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- 30,000 BCE: Arrival of the first settlers in Japan.
- 300 BCE–300 CE: Yayoi Period – Introduction of rice cultivation and metalworking techniques.
- 538: Buddhism is officially introduced to Japan from the Korean Peninsula.
- 710: Nara Period – The establishment of Japan’s first permanent capital in Nara.
- 794: Heian Period – The capital is moved to Kyoto, and the flourishing of Japanese arts and culture.
- 1192: Kamakura Shogunate – Minamoto no Yoritomo establishes the first shogunate, marking the beginning of feudal Japan.
- 1274 and 1281: Mongol Invasions – Failed attempts by the Mongol Empire to invade Japan.
- 1336–1573: Muromachi Period – Ashikaga shogunate and the rise of samurai culture.
- 1543: Arrival of Portuguese traders and the introduction of firearms.
- 1592–1598: Imjin War – Japan invades Korea under Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
- 1603–1868: Edo Period – Tokugawa shogunate and a long period of stability and isolationism.
- 1633–1639: Sakoku Policy – A policy of national isolation, restricting foreign influences.
- 1853–1854: Arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry and the opening of Japan to foreign trade.
- 1868: Meiji Restoration – Overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate, and the beginning of the Meiji era.
- 1872: Introduction of a modern education system and the establishment of universities.
- 1894–1895: First Sino-Japanese War – Japan defeats Qing China, asserting its regional dominance.
- 1904–1905: Russo-Japanese War – Japan defeats Russia, becoming the first Asian power to defeat a Western power.
- 1912: Taisho Period – Emperor Taisho ascends the throne, marking a period of cultural and political change.
- 1931: Manchurian Incident – Japan invades Manchuria, marking the start of its expansionist policies.
- 1941: Attack on Pearl Harbor – Japan enters World War II by attacking the United States.
- 1945: Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, followed by Japan’s surrender and the end of World War II.
- 1947: Adoption of the new Constitution of Japan, establishing a parliamentary democracy.
- 1952: San Francisco Peace Treaty – Japan gains full sovereignty and independence.
- 1964: Tokyo Olympics – Japan hosts the Summer Olympics, symbolizing its post-war recovery.
- 1989: Heisei Period – Emperor Akihito ascends the throne, marking the start of the Heisei era.
- 1995: Great Hanshin Earthquake – Devastating earthquake strikes Kobe, causing significant loss of life and damage.
- 2011: Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami – Massive earthquake and tsunami hit northeastern Japan, triggering the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
- 2019: Reiwa Period – Emperor Naruhito ascends the throne, marking the start of the Reiwa era.
