Japanese Historical
to learn about this
Periods Timeline
Jōmon Period (縄文時代 14,000
BC–300 BC)
➢ The earliest evidence of
human habitation in the
Japanese archipelago dates
from around 30,000 years ago,
with evidence of ancient
human inhabitation found in
places such as Okinawa’s
Yamashita Cave. From 13,000
BC onwards, a hunter-gatherer
culture also gradually
developed in the islands. This
culture would eventually
achieve significant cultural
complexity.
➢ In 1877, American
archaeologist Edward S.
Morse named this prehistorical
period of Japanese history as
Jōmon, the name itself
meaning “cord-marked.” His
choice of name was inspired
by the way the above-
mentioned hunter-gatherers
decorated pottery by
impressing rope-cords onto
wet clay.
➢ Of note, Shintoism creation
myths state the founding of the
Japanese Imperial Family to
have happened during the
Jōmon Period. However, there
is no conclusive archaeological
evidence supporting these
claims.
Footnotes
➢ In academic discussions,
the Jōmon Period is
usually divided into the
early, middle, and late/final
eras. Most timelines,
however, do not make this
distinction.
➢ The most convenient place
with archaeological evidence
prehistorical period of
Japanese history is Tokyo
National Museum, which
has a sizable collection of
Jōmon Period relics. Other
major national museums,
such as the Kyūshū
National Museum, also
have extensive displays.
➢ There are various
recreations of Jōmon
Period villages across
Japan. For example, the
Footnotes
Sannai-Maruyama Site in
Aomori Prefecture, and the
Kitakogane Site in
Hokkaido.
➢ The most famous “face” of
the Jōmon Period is
perhaps that of the Dogū.
These unique-looking
earthen figurines are often
mass-produced for sale as
tourist souvenirs.
Yayoi Period (弥生時代 BC 300–AD
300)
➢ In most Japanese history
timelines, the Yayoi Period
overlaps the final years of the
Jōmon Period. The name
comes from a district of
modern-day Tokyo where
ancient, minimally decorated
pottery from this era was first
found. Often described as the
Iron Age of Japan, this
prehistorical period witnessed
the growth of agricultural
development. There was also
noteworthy importing of
weapons and tools, and
agricultural technology, from
China and Korea.
➢ Geographically, Yayoi culture
extended from southern
Kyūshū to northern Honshū,
suggesting the hunter-
gathering culture of the Jōmon
Period was progressively
replaced by agricultural
cultivation. Notably, one area
that has fascinated researchers
is the physical differences
between the Jōmon and Yayoi
people. The Yayoi tend to be
taller than the Jōmon, with
facial features closer to those
of modern-day Japanese.
➢ There is academic
disagreement over when the
Yayoi Period began. Some
discussions place the start date
as early as the tenth century
BC.
➢ In the late 1990s, analysis of
Yayoi remains uncovered in
Southern Japan revealed
similarities to those found in
Jiangsu, China. A general
belief is that the Yayoi people
were immigrants from the
Asiatic mainland.
➢ Yoshinogari in Kyūshū is the
most famous and extensive
reconstruction of a Yayoi
Period settlement.
➢ The Chinese historical text,
Records of the Three
Kingdoms, mentioned Yayoi
Japan. This ancient text named
the ancient island nation as
Yamatai and stated it was
ruled by a priest-queen titled
Queen Himiko.
➢ There has been much
academic debate over whether
“Yamatai” was the Chinese
transliteration of Yamato (see
next section).

➢ Other Chinese historical texts
recorded Yayoi Japan as Wa (
倭). In Chinese, the word
means dwarf and would later
be changed within Japan to Wa
(和), which means harmony.
Kofun Period (古墳時代 AD 300–
AD 538)
➢ The years following the Yayoi
Period saw the gradual
unification of half of the
Japanese archipelago under
one clan. Several rulers of this
clan also constructed several
elaborate burial mounds for
themselves. This practice led
to modern historians naming
this era as Kofun. The name
means “ancient tomb” in the
Japanese language.
➢ Centered in the Kinai
(modern-day Kansai) area of
Honshū, the unified kingdom
soon came to be known as
Yamato too, a name that’s still
synonymous with historical
Japan. During this period, the
nascent country continued to
be strongly influenced by
culture, technology, and arts
imported from China and the
Korean Peninsula.
