Believed to be a descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu, Emperor Jimmu founded the nation of Japan by his divine right inherited from the gods. The unique nation this first emperor founded will see turbulent wars, rises, falls, and a rich culture that will develop along the way
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
History of Japan: Pre-1936
Ancient Japan
0 BCE 710 CE
-
660 BCE
585 BCE
Emperor Jimmu: The First Emperor
Religious event
Heian Period
710 CE 1185 CE
Marked by the establishment of the first capital in Nara, the period featured power centralization and consolidation by the emperor and many noble families. Japanese culture became heavily influenced and inspired by Chinese culture. By the end of the era the two most prominent and powerful noble families vied for control over the nation: The Taira and the Minamoto. Minamoto no Yoritomo, leader of the Minamoto clan prevailed and became the first Shogun of Japan, marking the end of the Heian period with his move of the capital from Heian to Kamakura
-
1180 CE
1185 CE
The Genpei War
Military actionA national civil war between the Minamoto and Taira clans. The war was won by Minamoto no Yoritomo, who became the first Shogun of Japan
Kamakura Period
1185 CE 1467 CE
This era began when Minamoto no Yoritomo moved the capital to Kamakura. This era is defined by the solidification of shogunate rule, and the near erasure of imperial power. However as the period progressed the political power of the Kamakura Shogunate had waned, and the shogunate was overthrown by the forces of the Emperor, ending the era
-
1274 CE
1281 CE
Mongol Invasions
Military actionThe mighty Mongol empire that had conquered China, Korea, and many other peoples, had set its eyes on Japan, and had built a great fleet to invade the islands. It made two separate invasion attempts, one in 1274, and one in 1281, but both fleets were miraculously destroyed by raging storms called "kamikaze" believed to be the work of the gods. The Mongol army would have been too powerful for the Japanese to stop, so this fortune must have truly been a divine act in the eyes of Japan
Sengoku Period
1467 CE 1603 CE
The fall of the Kamakura Shogunate was followed by the brief restoration of the imperial court, but it was not strong enough to retain power, and the nation quickly devolved into a splintering of clans vying for the seat of power. However this time the conflict between clans would become lengthier and more intense than any time before or since. This warring states period lasted 150 years, seeing the ebb and flow of the power of many clans until power finally consolidated under Tokugawa Ieyasau. Ieyasu then establishes the Tokugawa Shogunate and its new capital in Edo (later called Tokyo), which remains the capital of Japan to this day
-
1542 CE
First Contact with Europeans
Diplomatic actionJapan makes first contact with explorers from Europe, Portugese who bring firearms and religion from their nation. The arabesques brought by the traders heavily impact the war, as those clans who readily adopt and begin mass replicating these guns see a considerable advantage in the conflict.
-
1568 CE
1582 CE
Rise of Oda Nobunaga
Military actionDue to his forward thinking and early adoption of firearms, the head of the Oda clan, Oda Nobunaga found great success in defeating his opponents and consolidating power. After Nobunaga died his efforts in unifying Japan were finally completed by his successor Toyotomi Hideyoshi who finished unifying the nation through conquest
-
1582 CE
1598 CE
Toyotomi Hideyoshi & The Imjin War
Military actionAfter Toyotomi Hideyoshi finished what his predecessor started, he used his new power to purge the European influence from the country, and began plans to invade and conquer Korea, and then China. While the war tested Japanese troops performed very well on land, Japan's attempt to conquer Korea failed due to an inferiority at sea. Toyotomi Hideyoshi passed away shortly after
-
1598 CE
1600 CE
Tokugawa Ieyasu & the Battle of Sekigahara
Military actionAfter Toyotomi Hideyoshi passed away, the reigns of power were up for grabs between Hideyoshi's son, and one of Oda Nobunaga's allies Tokugawa Ieyasu. The dispute was settled at the Battle of Sekigahara where Ieyasu won and subsequently founded the Tokugawa Shogunate, which would be the last Shogunate
Edo Period
1603 CE 1868 CE
After the Tokugawa Shogunate was founded, a long period of peace and isolationism followed. Tokugawa Ieyasu and his descendents maintained tightly closed borders from the outside world, with the exception of limited trade with the Dutch. Japan became static in time as the world rapidly moved forward without them. This lasted until the Shogunate itself was overthrown by the Imperial Court
-
1852 CE
1853 CE
Commodore Perry's Expedition
Diplomatic actionA Pacific voyage by United States Navy Commodore Perry led his fleet to Japan where he threatened to wield his overwhelming firepower against the town unless the nation opened up to trade. The Shogunate accepted his demands and the long dormant and isolated nation of Japan was brought back into the world of nations
-
1867 CE
Meiji Restoration
Political eventAfter the Tokugawa Shogunate had become stagnant, dissident follows of the Emperor sought to bring Japan into the modern age by overthrowing the Shogunate and reinstating the Emperor as the head of state. The forces rallied under the young Emperor Meiji and accepted modernization and help from outside powers to overthrow the Shogunate in a brief conflict called the Boshin War where the Imperial forces emerged victorious and the Empire of Japan was founded
Meiji Period
1868 CE 1912 CE
Japan is thrust into the modern age, and is forced to make up for lost time through political and technological developments and advancements.
