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600 BCE
Foundation
The legend says that Japan was founded in 600 BCE by Emperor Jimmu. There are methodology and ancient historical records stating that Japan was founded around this time. However, there is no exact known date for Japan's foundations. It is the first important event in the history of Japan, since it marks the beginning of the formation of Japan's cultural and political identity. -
500 BCE
First Religion
Shinto religion appeared around this time. People believed in "Kamis", a deity that could be an object or a person (dead or alive). "Kami" was worshiped with rice, clothing, cakes and sometimes animals. This religion developed and evolved over time, thus today it shares many common values with Confucianism. As a majority of the religions in ancient times, Shinto helped to shape communities and unite people with common beliefs; it has influenced politics, art and culture in general. -
552
Buddhism
Around 552 CE Buddhism came to Japan from Korea. Two of the dominant clans (Sun-lin and Soga) immediately took the new religion. At first there were some wars with smaller clans, but as soon as they were defeated Buddhism spread throughout Japan. Thus Buddhism became the dominant religion for the next 200 years. It had a big influence on the country's philosophy, art, traditions and many other areas of life. -
740
Shinto comeback
Japanese people have faced heavy taxation and were not satisfied with the amount of power of the Buddhist monks. People began to look for an alternative. That is how some people turned back to the old religion of Shinto. Turning back to an old religion led to a deeper understanding of one’s identity and made the country more patriotic and loyal. Since that time religions coexist together with a lot of support for both. However, Buddhism still remains a stronger one of those. -
800
First Samurai
Around the 9th century first Samurai appeared. At first, those warriors of different clans were trained to protect their aristocracy. They were mostly trained in the martial arts. Later around 1300's Samurais became officially warriors of a more united Japan. Samurai have left an impact on Japan’s warfare, politics and of course culture. Martial arts became a significant part of the culture partly because of the Samurais. -
1542
First interaction
In 1542 a Portuguese ship that was going to China, accidently stopped in Japan. This “mistake” resulted in an era of a major cultural exchange between Japan and Europe; some other countries (including Netherlands, England and Spain) started visiting Japanese islands. Even though this event had a great impact on the Japanese economy and development, conflicts emerged. Those conflicts led to Japan's decision about a policy of isolation. -
Isolation
Around the early 17th century Shogun (name for a military leader at that time) determined that visits from Europe were a military conquest. Japan closed its borders and stopped any contact with Western World for around 200 years. This policy of isolation is known as sakoku. It had both benefits and limitations for the country; Japan had a chance to develop on its own, however, at the same time, the country was not aware of the external advancements. -
The Convention of Kanagawa
In the mid-19th century Japan finally opened its borders again. The Convention of Kanagawa between Japan and the United States was signed. It helped Japan come back on the global stage and become modern again. Huge industrialisations took place; Japan adopted Western technology, culture and values. This agreement helped the country to become more international and globalized. -
Period: to
War with China
During this time Japan was involved in a number of wars. In 1894 the war over Korea took place. It is known as the First Sino-Japanese War. When Japan won over China, it became a clear demonstration of the military power that the country has. This war not only gave Japan dominance over Korea, but also generally strengthened Japan’s influence in East Asia. -
Period: to
Russo-Japanese War
During this conflict the Empire of Japan fought against the Russian Empire. Territories of the conflict included the Korean and Liaodong (today’s territory in China) Peninsulas. Japan's victory held a lot of significance, since the Russian Empire was a European imperial power. It was the first time when an Asian nation won over a European. Japan has gained a lot of recognition and respect. -
Annexation of Korea
In 1910 Korea was fully annexed by Japan. The annexation had consequences for both countries, but it is clear how harmful it was for the Korean movement for independence. It can be considered a part of the tension that later led to two World Wars in the first half of the 20th century. The annexation of Korea strengthened Japanese colonial rule; it influenced Korean history, culture and politics. -
Invasion of China
The invasion of China in 1937 marked the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War. It has ruined any good relationship between countries and in general stained Japan’s reputation. The invasion only ended with the end of the Second World War in 1945, so it is often considered “the beginning of World War 2 in Asia”. -
Pearl Harbor
On December 7th, 1941 Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This attack was considered one of the most known events of the Second World War, since it forced the United States to join the conflict; this attack has changed the course of global history. This attack had only negative consequences for Japan. The United States “response” was fast and harsh, ultimately leading to Japan’s defeat. -
Period: to
Atomic Bombs
On August 6th and August 9th 1945 the United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. At least 129,000 people were killed. This was the only case of the atomic weapons being used in an armed conflict and it had irreversible consequences. Japan surrendered only 6 days later after the bombing. -
End of the WW2
On September 2nd, 1945 Japan officially surrendered to the Allied powers (which mainly were the United States and the United Kingdom, but also others). This led to the ending of the Second World War for Japan and for the whole world. This date can be marked as the starting point of Japan’s transformation; post-war recovery will take place. Reconstruction and democratisation will happen. -
Constitution
After the Second World War Japan fell under the control of Allied countries, the main idea of which was to make Japan a democratic country. Many reforms took place and the new Constitution was enacted. Social reforms were carried out, human rights and more democratic values were adopted. Even nowadays, the Constitution of 1947 remains a foundation of Japan’s political system. -
Treaty of Peace
In 1951 Japan signed the Treaty of Peace with the United States and Allied Powers. The Treaty is usually referred to as the Treaty of San Francisco. The Treaty of San Francisco was signed between Japan and the Allied Powers, and aimed to re-establish peaceful relations between them, to end the legal stage of the war. The Treaty was also the first step for Japan in becoming an independent country again. -
Independence
After the Treaty of San Francisco was signed, Japan has officially fully regained its independence (April 28th, 1952). The post-war reconstruction has finally started. Japan now could control its own politics and economy. Thanks to the Treaty, Japan had a way to come back to the international community; the country began its reintegration and started to recover. -
United Nations membership
After a few years, Japan became a member of the United Nations (UN). This once again marked Japan as a sovereign nation and formally included the country into the international community. This membership helped Japan to continue its development in various areas and participate in global diplomacy. Japan was able to prove that it will do its part to ensure peace and security for the whole world. -
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games of 1964 were held in Tokyo, Japan. They became the first Olympic Games successfully held in Asia, which was a great honour for Japan. It was a great opportunity for the country to showcase its post-war reconstruction progress, new technological advancements and, of course, cultural heritage. It could also be considered a symbol of international recognition and reconciliation for Japan. -
Biggest earthquake
This earthquake became known to the whole world. It is considered one of the top 5 strongest earthquakes since 1900. This earthquake has also caused a number of tsunamis, and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was damaged. The earthquake was strong enough to move the main island of Japan 8 feet away, as well as shift the axis of Earth. Many people got injured and this disaster will be remembered for a long time. -
Mountain Fuji
In 2013 Mount Fuji was designated as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. It should have been an important event for Japanese people. This mountain has always played a big role in Japan’s culture, art and literature. It definitely holds a big spiritual meaning. This designation is important, since it recognizes the cultural heritage of Japan.