➢ Buddhism also reached the
country during the final years
of the Kofun Period.
Historically, the introduction
of Buddhism marks the end of
this pre-medieval period in the
Japanese history timeline.
Footnotes
➢ The Yamato rulers based their
rule on Chinese models.
However, they did not have
any permanent capitals. The
capital was frequently shifted,
a practice that continued till
the Heian Period.
➢ The most representative
landmarks of the Kofun Period
are the immense keyhole-
shaped burial mounds of
rulers, many of which can still
be found in the Kansai region.
➢ Based on the location of the
above-mentioned burial
mounds, the Yamato State is
believed to have extended
from Yakushima to present-
day Niigata Prefecture.
➢ The Yamato State was not
unchallenged. There were
other clans coexisting with
them. All of which were
eventually subjugated.
Asuka Period (飛鳥時代 AD 538–
AD 710)
➢ The Asuka Period of Japanese
history began with the
introduction of Buddhism in
the country. It was also
characterized by significant
socio-political and artistic
changes.
➢ Politically, the Yamato clan
was affirmed as the supreme
ruling entity of Southern
Japan. At the height of this
period, the famed Regent
Prince Shōtoku introduced a
new court hierarchy and
constitution, both of which
were inspired by Chinese
ideals and systems. These new
systems eventually formed the
foundation for the next stage
of Japan’s development as a
proper nation.
➢ Importantly, the Asuka Period
further witnessed the
beginning of a phenomenon
that would continue to modern
times.
➢ In AD 587, the powerful Soga
clan took over the government
and became the de facto rulers.
They were overthrown in AD
645, following which the
Fujiwara clan monopolized
power.
➢ Throughout these decades, the
Yamato Emperors remained in
position, still venerated as
supreme sovereigns, but with
little or no power. This
phenomenon of actual political
might residing away from the
Japanese throne will
consistently be repeated
throughout the next 13
hundred years. In a limited
way, it curiously mirrors the
systems of modern
constitutional monarchies.
Footnotes
➢ The period is named after the
Asuka region, which is south
of modern-day Nara. Today,
the Asuka region is a tourist
hotspot for its various Asuka
Period architectures and
museums.
➢ Hōryū-ji, near the Asuka
region, is home to several of
the world’s oldest wooden
structures. The temple was
founded by Prince Shōtoku in
AD 607.
➢ Prince Shōtoku was a devout
Buddhist, credited with the
founding of Japanese
Buddhism. There are many
temples associated with him
throughout the Kansai region.
➢ Prince Shōtoku was also one
of the first Japanese leaders
 to refer to his country as
Nihon, or the Land of the
Rising Sun.
➢ Asukadera Temple in Asuka
contains the oldest known
Japanese statue of the
Footnotes
Buddha with an accepted
date of creation (AD 609).
Nara Period (奈良時代 AD 710–AD
794)
➢ Though the shortest period of
medieval Japanese history, this
brief era witnessed several
significant events. These
being, the establishment of the
country’s first permanent
capital at Heijō-kyō (modern-
day Nara), the completion of
Japanese literary classics such
as the Kojiki and the Nihon
Shoki, and Buddhism gaining
permanent roots in Japan.
➢ Though Buddhism was
introduced into Japan over a
century ago, it only received
state recognition, albeit
indirectly, under the reign of
Emperor Shōmu. A fervent
believer, Shōmu established
provincial temples known as
Kokubunji in each of the
provinces, the most famous of
which is Tōdai-ji, the
provincial temple of the
Yamato Province. Apart from
Tōdai-ji, many other notable
Buddhist institutions were also
founded in Heijō-kyō.
➢ Ironically, the political
influence of these monasteries
eventually became too
worrying for the royal family
and the government, the latter
still dominated by the Fujiwara
clan. In AD 794, the Nara
Period ended with Emperor
Kanmu shifting the capital
away from the monasteries to
Heian-kyō. Heian-kyō, or
modern-day Kyoto, will
remain the Japanese imperial
capital for the next 1000 years.
➢ There are partial
reconstructions of the Heijō-
kyō palace near Nara City
today.
➢ Only a single hall from the
original Heijō-kyō palace
survived. This was moved to
Toshodaiji Temple.
➢ The most famous temple from
the Nara Period is undoubtedly
the immense Tōdai-ji.
However, the current structure
is actually a reconstruction
from AD 1692. The original
temple hall is believed to be
much larger.
