-
Commodore Matthew Perry arrives in Japan
United States Commodore Matthew Parry arrives in Japan and gives an ultimatum: open up or be destroyed. With that he leaves and returns in one year with the techonological marvel known as the ironclad, ready to forcibly pry open Japan's ports. -
Treaty of Peace and Amity signed
The unfair treaty of Peace and Amity is signed giving large economic benefits and trade relations to the United States, as well as two ports, the first major opening up of Japan in centuries. -
Order to expel all barbarians
The Domain of Choshu demands that the shogunate expel all foreign "barbarians", but the domain of Satsuma stages a coup and removes Choshu influence from the imperial court. -
Bombing of Choshu
British, French, Dutch, and American forces bomb Choshu and forcibly open more Japanese ports for foreign trade. -
Meiji government established
Choshu and Satsuma domains force the shogun Yoshinobu to resign, the long Tokugawa dynasty ends, and power is restored to the emporer, thus begining the Meiji restoration era. -
The Yen debuts
-
Feudal System is abolished
The Meiji government dismatles the feudal system and forbids lords from retaining private armies. -
The first railway line between Tokyo and Yokohama is inaugurated
-
Religious Freedom
Japan grants religious freedom and adopts the Gregorian Calendar. -
Samurai revolt
A samurai revolt led by Saigo Takamori against the emperor for dissolving the samurai class are defeated by the Japanese military and Saigo is executed. -
First Sino Japanese War
China sends troops into Korea and Japan takes this as an act of "aggression" and thusly invades China. -
End of the Sino-Japanese War
Japan defeats China and recieves Taiwan. China is also forced to recognize Japanese supremacy over Korea in the treaty of Shimonoseki. -
Russo-Japanese War begins
Japan attacks Russian forces in Manchuria, destroying the Russian fleet at Port Arthur and invades Korea. -
Russo-Japanese War ends
Japan defeats Russia (the first time a non-European country defeats a European power) and force the treaty of Portsmouth. This treaty withdraws Russian forces from Manchuria, turns over the Russian city of Sakhalin to the Japanese, and Russia recognizes a Japanese protectorate over Korea. Due to this deal Japan now takes control of the southern part of the South Manchurian railway. -
Annexation of Korea
The Korea Treaty of 1910 is signed and Japan takes full control of Korea, ending the Choson dynasty. -
World War I
World War I breaks out in Europe and spreads over to Asia in which Britain, France, Italy, Russia, Serbia, the United States (1916), and Japan fight against Austria, Germany, and Turkey. -
Versailles Conference
After World War I, the Allied victors set to reshape the world after the horrendous events that took place, and Japan secures itself a permanent seat in the new League of Nations -
Exclusion Act
The United States Congress pass the Exclusion Act, prohibiting further immigration from Japan and other countries. -
Universal Male Suffrage
Japan introduces universal male suffrage, increasing the voter population from 3 million to 12 million, but becomes a de facto military dictatorship under nominal imperial rule. -
Emperor Taisho dies
Emperor Taisho dies, ending the "Taisho democracy" and is succeeded by the Show emperor, Hirohito. -
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Japanese army provokes an incident along the Manchuria railway and invades Manchuria along with other parts of China, taking over numerous cities in violent fashions including the rape of Nanjing. -
Japan leaves the League of Nations
After the condemnation of Japan's occupation of Manchuria and subsequent invasion of China, Japan leaves their once-permanent seat on the League of Nations. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
After large military excusions amongst the islands in the Pacific, Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, destroying most of the American fleet stationed there. This act brings Japan into the "Axis of evil" and the United States into World War II. -
Victory in Europe Day
Coalition forces storm Berlin and take the city, finding Adolf Hitler dead, and thusly Europe is finaly at peace. This leaves Japan as the only remaining beligerent, and the question of invasion is brought up. -
Bombing of Hiroshima
The United States drop an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima leading the the complete destruction of the city and the begining of the atomic era and the Cold War. -
Bombing of Nagasaki
After Japan refuses to surrender from the first atomic bombing, the United States drop the second on the city of Nagasaki, destroying the entire city and effectively securing the complete surrender of World War II. -
Japan Surrenders
Japan agrees to an unconidtional surrender aboard the USS Missouri, thereby handing over the country to allied forces for reconstruction. -
Constitution
Americans draft a constitution for Japan which is ratified, leaving the emperor as a mere figurehead. -
Independence
The United States returns Japan to independence. -
Economic Power
Japan is now the third strongest economic power in the world, only behind the United States and the Soviet Union, surpassing all European and Asian economies. -
G6
Six economic powers meet in Paris and form the G6, Japan is among these six. -
Famicom
Ninentdo introduces the videogame console the Famicom. -
Mario
Ninentdo releases the first Super Mario Bros videogame -
Economic collapse
The Japanese "bubble economy" bursts, and stock prices decline for 13 years after, erasing trillions of dollars in wealth, and with land prices declining 80% in 13 years. -
Unauthorized trades
The Sumitomo Bank loses 2.6 billion dollars because of unauthorized trades/
