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In 1192 Minamoto Yoritomo became shogun. The shogun is one of the top leaders in the system. Although the emperor is above shogun, the shogun has the real power. Yoritomo was the first shogun, and this system continued. This system is called the shogunate system and was basically military power.
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The first Europeans to arrive in Japan were three Portuguese merchants from a shipwrecked Chinese ship that washed up on a small island 65 miles south of Kyushu. The Japanese called the Portuguese who landed in Japan “Southern Barbarians” because they arrived mainly in the south.
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In 1543 the Portuguese arrived in Japan. Two of them were on a Chinese ship that landed at Tanegashima Island. They were extremely keen on trading with Japan, so they quickly returned. The portuguese brought tabacco, clocks and sweet potatoes to Japan. The Japanese called the Portuguese namban, which means southern barbarians because they sailed to Japan from the south.
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In 1603 a military rule was made, and the rule was that no foreigners were able to enter Japan and the Japanese wanted to run their own country.
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When the capital became Kyoto, certain noble families, such as the Fujiwara family, ruled on behalf of the emperor, and gained control of the government. This new period had changed the culture and brought beautiful new gardens and buildings to the country.