➢ Major Buddhist monasteries
were so powerful, they were
able to compete with
aristocratic clans for political
dominance.
➢ The first Japanese-styled
gardens were built during this
medieval period.
➢ The Man'yō-shū, Japan’s
oldest anthology of poetry,
was also compiled during the
Nara Period.
➢ While Emperor Kanmu was
wary of powerful Buddhist
temples, he still sponsored
Buddhist pilgrimages to China.
Most notably, that of Saichō’s
and Kūkai’s. The two masters
would later establish two
major branches of Japanese
Buddhism.
Heian Period (平安時代 AD 794–
AD 1185)
➢ During the Heian Period, the
Yamato court conquered the
Ainu lands of Northern
Honshū, thus extending their
rule over most of the Japanese
archipelago. Conversely, it
also suffered a prolonged
political decline. This decline
was the result of courtiers
being more concerned with
petty power struggles and
artistic pursuits, rather than
proper governing.
➢ In AD 1185, the remnants of
the Taira clan were completely
defeated in the famous Battle
of Dan-no-ura.
➢ Yoritomo thereafter became
the new de facto ruler of the
country. More importantly, he
established the Kamakura
Shogunate and became the
first Shogun, thus kickstarting
the next Japanese historical
era.
Footnotes
➢ The Japanese Kana writing
system is believed to have
been created during the Heian
Period. In turn, the
development of the new
system saw a proliferation of
literary works.
➢ Thanks to the efforts of their
respective founders, the
Japanese Buddhist sects of
Tendai and Shingon flourished
during the Heian Period.
➢ The Tendai Sect, which
enjoyed a close relationship
with the imperial court,
became so powerful they could
support their own monastic
army.
 ➢ The unusual practice of
blackening one’s teeth as a
projection of beauty, known as
ohaguruo, began in the Heian
Period.
➢ The magnificent Byōdōin in
Uji was built during the Heian
Period as a retirement home
for a powerful Fujiwara clan
member.
➢ Development of Mount Kōya,
the headquarters of Japanese
Shingon Buddhism, began
during the early years of the
Heian Period.
➢ The world-famous The Tale of
Genji, one of the world’s
earliest novels, was written
during the Heian Period.
Kamakura Period (鎌倉時代 AD
1185–AD 1333)
➢ In a move that would be
repeated centuries later by
Tokugawa Ieyasu, Minamoto
no Yoritomo established his
base of power at Kamakura,
far away from Heian-kyō i.e.
the imperial capital.
Notoriously, he also ordered
the killing of his brothers
Noriyori and Yoshitsune.
Yoshitsune was forced to
commit ritual suicide after
being cornered in Hiraizumi.
➢ Yoritomo himself died in AD
1199 from a horse-riding
accident, following which his
wife Hōjō Masako seized
power for her family. For the
rest of the Kamakura Period,
the Hōjō regents would be the
ones wielding true authority.
The Kamakura shoguns,
revered as they continued to
be, were no more than political
puppets.
➢ In AD 1274 and again in AD
1281, the Mongolian Empire
launched two massive
invasions of Japan, both of
which failed because of
typhoons. These twin victories,
however, did not strengthen
Hōjō rule. Instead, the regency
was severely weakened by
ever-increasing defense
expenditures.
➢ In AD 1331, Emperor Go-
Daigo attempted to remove the
Kamakura Shogunate and the
Hōjō Regency by force but
was betrayed and defeated.
When the Emperor repeated
his efforts two years later, the
general sent by Kamakura to
deal with him, Ashikaga
Takauji, deflected and
supported the Emperor instead.
➢ With Takauji’s help, Go-Daigo
successfully overthrew the
Kamakura Shogunate and
restored power to the imperial
throne. Unfortunately for him,
though, the imperial court was
by then outdated and
inefficient, completely unable
to govern the country. Seizing
the day once more, Takauji
attacked the capital and
expelled Go-Daigo. He also
appointed himself Shogun,
thus beginning the second
shogunate in Japanese history.
Footnotes
➢ Japan named the typhoons that
repelled the Mongolians as
kamikaze, or divine wind.
Today, the name is more
notoriously remembered as the
suicidal crashing of Zero
fighter planes into Allied
forces during World War II.
