History of Japan


Japan has more than 1000 years of recorded history and has a unique culture.

The history of Japan can be divided into periods shown in the time chart below: Jyomon, Yayoi, Kofun as the Tumulus period, Asuka, Nara, Heian, Kamakura, Muromachi, Azuchi & Momoyama, and Edo,,,
Before the Jyomon Age, the Stone Age existed until around 14,000 years ago.

A brief explanation of each category of Japan history is provided. You can click each name or age of the category for the explanations.

History of Japan
Jyomon Age Yayoi Age Kofun Age Asuka Age Asuka Age Nara Age Nara Age Heian Age Kamakura Age Muromachi Age Azuchi-Momoyama Age Azuchi-Momoyama Age Edo Age in imperialism in imperialism in democratic in democratic

Stone Age in Japan
~ 14,000 years ago

It is said that the origin of the Japanese race came from the Eurasian Continent and South East Asian Islands during ancient times. One route was from South China through Taiwan and Okinawa. The second route was also from the China area but through the Korean Peninsula. The last route was from the north through the Sakhalin Islands.

This happened around 38,000 years ago. Most Japanese are a combination of these three original descendants coming to Japan.

Jyomon Age
14,000 years ago ~ 300 to 500 years B.C.

The stone age in Japan ended approximately 14,000 years ago. People in this period mainly obtained their food by hunting deer and wild boar. Nuts were also a main dish. Afterwards, people started to make pottery with a straw-rope pattern so called "Jyomon Shiki Doki".

In this age, there are a couple of archaeological sites in nothern part of Japan. Sannai-Maruyama Archaeological Site in Aomori Prefecture is a typical archaeological site in the Jyomon Age. People had lived since 5,500 years ago until 4,500 years ago for 1,500 years at Sannai-Maruyama.

Please refer the page of "Sannai-Maruyama Archaeological Site " for more detail:
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Tohoku/SannaiMaruyama_E.html

Yayoi Age
300 to 500 years B.C. ~ 300 years A.D.

Around 250 years B.C, people with rice farming capabilities came from the south Eurasian Continent to Japan. This is the origin of the Yayoi Age. According to the latest archaeology theory, rice farming had already been introduced in the Jyomon Age, but it seems that south Eurasian people drove away the Jyomon people.

After rice farming was widely spread in the Yayoi Age, people lived in a large group and they formed a community. There were a lot of such communities in Japan. These comminities were protected by moats and fences against their neighbor communities. Such community was named "Kuni" as a small nation".

One of the typical examples of the Yayoi Age is Yoshinogari Archaeological Site, which is located in Saga Prefecture in Kyushu.

Please refer the page of "Yoshinogari Archaeological Site " for more detail:
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Kyushu/Yoshinogari_E.html

Kofun Age (the Tumulus Period)
300 years A.D. ~ 600 years A.D.

Around the 3rd. century, "Yamato" dynasty united Japan. "Kojiki" and "Nihon Shoki" describe the tale of the origin of "Yamato" dynasty as mythology.

The Gishi-Wajin-Den, official history of China, described a couple of nations, called "Kuni", existed in Japan in the third century. Yama-tai koku, was led by "Himiko" who was the leader of "Kuni"s.

It is a big discussion where Yama-tai koku were located. Some said in norther Kyushu and some said in Kansai.

It seems that there were a couple of nations located in Kyushu, Kansai and also Izumo, Okayama area. Then finally, the Yamato dynasty united Japan. The Yamato dynasty was located in the Kansai area.

In this period of time, leaders of the Yamato dynasty were buried in a huge ancient tomb. Traditional shrines remain from this age. An excellent example is Ise Shrine.

Sujin Tenno Ryo
The mausoleum of "Sujin"

Asuka Age
592 ~ 710

592 A.D. is defined as when the Asuka Age started. In that year, Emperor SUSHUN was assassinated by SOGA NO Umako. In the early part of the Asuka Age, the SOGA family controlled emperors. During the latter part of the Asuka Age, TENCHI and TEMMU Emperors provided strong leadership.

The capital was placed at Asuka and later at Fujiwara from 694 to 710. During Asuka age, Japan had the war against Tang and Silla in 663. To prepare potential attack by Tang and Silla, Yamato dynasty build castles in western part of Japan. Kino Jyo was one of them.

KinoJyo
The ruin of KinoJyo Castle

Nara Age
710 ~ 794

In 710, Nara became the capital of Japan. By following Chang'an, the streets in Nara were designed to cross each other at right angles, and have the palace at the northern part of the city. The emperor governed based on the legal codes of "Taiho Ritsuryo". Political decisions were based on Buddhism.

