-
1867 BCE
The last shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu, steps down and hands power back to the imperial family under Emperor Meiji.
-
1854 BCE
The Convention of Kanagawa puts an end to the policy of sakoku; Japan opens up trade with the United States.
-
1853 BCE
Commodore Matthew Perry, a US naval officer, arrives in the city of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to persuade the Japanese to open their borders to trade.
-
1724 BCE
Timber harvesting in Japan has now been reduced by 60 per cent; it remains at low levels for the next 30 years, allowing Japan’s forests to recover.
-
1666 BCE
A policy is introduced to reduce logging and increase the planting of trees; only the shogun and his daimyo are able to authorise the use of wood.
-
1633 BCE
Tokugawa lemitsu introduces a policy known as saikoku (meaning ‘locked country’);under the policy, no Japanese people are permitted to leave Japan and no foreigners are allowed to enter; the policy remains in effect until around 1853.
-
1603 BCE
Tokugawa leyasu becomes shogun and establishes a base in the city to Edo (modern-day Tokyo); the Tokugawa shogunate rules Japan for the next 260 years.
-
Period: 1603 BCE to 1867 BCE
Tokugawa (or Edo) period
-
1598 BCE
William Adams, a sailor and navigator, becomes the first Englishman to visit Japan; he befriends Tokugawa leyasu (a future shogun) and later becomes a key advisor to him.
-
Period: 1573 BCE to 1603 BCE
Azuchi-Momoyama period
-
1467 BCE
A period of civil war, known as the Warning States period, begins in Japan between rival warlords; it lasts for around 100 years.
-
1337 BCE
Ashikaga Takauji seizes power from Emperor Go-Daigo to become the new shogun.
-
Period: 1337 BCE to 1573 BCE
Muromachi period
-
1333 BCE
Emperor Go-Daigo overthrows the Kamakura shogunate, and takes back power from the shogun.
-
1281 BCE
The Mongol army launches a second attack on Japan, landing once again on the island of Kyushu; for the second time a typhoon hits destroying almost all Mongol.
-
1274 BCE
The Mongol army launches an attack on Japan, landing on the island of Kyushu; a typhoon destroys many of their ships and the invasion fails.
-
1185 BCE
The Minamoto clan seizes power from the emperor; Minamoto no Yoritomo becomes shogun and establishes his own capital city in Kamakura; with support from daimyo (lords) and samurai (warriors) a series of shoguns rules Japan for the next 700 years.
-
Period: 1185 BCE to 1333 BCE
Kamakura period
-
794 BCE
Under orders from Emperor Kammu, the capital of Japan moves to the city of Helan-Kyo (modern-day Kyoto); it remains the official capital of Japan for the next 1000 years.
-
Period: 794 BCE to 1185 BCE
Heian period
-
Period: 710 BCE to 794 BCE
Nara period