➢ Several new schools of
Japanese Buddhism, such as
the Jōdo Shinshū sect and the
Nichiren School, were founded
during the Kamakura Period.
➢ Only the first three Shoguns of
the Kamakura Shogunate were
from the Minamoto clan. The
rest were from other
aristocratic families such as
the Fujiwaras.
➢ The Hojo Regents were known
as Shikken. In Japanese, the
kanji for this title roughly
means “authority executor.”
Muromachi Period (室町時代 AD
1333–AD 1573)
➢ Although Go-Daigo was
expelled by Ashikaga Takauji,
he wasn’t out of the game, so
to speak. Fleeing to Yoshino,
he founded the Southern Court
and challenged Takauji’s
appointed emperor.
➢ This move began the Northern
and Southern Courts period of
Japanese history, during which
the Ashikaga Shogunate faced
the twin challenges of
defeating the Southern Court
while maintaining nationwide
rule. Though Takauji’s
grandson, Yoshimitsu,
ultimately succeeded in
reuniting the country, the seeds
of strife were permanently
planted. This came in the form
of allies appointed by the
Ashikaga Shogunate to
manage the provinces.
➢ Such allies steadily grew in
power over the next few
 decades, till powerful enough
to openly defy the Ashikaga
Shogunate. The leaders of
these factions also styled
themselves as daimyōs, the
title meaning Great Lord or
Great Landowner.
➢ By the final years of the
Ashikaga Shogunate, the
whole country was racked by
endless internal conflicts. The
worst of these was the Ōnin
War of AD 1467, a succession
crisis over who was to be the
next Shogun. Though the crisis
was resolved, the Shogunate
lost all remaining power in the
process, following which the
country was splintered into
numerous feuding states.
➢ Worse, large Buddhist
monasteries that had long
supported their own armies
soon joined the conflicts too.
The Ashikaga Shogunate was
destroyed for good in AD 1573
when daimyō Oda Nobunaga
drove the 15th Ashikaga
Shogun, Yoshiaki, out of the
capital. In AD 1588, Yoshiaki
formally resigned from his
post of Shogun.
Footnotes
➢ The era takes its name from
the Muromachi district of
Heian-kyō, where the “best-
performing” Ashikaga Shogun,
Yoshimitsu, had his residence.
➢ Historians consider the
Ashikaga clan the weakest of
Japan’s three shogunates.
➢ The final years of the
Muromachi Period saw the
arrival of Europeans in the
country. For example, the
Portuguese landed in 1543 at
Tanegashima and introduced
European firearms to Japan.
(Thus, the Japanese matchlock
gun is still often called
Tanegashima)
➢ Jesuit Francis Xavier also
reached Japan’s shores in AD
1549.
➢ Kyoto’s magnificent Golden
Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) and
Silver Pavilion (Ginkaku-ji)
were both built during the
Muromachi Period.
Azuchi-Momoyama Period (安土桃
山時代 AD 1573–AD 1603)
Three names define the Azuchi-
Momoyama Period, otherwise known
as the warring states era of Japanese
history. These names are: Oda
Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and
Tokugawa Ieyasu.
➢ Born in Owari Province
(modern-day Western Aichi
Prefecture), Oda Nobunaga
was a ruthless warlord
renowned for his strategic
brilliance. Through the forging
of strong relationships with
foreign missionaries and
merchants, he secured
powerful European firearms
for his armies, thus ensuring a
string of important victories in
Japan’s bloodiest civil war. By
AD 1582, it was clear that
Nobunaga would emerge the
ultimate victor, which would
have happened had Nobunaga
not then suffered a coup. On
June 21, 1582, Nobunaga’s
retainer, Akechi Mitsuhide,
cornered him in a burning
temple. In the face of
hopelessness, Nobunaga opted
for ritual suicide. His abrupt
death immediately created a
power vacuum.
➢ No dependable record of
Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s
younger life exists. However,
he is popularly believed to be
the son of a lowly foot-soldier.
Cunning and resourceful, he
achieved recognition while
serving under Nobunaga.
Upon Nobunaga’s death,
Hideyoshi also moved quickly
to avenge his former lord, in
the process conveniently
subjugating surviving Oda clan
members. By AD 1583,
Hideyoshi had replaced
Nobunaga as medieval Japan’s
most powerful warlord.
