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Jan 29, 1542
Portuguese established firearms and brought Christianity to Japan
The first Europeans from Portugal arrived in Western Japan in the year of 1542. The Europeans brought many things but the most important things that they imported were gunpowder and Christianity. Because of the new weapons Portugal were offering, Japan accepted foreign trade with open arms and therefore allowed Jesuit missionaries to be built in Japan, wich later turned out successful in teaching many people the beliefs of Christianity. However, the missionaries were soon banned when Franciscan -
Japan breaks all connections to foreigners for two years
The government of Japan was afraid of not holding enough control or security over its people. Although they had already forbid people from practicing Christianity, in the beginning of the mid-1600s, foreigners were not allowed in Japan and Japanese were not allowed to enter other countries. Anyone who tried would be killed. However, this turned for the good. Trade within Japan grew as a result and lack of wars and a stable society allowed economic expansion. One of the biggest changes was the sy -
Japan's first newspaper was published
The first modern newspaper ever to be published in Japan was the Nagaski Shopping List and Advertiser. The author was a English man named A.W. Hansard, and published the newspaper every two weeks. He then moved the newspaper to Yokohama in November 1681 and renamed the newspaper to 'Japan Herold'. A.W. Hansard only published news for foreigners and about foreigners. The readers of the newspaper at these times were only samurais and it allowed them to have insights about foreigners. -
Mount Fuji Hoel Eruption
The eruption of Mount Fuji had erupted on December 16 and ended in January 1 1708. Instead of shooting out lava, the eruption had emitted almost 800 million cubic meters of volcanic ash, which spread over vast areas. In some areas, the volcanic ash layered itself up to several centimeters. This had affected many farmer's crops from growing and producing, which resulted a shortage of food supples. Along with the ashes, there came a Sawaka flood because of the build-up of the ashes. The year after -
US commodore Matthew Perry arrives at Japan
The US commodore Matthew Perry arrives at Japan to demand them to trade with the U.S. In this era, U.S. are looking for foreign trade or open markets to put their products in. Because Japan had no navy or military power, they are forced to agree to trade. While Matthew Perry could do not attack Japan, other countries did by following Perry's example of forcing Japan to trade. If Japan did not agree to the treaty, they would attack Japan and disarm them to force Japan to agree. Because many fore -
Japan accepts Yen as the country's currency
Yen is the official currency of Japan, which translates to 'circle' in Japanese, referring to the coin's round shape. Their financial system started during the Edo Period and was based on the three-coin system: gold, silver, and sen. However, during the end of the Edo Period, the Bakufu hid the money to avoid reducing the number of coins. This caused the system to fall apart and serious troubles during trading with foreign countries started occuring. In January 1869, Okuma as the vice-controlle -
the first railway was constructed between Tokyo and Yokohama
Japan's main transport was the rail transport because the trains can get to major cities fast. Because of lack of fossil fuels and reliance on importans, the government had the trail transport as its next mission to accomplish. Japan managed to build this railway using British economics and 300 British and European technical advisors. This railway uses a rail gauge, while the reason mostly remains unkown, it is guessed that gauges are cheaper. But the decision affects the railways in the modern -
Battle of Mukden
The Battle of Mukden is one of the largest battles fought on land before the World War I. This battle is between Russia and Japan and was fought from February 20 to March 10 in 1905. Russia and Japan had been fighting for Mukden for some tim and it was important to win this battle to make sure to destory the Russia army. . On February 27th, the fourth army of the Japanese focused their attack on the right flank of the Russia army while the rest of the forces attascked Russian front lines. Around -
Japan gained full control over Korea
With all the foreigners trying to bring in their beliefs, influences, and goods, Japanese started to feel unsafe. Therefore, they turned to Korea in hopes to seperate Korea from Qing and to turn Korea into a Japanese satelite. Japan located gunboat diplomacy to force Koera to win an unequality treaty called the Treaty of Ganghwa. The treaty allowed Japan to have control over three Korean ports and extra territory. On May 1910, Terauchi Masatake, the Minister of War of Japan, took over a mission -
Japan becomes powerful during the Meiji Period
apan had reluctantly agreed to sing a treaty with America. Feeling unsafe from the Europeans and Americas, Meiji Japan was determined to shut foreigners out to regain their independence. Their fist step was to make Japan a democratic state. Social classes started disappearing. Samurais were taking this the hardest as they lost all of their benefits. This reform constructed religion freedom in 1873. In addition, the education system was reformed and they introduced compulsary system to students. -
The Great Kanto Earthquake
The Great Kanto Earthquake was the most devastating earthquake ever to be recorded in Japan. This had destroyed Tokyo and Yokohama. This earthquake had been so strong that people from over 60 kilometers away from the epicenter could feel the vibrations and it is claimed that Buddha statue (weighing a total of 93 tons) moved almost two feet.It had struck had lunchtime, therefore the people had their fire open to cook, so their house went aflame when the earthquake came. The earthquake had also de -
Japan and China go to war
This war was called the second Sino-Japanese War. The war became fiercer after the bombing in Pearl Harbor, and in the 20th century, it was the largest Asian war. On one particular night of July 7, 1937, the Chinese and Japanese found themselves locked in crossfire in Lugou, otherwise known as the Marco Polo Bridge, which was an essential assess route to Beijing. The battle started off as the soldiers being confused, then it soon became a full-scale battle. Beijing and Tianjin feel into Japan's -
Japan attacks America's Pearl Harbor, pushing America into the war
The Imperial Japan Navy shocked America by a sudden attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The two countries were already enemies since 1920. Because of their longterm relationship of hatred, Japan feared that America would interfere in Japan's quest to conque Malaysia and the Dutch East Indies. Japan's intentions was to destroy the America military before they could interfer with Japan's military plans. The whole attack consisted of six Japan aircrafts, which had launched 353 Japanese figh -
Japan surrenders from the World War II
At the end of the war, Japan's situation was turning worse because America's planes caused supplies of oil and other essential materials to stop transferring. With a raid in Tokyo that had occured on March 9, 1945, more than 80,000 Japanese people were killed, and a million of Japanese people became homeless. On August 6th, the Japanese ignored a special "Declaration" that proposed the Japanese to surrender from the USA and suffered the consequences of having the first atomic bomb drop into Hir -
Tokyo Summer Olympics
The Tokyo Summer Olympics held the honor of being the first Olympics in Asia. In this Olympics, judo wrestling, women's pentathlon and women's volleyball were added in the Olympics for the first time. This Olympics was the last to use a cinder track for running sport events, but also the first to use fiberglass during pole vault events. The ending results was that Japan won three gold medals, one being in the women's volleyball. Japan ranked third in the medal count.
