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Oct 15, 1185
Minamoto clan seizes power in the emperor’s name. Minamoto no Yoritomo becomes shogun, and establishes his own capital city in Kamakura.
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Oct 15, 1232
‘Goseibai Shikimoku’ legal code establishes guidelines for military government
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Oct 15, 1274
Mongol army lands on the island of Kyushu but is defeated
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Oct 15, 1281
The samurai defeat a second Mongol invasion of Kyushu
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Oct 15, 1333
Emperor Go-Daigo overthrows the Kamakura government (bakufu) military; imperial government is re-established
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Oct 15, 1336
Start of period of rival northern and southern emperors, supported by Go-Daigo and the Ashikaga clan respectively. It lasted until 1392.
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Oct 15, 1378
Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu brings the military government back to Kyoto
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Oct 15, 1467
Start of the Warring States period; Japan is plunged into a century-long civil war between rival samurai warlords. It lasted until 1573
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Oct 15, 1543
Firearms arrive in Japan brought by Portuguese traders
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Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes shogun, based in Edo (later known as Tokyo). The Tokugawa shogunate rules Japan for the next 260 years
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The sakoku period of isolation begins
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Convention of Kanagawa opens up trade with America (end of sakoku period)
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The last shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, steps down and the imperial regime is restored
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The royal court moves from Nara to Kyoto.