Though his subsequent
megalomaniacal ambitions to
invade China by way of Korea
disastrously failed and seeded
the demise of his clan,
Hideyoshi died while in
power. Today, Hideyoshi’s
stronghold i.e. Osaka Castle
remains one of the symbols of
the country.
➢ Like Hideyoshi, Tokugawa
Ieyasu was an ally and
subordinate of Nobunaga.
Easily the most devious
member of the trio, Ieyasu
faithfully served Nobunaga
and Hideyoshi, never once
revealing his true ambitions. In
fact, Ieyasu was so adept at his
masquerade, he was appointed
the chief advisor of
Hideyoshi’s young heir, by
none other than Hideyoshi
himself. In AD 1599, a mere
year after Hideyoshi’s passing,
Ieyasu turned on his former
lord and stormed Osaka Castle.
After the decisive Battle of
Sekigahara in AD 1600, he
emerged the ultimate victor of
the Azuchi-Momoyama
Period. His appointment as
Shogun by Emperor Go-Yōzei
 in AD 1603 formally
commenced the Edo Period.
Footnotes
➢ This bloody Japanese
historical period takes its name
from the strongholds of
Nobunaga and Hideyoshi.
Nobunaga’s headquarters was
the legendary Azuchi Castle.
Hideyoshi’s headquarters
before Osaka Castle was
Momoyama Castle.
➢ Nobunaga was notably, also
the first Japanese warlord to
use firearms.
➢ The saying, Nobunaga
kneaded the dough; Hideyoshi
baked the pie; and Ieyasu ate
the pie, summarizes the gory
taleof Japan’s three unifying
warlords.
➢ Other than the above-
mentioned trio, there were
several other famous warlords
from this era. For example,
Takeda Shingen of Kagemusha
fame.
➢ While Nobunaga welcomed
Christian missionaries, albeit
with ulterior motives,
Hideyoshi distrusted them.
Hideyoshi notoriously ordered
the execution of several
missionaries.
➢ Ironically, the serene art of tea
flourished during this
tumultuous period. Nobunaga
and Hideyoshi were both
enthusiastic collectors of tea
ceremony utensils.
Edo Period (江戸時代 AD 1603–AD
1868)
➢ Some Japanese history
timelines alternatively refer to
the Edo Period as the
Tokugawa Shogunate.
Regardless of name, the period
refers to the three pre-modern
centuries when Japan was
under the de facto rule of the
Tokugawa Shoguns.
➢ Major events of this important
historical period include a
strengthening of social order,
the implementation of nation-
wide isolationist policies, and
a shift of political power from
Footnotes
the Heian Court to Edo. “Edo”
itself is the historical name of
Tokyo and means “bay
entrance.”
➢ While Tokugawa laws were
often harsh and brutal, the
country enjoyed peace and
domestic economic growth
during these three centuries.
Uniquely Japanese art forms
such as Kabuki also flourished
brilliantly. As an indication of
prosperity, Edo grew from a
small fishing village into a
bustling city that was home to
a million Japanese in the 18th
century.
➢ The end of this peaceful pre-
modern period began in AD
1853 with the arrival of
American Commodore
Matthew C. Perry and his
“Black Ships.” Forced by
Perry’s gunboat diplomacy to
open up ports to international
trade, Japan finally realized
how backward she was
compared to western powers.
➢ By then, the Tokugawa
Shogunate was also in decline,
with dangerous discontent
festering between the social
classes created by the
Tokugawa Shoguns. In AD
1867, the 15th Tokugawa
Shogun, Yoshinobu, resigned
in the face of growing unrest.
This, however, did not prevent
armed conflict and the Boshin
War broke out the following
year. With the defeat of the
last pro-shogunate forces in
AD 1869, authority was at
long last fully restored to the
imperial crown. This
restoration marked Japan’s
first step into the modern era.
➢ The Tokugawa Shogunate
considered Christianity a
major threat, particularly,
evangelized daimyōs in
Southern Japan. This was the
main reason for isolation.
➢ Tokugawa Japan wasn’t
completely isolated. Selected
foreigners, such as Dutch East
India Company personnel,
could still visit and trade.
However, all were restricted to
the artificial island of Dejima
in Nagasaki. Dejima is today, a
major tourist attraction of
Nagasaki.
➢ Society was extremely
structured during the three
centuries of Tokugawa rule.
