.S.S.R are restored. 1964-Tokyo Olympics 1970-Expo 70 in Osaka. 1972-Winter Olympics in Sapporo. Okinawa returned to Japan and relations with China are restored. 1973-Oil Crisis 1974-Prime Minister Tanaka resigns and is succeeded by Takeo Miki. 1975-Queen Elizabeth II visits Japan. 1976-Scandal! Tanaka arrested. Miki resigns and is in turn succeeded by Takeo Fukuda. |
| 1989-present | Heisei | 1989-Crown Prince Akihito ascends the throne 1995-Earthquake near Kobe; over 4000 dead. Gas Attack in Tokyo Subway. 1996-US agrees to phase out military in Okinawa. 1998-Nagano Winter Olympics |
| The Future | Future Japan | ? |