Big Buddhist temples were built in Nara. Todai-Ji and Kofuku-Ji are good examples. "Kokuhu"s, the department of central government, were placed in each area. One example is Tagajyo near Sendai.

Todai Ji Temple
Todaiji and Kofukuji Temples

Heian Age
794 ~ 1185

In 794, the capital was again moved and Kyoto became the capital. During the Nara Age, taxes were based on numbers of people. But in the Heian Age, taxes were levied upon land area.

Noble people had the responsibility to collect taxes from assigned local areas. They transferred this duty to a local clan and enjoyed their elegant and luxurious life in Kyoto. This procedure enabled local clans to gain power.

Kamakura Age
1185 ~ 1333

In the Heian Age, land was state owned. The exception was in-house developed farms. Near the end of the Heian Age, each local clan practically governed state owned farms and also in-house developed farms.

They protected this land by armed groups. Such local clans were called "Bushi". The leader of "Bushi", MINAMOTO NO Yoritomo, began his government in 1185. It was called "Kamakura Bakufu".

After MINAMOTO NO Yoritomo died, his wife's family, "HOJYO" controlled the "Kamakura Bakuhu".

The capital was located in Kamakura until 1333.

Muromachi Age
1336 ~ 1573

After the "Kamakura Bakuhu" ended, the Emperor GODAIGO held the reins of government. Local clans complained against GODAIGO's politics and one of the key clans, "ASHIKAGA Takauji, established his government "Muromacchi Bakuhu" in 1336.

The middle ages of Japan were in most serious confusion. Each local clan tried to expand their land by fighting against their neighbors. Japan in the 16th century was totally in confusion and was divided into more than a hundred nations owned by local clans.

"Muromachi Bakuhu" became weak and some local clans increased their power. In 1543, guns were first introduced to Tanegashima Island.

Azuchi and Momoyama Age
1573 ~ 1603

After 100 year of internal war, ODA Nobunaga almost united Japan. He was really revolutionary. He encouraged free trading and commercialism. He was assassinated by AKECHI Mitsuhide in 1582. Then, TOYOTOMI Hideyoshi succeeded Nobunaga. Hideyoshi loved luxurious and gorgeous buildings and some of his favorite buildings remain.

In this time period, Portugal started trading and introduced Christianity to Japan. The tea ceremony was established by SEN-NO Rikyu and became traditional Japanese culture.

Edo Age
1603 ~ 1868

TOYOTOMI Hideyoshi died in 1598. Two years after Hideyoshi's death, TOKUGAWA Ieyasu defeated ISHIDA Mitsunari, retainer of Hideyoshi.

Ieyasu established his government "Edo Bakufu" in 1603. Japan closed the country and went into peaceful sleep. Japan kept the feudal system for more than 260 years.

Actually many of Japanfs traditional culture and Japanese mentality was developed and took root into current Japanese people during that time.

"Okuno Hosomichi" is a famous travel diary issued by MATSUO Basho in 1702.

Japan in Imperialism
1868 ~ 1945

In 1853, General Perry, a Commodore of the United States, opened the doors of Japan creating huge shock and confusion. Soon after this shock, "Tokugawa Bakufu" ended and the Meiji Era started in 1868. The emperor of Meiji became the head of Japan.

Japan introduced western culture and technology to catch up. Japan also went into wars against China and Russia in 1894 and 1904. Victories of these wars made Japanese misunderstand that military power was right. Evil imperialism Japan went into World War II by invading Asian countries and by attacking Pearl Harbor.

Japan finally lost the war and accepted the Potsdam Declaration. Victims of World War II of Asian countries numbered approximately 20 million. Also 3 million of Japanese people died as a result of the war.

Japan in Democratic
1945 ~ current

During Word War II, most Japanese just followed the instruction what the imperialism leaders said. After atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan finally surrendered and accepted the Potsdam Declaration.

When Japan lost World War II, Japan declared not to go to war in Article 9 of the new Japanese Constitution.

The memorial peace park statue in Hiroshima reads:
"Let all the souls here rest in peace ; For we shall not repeat the evil."


Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution:

Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

Japan returned to the international society in 1951 by the San Francisco Peace Treaty. Japan was reborn as one of the developed countries with sophisticated technology. Most cities in Japan are very modern. But you will find many places which remain having the traditional Japanese atmosphere.
These historical sites are introduced in the page of "Travel Destinations in Japan":
 http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/TravelDestinations.html