➢ Peace afforded commoners the
means and time to seek
entertainment. This birthed
ukiyo, not the painting style
but a general term for the quest
for fleeting entertainment. In
turn, ukiyo fueled the growth
of many industries and art
forms.
➢ Though “disposed,”
Yoshinobu was neither killed
 nor imprisoned. He spent his
later years indulging in
hobbies before made a prince.
He died in 1913 at the age of
76.
The Meiji Restoration, Meiji, and
Taishō Periods (明治維新, 明治, 大
正 AD 1868–AD 1926)
➢ The Meiji Restoration takes its
name from Emperor Meiji,
who was restored to nominal
supreme rule following the
Boshin War.
➢ Under his leadership, the
victorious leaders of the
Boshin War progressively
modernized Japan into a
leading international power,
with westernization the
unspoken keyword during
these formative years. At the
same time, the Japanese
military was also aggressive in
the establishment of overseas
colonies, examples of which
being the annexation of the
Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa) and
Korea.
➢ By the time of Emperor
Meiji’s passing in 1912, Japan
was widely considered one of
the Great Powers of the world.
She was also the strongest
independent nation in Asia.
➢ Political domination by the
military, nation-wide
industrialization, and
westernization, continued into
the reign of Emperor Taishō,
which lasted from 1912 to
1926. After participating in
World War I on the side of the
Allies, the country’s
international standing
skyrocketed on top of her
gaining the South Pacific
colonies of defeated Germany.
➢ The Great Kantō Earthquake
of 1923, which killed over a
hundred thousand people, then
severely challenged the
country, but nonetheless,
Japan’s growth as a new
empire was not hampered.
Towards the end of the Taishō
Period, extreme nationalism
also took root, leading to
increased antagonism towards
western powers and regional
neighbors. These tensions
ultimately started the massive
confrontation that was the
Pacific Theater of World War
II.
Footnotes
➢ Western design was greatly
favored during the Meiji and
Taishō periods. Subsequent
integration with traditional
elements resulted in a uniquely
Japanese aesthetic style.
➢ While the Tokugawa
Shogunate was antagonistic to
foreigners, the Meiji
government welcomed several
thousand foreign “experts”
into their fold. Using borrowed
technologies, Japan was
transformed into Asia’s first
industrialized nation within a
few decades.
➢ The reign of Emperor Meiji
also saw the rise of “State
Shintoism.” The use of Shinto
rites to endorse radical
nationalism was a major
contributor to the country's
subsequent expansionist war
efforts.
➢ The Taishō Period saw the
beginning of Japan’s transition
into a modern democracy.
Unfortunately, this was
quickly stifled by military
dominance in the government.
➢ Militarism wasn’t the only
reason pushing Japan towards
war. Chronic economic woes
lasted throughout the 1920s
and 30s.
Prewar Shōwa Period and World
War II (昭和 AD 1926–AD 1945)
➢ The Shōwa Period is named
after Emperor Shōwa, or
Emperor Hirohito as he is
more commonly referred to
nowadays. The period contains
three distinct phases. These
being, the years before World
War II, the war itself, and the
postwar years thereafter.
➢ The years before the war was
marked by the peaking of
radical right-wing nationalism
and political might shifting
towards a military
government. Horrifically,
moderate politicians who
attempted to reign in the
military were even
assassinated; for example,
Prime Minister Tsuyoshi
Inukai. Inukai was also the last
party politician to lead Nihon
prior to World War II. After
his assassination, de facto
power was firmly in the hands
of the military.
➢ In 1937, the Marco Polo
Bridge incident at Wanping,
China, led to the outbreak of
the Second Sino-Japanese
War. Japan thereafter enjoyed
a series of victories cumulating
with the capture of Nanking.
The appalling Nanking
Massacre, which saw the
execution of hundreds of
thousands of Chinese, was
committed after this victory.
➢ In 1940, the Japanese army
further invaded French
Indochina to restrict imports
into China, and signed the
Tripartite Pact with fascist
Germany and Italy. After
negotiations faltered in 1941,
Footnotes
the United States froze
Japanese assets and imposed
an oil embargo on Aug 1,
1941. All these were part of
the path to what is perhaps the
most notorious Japanese attack
of the second world war.
➢ On Dec 7, 1941, the imperial
Japanese army attacked the
American Fleet at Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii. With
American military might in the
Pacific then temporarily
crippled, the Imperial Japanese
army proceeded to invade the
rest of Southeast Asia.
