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The first official capital of Japan is based in the city of Nara; the imperial family – led by a series of emperors or empresses – rules over Japan during this time
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The first official capital of Japan is based in the city of Nara; the imperial family – led by a series of emperors or empresses – rules over Japan during this time.
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Under orders from Emperor Kammu, the capital of Japan moves to the city of Heian-Kyo (modern-day Kyoto); it remains the official capital of Japan for the next 1000 years.
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Under orders from Emperor Kammu, the capital of Japan moves to the city of Heian-Kyo (modern-day Kyoto); it remains the official capital of Japan for the next 1000 years.
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The Minamoto clan seizes power from the emperor; Minamoto no Yoritomo becomes shogun and establishes his own capital city in Kamakura; with support from daimyo (lords) and samurai (warriors) a series of shoguns rules Japan for the next 700 years
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The Minamoto clan seizes power from the emperor; Minamoto no Yoritomo becomes shogun and establishes his own capital city in Kamakura; with support from daimyo (lords) and samurai (warriors) a series of shoguns rules Japan for the next 700 years
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The Mongol army launches an attack on Japan, landing on
the island of Kyushu; a typhoon destroys many of their ships and the invasion fails. -
The Mongol army launches an attack on Japan, landing on
the island of Kyushu; a typhoon destroys many of their ships and the invasion fails. -
The Mongol army launches a second attack on Japan, landing once again on the island of Kyushu; for the second time a typhoon hits destroying almost all Mongol ships and the invasion fails.
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The Mongol Army launches a second attack on Japan, landing once again on the island of Kyushu; for the second time a typhoon hits destroying almost all Mongol ships and the invasion fails.
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Emperor Go-Diago overthrows the Kamakura shogunate and takes back power for a brief period.
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Ashikaga Takauji seizes power from Emperor Go-Daigo to become the new shogun.
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A period of civil war, known as the Warring States period, begins in Japan between rival warlords; it lasts for around 100 years.
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William Adams, a sailor and navigator, becomes the first Englishman to visit Japan; he befriends Tokugawa Ieyasu (a future shogun) and later becomes a key advisor to him.
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Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes shogun and establishes a base in the city of Edo (modern-day Tokyo); the Tokugawa shogunate rules Japan for the next 260 years.
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Tokugawa Iemitsu introduces a policy known as sakoku (meaning ‘locked country’); under the policy, no Japanese people are permitted to leave Japan and no foreigners are allowed to enter; the policy remains in effect until around 1853
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A policy is introduced to reduce logging and increase the planting of trees; only the shogun and his daimyo are able to authorize the use of wood.
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Timber harvesting in Japan has now been reduced by 60 percent;
it remains at low levels for the next 30 years, allowing Japan’s forests to recover. -
Commodore Matthew Perry, a US naval officer, arrives in the city of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to persuade the Japanese to open their borders to trade.
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The Convention of Kanagawa puts an end to the policy
of sakoku; Japan opens up trade with the United States. -
The last shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, steps down and hands power back to the imperial family under Emperor Meiji.