History timeline

Heian period

Aug 1, 1185

Minamoto clan seizes power in the emperor’s name. Minamoto no Yoritomo becomes shogun, and establishes his own capital city in Kamakura.

1232

Jan 1, 1232

‘Goseibai Shikimoku’ legal code establishes guidelines for military government

1274

Oct 16, 1274

Mongol army lands on the island of Kyushu but is defeated

1281

Oct 16, 1281

The samurai defeat a second Mongol invasion of Kyushu

kamkura period

Oct 16, 1333

Emperor Go-Daigo overthrows the Kamakura government (bakufu) military; imperial government is re-established

1336

Oct 16, 1336

Start of period of rival northern and southern emperors, supported by Go-Daigo and the Ashikaga clan respectively. It lasted until 1392.

1378

Oct 16, 1378

shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu brings the military government back to Kyoto

1467

Oct 16, 1467

Start of the Warring States period; Japan is plunged into a century-long civil war between rival samurai warlords. It lasted until 1573.

1543

Oct 16, 1543

Firearms arrive in Japan brought by Portuguese traders

Statue of Tokugawa Ieyasu

Oct 16, 1603

Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes shogun, based in Edo (later known as Tokyo). The Tokugawa shogunate rules Japan for the next 260 years.

1633

Oct 16, 1633

The sakoku period of isolation begins.

1867

Oct 16, 1867

The last shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, steps down and the imperial regime is restored.

Nara palace

Mar 2, 2022

The royal court moves from Nara to Kyoto. The emperor wanted to restrict the political influence of Buddhist monks at the old capital.