Practically all Southeast Asian
colonies of the European
powers were conquered by
1942.
➢ Victory in the Asia Pacific
region was ultimately short-
lived, though. After the Battle
of Midway, the Japanese
military suffered a long series
of increasingly bloody defeats.
➢ On Aug 6 and Aug 9, 1945,
the Allies also decimated
Hiroshima and Nagasaki with
the world’s first atomic
bombings. Confronted with an
all-out invasion of the
homeland, further nuclear
attacks, and the Soviet Union
declaring war, Japan
announced an unconditional
surrender on Aug 15, 1945.
➢ In an unprecedented act
throughout Japanese history,
Emperor Hirohito personally
announced the surrender on
radio. For many Japanese
commoners back then, the
thought of the semi-divine
Emperor directly speaking to
them was considered
unimaginable.
➢ As of 2022, atrocities during
World War II remain a highly
contentious subject between
Japan and her neighbors.
➢ Before her defeat at Midway,
the imperial army reached as
far south as Indonesia.
➢ Though she occupied
important cities like Shanghai
and Nanjing, Japan did not
even conquer half of China.
➢ Many Japanese cities were
flattened by aerial bombings
during the final years of the
war. Kyoto, however, was
famously spared because of its
historical heritage.
➢ Japanese militarism was fueled
by the concept of the Greater
East Asia Co-Prosperity
Sphere. Envisioned in Japan
since the 1930s, the concept
envisioned a bloc of Asian
nations, led by Japan, that was
self-sufficient and free of the
control of Western powers.
Postwar Shōwa Period (AD
1945–AD 1989)
➢ The postwar Shōwa Period
could also be divided into
three segments. These
were the Allied Occupation
that lasted till 1952, the
postwar recovery and
growth era of the 50s and
60s, and the bubble
economy years of the 80s.
➢ Following the
unconditional surrender
declared by Emperor
Hirohito on Aug 15, 1945,
Japan was stripped of all
her wartime territorial
gains. Constitutional
changes led by US General
Douglas MacArthur then
spearheaded
demilitarization and
democratization, as well as
the separation of Shintoism
from the state.
➢ In terms of territory, Japan
largely remained intact.
While she lost all her
wartime gains, the original
territories of the Japanese
archipelago were not
seized.
➢ In part thanks to the
Korean War, the Japanese
economy rapidly recovered
after the end of the Allied
Occupation. Milestones
achieved during this boom
period include the hosting
of the 1964 Summer
Olympics and the
inauguration of the
Tōkaidō Shinkansen High-
Speed Train (Bullet Train)
route, the latter also in
1964. Though Japan was
subsequently badly
affected by the oil crisis of
the 70s, her position as an
economic giant was
unshaken. By the 80s, the
Land of the Rising Sun
was one of the richest
nations in the world. She
was also widely regarded
as an economic and
technological leader.
➢ This postwar economic
miracle then cumulated
 with the asset bubble
economy of the late 80s.
These heady, champagne-
drinking days began their
demise in the final years of
the Shōwa Period, ending
with the economically
difficult years of the 90s; a
decade some historians
refer to as the “Lost
Decade.” As of 2021, the
Nikkei stock index has
never risen above its 1991
highs.
Footnotes
➢ The Allied Occupation was
the first time in Japanese
history that the island
nation was occupied by a
foreign power.
➢ Article 9 of Japan’s postwar
constitution forbids the
country from maintaining
any armed forces. However,
this did not stop the country
from establishing and
maintaining a powerful
“Self-Defense” force.
➢ Emperor Hirohito was
never prosecuted by the
Allies for war crimes. This
remains a subject of much
debate.
➢ The postwar economic
miracle resulted in many
Japanese brands elevated to
the status of international
household names.
Heisei Period (平成 AD 1989–
Apr 2019)
➢ The Heisei Period began
with the passing of Emperor
Hirohito and the ascension
of his eldest son as Emperor
Akihito on Jan 7, 1989. In Footnotes
the two decades since,
➢ Despite economic, natural, and
Japan was locked in
social difficulties, several
protracted struggles with a
record-breaking construction
stagnating economy, a
projects were completed in the
rapidly aging population,
Heisei Period. For example,
and tenuous relationships
the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge and
with regional neighbors.
the Tokyo Skytree.
