660 B.C.
Legend says the first empire was founded by Emperor Jammu.
400s
Time of first surviving recorded history of a unified Japan.
500s
Chinese influence dominates and Buddhism becomes prevalent.
1192
A feudal system run be local warlords w/
mercenaries (Samurai) to keep order, develops.
1575
A Japanese clan uses European muskets, to defeat
it's rival and unite the islands for the 1st time.
1600
Japan's rulers decide the Eurpean musket is
not compatible w/ traditions, and it's use is ended.
Military dictators (Shoguns) control the country.
1800s
Japan tries to keep Western influence out.
Shipwrecked sailors who wash up on it's shores are beheaded.
1853
America sends Commodore Matthew Perry and a fleet of warships
to Tokyo, forcing the Japanese to except trade w/ the West.
1600s
Dutch and Portuguese traders try to dominate Japan.
1868
The Meiji Emperor takes control from the Shoguns.
1894
Sino-Japanese wars begin.
1895
Taiwan is taken from China.
1905
Japan is victorious in Russo-Japanese War.
Russia gives 1/2 of Sakhalin Island
and it's Chinese concessions to Japan.
1910
Japan takes over Korea.W.W.I
Japan ousts Germans from Shandong Province, China.
Also takes Germany's Pacific islands.
1931
Japan takes Manchuria.
Gains control of the Chinese Eastern Railway.
1930s
America continues to sell scrap iron and oil to the Japanese military.
England sells a radial engine that is put into the A6M
'Zero' fighter that controls Asia's skies until 1943.W.W.II
8/14/45
Japan signs "unconditional surrender"
in Tokyo Bay on the U.S.S. Missouri.
The flag Perry flew in 1853 is mounted
on one of the ship's 16 in. gun turrets.
5/3/47
Japan renounces right to wage war.
Emperor Hirohito renounces claim to divinity.
The legislature (Diet) becomes the sole author of laws.Korean Civil War
1950
U.S. forces based in Japan begin voyage
to South Korea to stop North Korean 'invasion'.
U.S. aircraft based in Japan attack N. Korean targets.
U.S. casualties are treated in Japan.
9/8/51
Treaty of San Francisco.
5/28/52
Japan officially regains sovereignty.
Late 1950s
U.S. planes fly illegal missions over the U.S.S.R., from bases in Japan.
Lee Harvey Oswald is stationed at a NSA base.
6/26/68
Japan regains control of the Bonin,
Volcano (including Iwo Jima), and Marcus Islands.
5/15/72
The Ryukyu (including Okinawa) and
the Daito Islands are given back to Japan.
America is allowed to maintain military
bases, and brothels, on Okinawa.
1980s
Several Japanese corporations sell
high-tech military secrets to the Soviets.
May, 1989
Premier Noboru Takashita resigns after the Recruit
Scandal over illegal stock trading and political contributions.
1991
Japan is rocked by exposure of
bribery in the highest levels of it's govt.
1990s
Japan's economy begins to stall.
7/18/93
The Liberal Democratic Party loses control of the
Diet for 1st time since 1955, because of the bribery scandals.
8/6/93
Morihiro Hosokawa is chosen as Prime Minister
to lead reform of the corrupt govt.
5/8/94
Hosokawa resigns when his financial corruption is revealed.
6/25/95
Hosokawa's successor resigns and is replaced by
the 1st Socialist P.M. since 1948, Tomiichi Murayama.1/17/95
Kobe is hit by an earthquake that kills 6,500, injures 35,000
and causes $60 billion in damage leaving thousands homeless.
3/20/96
Nerve gas attack on Tokyo subway kills 12 and injures thousands.
9/4/95
A 12 yr. old girl is raped by 3 U.S. marines on Okinawa.
Public outrage leads America to begin reducing presence on the island.
1/5/96
Murayama resigns and is replaced by the LDP's Ryutaro Hashimoto.
4/17/96
Dollar Bill Clinton signs a joint security agreement w/ Japan in Tokyo.
Boeing begins selling new AWACS' to Japan.
10/20/96
LDP regains control of the Diet. 1998
Russia allows a Japanese Army soldier captured in
Manchuria, in 1945, to visit his family in Japan.
Aug., 1998
N. Korea Fires A Rocket At Japan.1999 | 2000 | 2001