Japan's history spans over 10,000 years — from the Jomon period, Nara and Heian dynasties, samurai era, Meiji Restoration, to modern Japan.
Ancient Japan (Jomon-Heian, 14000 BC - 1185)
Jomon period (14000 BC - 300 BC) — hunter-gatherer culture. Yayoi period (300 BC - 300 AD) — rice cultivation and metalwork from Korea. Kofun period (300-538) — Yamato state. Buddhism introduced 538. Nara period (710-794) — Heijo-kyo. Heian period (794-1185) — Heian-kyo (Kyoto), Tale of Genji, aristocratic golden age.
Kamakura and Muromachi Shogunates (1185-1573)
Minamoto Yoritomo established Kamakura Shogunate 1185 — start of samurai rule. Mongol invasions 1274 and 1281 — repelled by kamikaze. Muromachi Shogunate (1336-1573) — Ashikaga clan. Onin War (1467-1477) and Warring States period.
Warring States and Unification (1467-1603)
Daimyo wars. Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu — three unifiers. 1603 Tokugawa Ieyasu founded Edo Shogunate.
Edo Period (1603-1868)
265 years of peace. Sakoku isolation — only Dutch traded via Nagasaki. Development of bushido, ukiyo-e, kabuki, sushi, sukiyaki. 30 million population, Edo (Tokyo) world's largest city.
Meiji Restoration (1868-1912)
1853 Commodore Perry arrived — forced opening. 1868 Meiji Restoration — shogun returned power, Emperor Meiji took real power. Rapid modernization — railways, industrialization, military strength. Sino-Japanese War 1894, Russo-Japanese War 1904 — victories, joined world powers.
Wars and Defeat (1912-1945)
Taisho and Showa eras. Manchurian Incident 1931, Second Sino-Japanese War 1937, Pacific War 1941 (Pearl Harbor). Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs August 1945. September 2, 1945 unconditional surrender.
Post-war Japan (1945-present)
US occupation (1945-1952). Constitution of Japan 1947 — renunciation of war, Emperor as symbol. Economic miracle — 1960s world's 2nd GDP. Bubble economy and burst (1991). "Lost 30 years". 125 million people. Constitutional monarchy (Emperor Naruhito).