Nonetheless, the country
did not lose its status as a
➢ While largely unnoticeable by
global financial, economic,
casual visitors, right-wing
and technological
extremism continues to exist in
powerhouse.
the country. In 2017, China
demanded a boycott of the
➢ The Heisei Period was also
APA Hotel Group for
witness to two catastrophic
promoting books denying the
earthquakes, namely, Kobe
Nanking Massacre.
(1995) and Tōhoku (2011).
The latter was the most
powerful earthquake ever
➢ Tensions with China and the
registered in Japan and
two Koreas were made worse
resulted in the meltdown of
by incidences of history-
three reactors at the
rewriting in Japanese
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear
textbooks, as well as top
Power Plant. Currently, the
Japanese politicians visiting
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear
Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine.
Disaster is still an issue of
Yasukuni enshrines several
much concern and debate.
convicted World War II war
criminals.
➢ On the other hand,
globalization and advances
➢ The 1995 Tokyo Subway Sarin
in communication
Attack by doomsday cult Aum
technologies fueled the
Shinrikyo was the worst act of
worldwide popularity of
domestic terrorism in Japanese
Japanese mass
history.
entertainment such as
Anime, Manga, and
Cosplaying. These interests
➢ The Heisei Period formally
are nowadays considered
ended on Apr 30, 2019, with
synonymous with the term,
the abdication of Emperor
“pop culture.”
Akihito.
➢ Lastly, affordable mass Reiwa Period (令和 May 2019–
transportation transformed Present)
the nation into a tourism
hotspot for group and solo ➢ The Reiwa Period began on
travelers alike. What was May 1, 2019 with the
once one of the world’s ascension of Emperor Naruhito
most isolated nation following his father’s
became, ironically, the abdication. The name means
dream vacation destination “beautiful harmony” and was
of millions of tourists. derived from the eighth-
century Man'yōshū poetry
 collection. Of note, the second
Kanji of Wa (和) is also the
Kanji often used to represent
Japanese origins. For example,
wafuku (Japanese clothing)
and washoku (Japanese food).
➢ In his first official speech,
Emperor Naruhito pledged to
continue to work for the unity
of the common people. With
the Emperor and Empress both
having lived and studied
overseas for extended periods,
political analysts predicted the
royal couple to be more
international in their outlooks.
The Emperor was also
expected to continue his
father’s style of frequent
outreach to the common
people. Both approaches are
undoubtedly crucial as Japan
continues to navigate the many
challenges of the postmodern
world.
➢ Sadly, the Reiwa Period
thereafter quickly encountered
its first major crisis in the form
of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
In the face of numerous
country lockdowns in March
2020, Japan was forced to
postpone Tokyo Olympics
2020. The country had spent
many years preparing for this
prestigious sporting event.
➢ With international and
domestic tourism also badly
affected by the COVID-19
pandemic, difficult days lay
ahead for the ancient nation
and her economy. It remains to
be seen how the Land of the
Rising Sun would emerge
from these new challenges.
Would she retain her position
as one of the most prosperous
modern nations of Asia?
Footnotes homemade shotgun. Long
➢ “Rei” refers to a wave of admired internationally for its
auspicious energy generated security and low crime rates,
by plum blossoms, while “Wa” the blatant assassination could
is often used to denote peace. possibly transform the nature
of Japanese political
➢ To celebrate the new era, campaigning in the future.
Japan announced an
unprecedented 10-day holiday
from April 27 to May 6, 2019.
New coins were also released
into circulation.
➢ Emperor Naruhito is the 126th
Emperor of Japan. The
Japanese Royal House is the
longest-reigning dynasty in the
world too.
➢ Tokyo Olympics 2020 would
have been the most significant
international event to take
place in Reiwa Period Japan in
2020, had it not been
postponed.
➢ Despite overwhelming
domestic protest, Tokyo
Olympics 2020 proceeded
ahead in July/August 2021.
While the event was largely
free of issues, Japanese cities
were besieged by soaring
COVID-19 infection rates
throughout the fortnight. The
delays, preventive measures,
etc, further resulted in severe
over expenditure.
➢ Japan was shocked to its core
on July 8, 2022, when former
prime minister Shinzo Abe
was assassinated in broad
daylight. The country’s longest
serving prime minister, Abe
was campaigning for his
Liberal Democratic Party in
Nara when he was shot twice
by a former Self-Defense
Force soldier using a