-
1869 CE
1895 CE
Modernization
Civil actionJapan quickly made attempts to establish trade and industrialize to catch up with the rest of the world. All the knowledge that was kept out for hundreds of years was made known. Factories, trains, and many other technologies revolutionized life for Japan, and brought it from being backwards to becoming the preeminent power in Asia outside of the European colonial powers in the region. Political reforms were also made as the previous feudal system was dismantled and a more liberal government was established in its place including a parliamentary body called the Imperial Diet, and a Prime Minister as the political head of state under the Emperor
-
1894 CE
1895 CE
1st Sino-Japanese War
Military actionJapan found itself in its first external conflict in centuries as it disputed with the still backwards China over influence in Korea. China buckled under the weight of Japan's modernized army, and Korea was annexed into the empire
-
1904 CE
1905 CE
Russo-Japanese War
Military actionHaving modernized their Army and Navy, Japan found itself in a land dispute with a major European power: Russia, over land in Korea. Japan against all expectations won on both land and sea against this rival, cementing itself as an established regional power and rising star on the world stage
Taisho Period
1912 CE 1926 CE
Emperor Meiji left his son with a Japan much more advanced than when he himself was a kid. Emperor Taisho's reign was brief but was marked by further liberalization of Japan's government and foreign Policy, including a closer relationship with many European countries
-
1914 CE
1918 CE
The Great War
Military actionAs Europe erupted in a massive conflict, Japan found a golden opportunity to procure territory by participating. Japan joined the side of Britain, France, and Russia against Germany by invading Germany's Pacific island holdings south east of China. This was done at little sacrifice, and great reward for Japan, whose territorial influence now stretched much farther than it had before
-
1918 CE
1922 CE
Siberian Intervention
Military actionAfter a communist revolution flipped Russia upon its head and threw the nation into chaos, communist skeptical nations like the United States, Britain, and Jap[an invaded the nation from the east to assist the Tsarist loyalists. Japan was secretly hoping to procure land from Russia in this endeavor, but the intervention attempt amounted to little and the communist revolution succeeded, leaving a hated ideological enemy on Japan's doorstep
Showa Era
1926 CE 1936 CE
Emperor Taisho's untimely death left the throne to his young 25 year old son Emperor Hirohito (also known by the title Emperor Showa). Emperor Hirohito is the current emperor of Japan and is overseeing a rejection of the liberalization that occurred under his father, and an increase in fervent nationalism and militarization. Where will this path lead the ambitious nation...
-
1927 CE
Great Kanto Earthquake and the Showa Financial Crisis
Financial EventThe economy suffered an economic depression after the post-great-war bubble popped, accompanied by a disastrous and deadly earthquake that led to great destruction and loss of life. The economic disaster led to a rise in the power of the big four Zaibatsus, as well as a rise in public disenfranchisement in the liberal system. The earthquake was seen as divine retribution for Japan's acceptance of foreign ways and rejection of Japan's traditions.
-
1931 CE
The Mukden Incident & The Annexation of Manchuria
Military actionThe increasingly militaristic Japanese government had set its sights on the fertile and resource rich plains of Manchuria, and thus staged a false flag attack on their own railway in the region as pretense to invade the region currently controlled by the Republic of China. The Japanese soldiers quickly overwhelmed the inadequately armed Chinese soldiers, and the territory was quickly annexed by the Japanese. Rather than be incorporated into the empire directly, the Japanese opted to turn the territory into a puppet government under their control. The new nation of Manchukuo was to be ruled from the now displaced imperial family of the Qing dynasty. The Qing dynasty was a Manchurian lineage which had ruled all of China for hundreds of years, but was overthrown in 1912 by rebels of the Republic of China. Now Japan gave the Qing dynasty a new opportunity to regain some of their power within their traditional homeland, so long as they remain subservient to the Japanese Empire. The current regent of the puppet government of Manchukuo is Puyi, the last emperor of China who was a mere child when his dynasty was overthrown. The international community however was not fooled by either the false flag incident or by the new puppet nation. Japan was condemned on the world stage, but to Japan this seemed like nothing more than hypocrisy from the European colonialists who didn't want a new foreign member to their imperialist club. This marked the first major schism between Japan and the European powers
-
1932 CE
Government By Assassination
Criminal ActivityThe 30s became a politically unstable period of political extremism and violence. This era was initiated by the assassination of Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi by young naval officers of the ultra-nationalist "League of Blood". Sympathies within the navy's court martial led to light sentencing for the perpetrators despite the severity of their acts. This was seen as tacit approval or a green light by other Ultra-Nationalist Groups, and thus an era of political violence, intimidation, and even assassination began. An era where Prime Minister of Japan was the most dangerous job on the planet.
-
1932 CE
Sakuradamon Incident
Criminal ActivityDuring a visit to Korea, an attempt to assassinate Emperor Hirohito was made by a Korean independence activist with a hand grenade. The emperor was unharmed, but the incident inflamed tensions between Korea and its imperial overlords, who already saw the nation and its people as inferior
-
1936 CE
Campaign Start
Era beginning/endThe world is precariously balanced on a knifes edge teetering above world war. Both the new Nazi Germany as well as the land and resource starved Japanese Empire are looking at their neighbors with hungry eyes. Will Japan decide to returning to liberal moderation, but resign itself to being under the heel of the arbitration of European powers who don't see it as an equal? Or will it choose to secure resources and power for itself and become an empire independent of the rules and resources of far away hypocrites. Can Japan seize glory and triumph? Or is it merely courting its own destruction...