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Japanese History Timeline
Timeline of Japanese History

By Shizuko Mishima, About.com

Jomon Period ( - B.C. 300)
  • fishing and hunting
Yayoi Peiod (B.C. 300 - A.D. 250)
  • wet rice cultivation begins
Kofun Period (A.D. 250 - )
  • The Yamato Court was established in 350.
Asuka Period (538 - )
  • Buddhism was introduced to Japan in 538.
  • Shotoku was appointed as the crown prince and regent in 593.
Nara Period (710 - )
  • The Heijokyo capital was established in 710.
Heian Period (794 - )
  • The capical was moved to Kyoto (Heiankyo) in 794.
Kamakura Period (1192 - )
  • The Kamakura Shogunate was established in 1192 in Kamakura by Shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo.
  • The Kamakura Shogunate collapsed in 1333.
Muromachi Period (1334 - )
  • The Muromachi Shogunate was established in 1336 by Shogun Ashikaga Takauji.
  • It's the Warring States period in Japan.
Azuchi Momoyama Period (1573 - )
  • The Muromachi Shogunate collapsed in 1573.
  • Oda Nobunags and Toyotomi Hideyoshi tried to unify the country.
  • Battle of Sekigahara in 1600.
Edo Period (1603 - )
  • The Tokugawa Shogunate was established in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Meiji Period (1868 - )
  • Meiji restoration in 1968.
Taisho Period (1912 - )
  • Entered World War I in 1914.
Showa Period (1926 - )
  • The Pacific War began in 1941.
  • The Summer Olympic Games took place in Tokyo in 1964.
Heisei Period (1989 - )
  • Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake occurred in 1995.
  • The Winter Olympic Games took place in Nagano in 1998.
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