Japanese History

History

The recent Japanese society is built by many historical figures. If they didn't go into any actions, Japanese society might be a little bit different from now. Especially, "the Last Days of the Tokugawa Shogunete (1853-1868)" was turbulence period to our history and society.

the Asuka Period (645-708)

During this period, the oldest law was made by Shotoku Taishi. His political reform affected to next periods. Most Japanese people know about him because his picture was used in bills in 1957, 1958, and 1984.

the Nara Period (708-782)

In 752, the oldest huge statue of Buddha completed. It locates in Nara city.

the Heian Period (782-1190)

This period flourished richly. Especially, women of high rank wore lively, fascinating, and beautiful Kimono; however, there was a tremendous gap between the rich and the poor.

Jyunihitoe-Wearing twelve different color kimonos.

the Warring State Period (1428-1651)

Many Samurai (侍) started battles to take "Tenka (the World)". Famous Samurai are Takauji Ashikaga, Nobunaga Oda, Hideyosi Toyotomi who governed "Tenka (the World)", and Mitsuhide Akechi.

the Last Days of the Tokugawa Shogunete (1853-1868)

It was a tempestuous period to Japan. Nagasaki started national isolation with Portugal and Holland, Japanese army changed their weapon Katana to guns, and the Tokugawa Shogunete was fallen.
- Matthew Calbraith Perry was a pioneer the opening of Japan to the world
- Shinsengumi (Isami Kondo, Toshizo Hijikata, etc...) was a police of Edo Shogunnate and protected it against Anti-Shogunnate.
- Ryoma Sakamoto was a key man to cleave a new world in Japan, and he was the first person in Japan to go to a honeymoon.
- Takamori Saigo was one of the leaders of Anti-Shogunnate. After he left from the governmental position, he had built a school for teaching soldiery and education to Samurai.

(The last two persons were the enemy of Shinsengumi.)

Shinsengumi-left,Toshizo Hijikata Right-Isami Kondo who was the leader of Shinsengumi

Meiji (1868-1912)

In this time, government took in Western cultures for promoting the modernization of Japan. Men and women of high rank wore clothes instead of Kimono, and they started to use chairs in the house.

Two men who are wearing clothes instead of Kimono & carrying Katana

A man who is wearing clothes and sitting on a chare

Taisho (1912-1926)

A row of houses along the street in Taisho

Showa (1926-1989)

In this time, many sorrowful, catastrophic, the worst occurrences happened. The biggest one was the World War II. It started from 1941 to 1945. For four years, a lot of children, women, and elders fell victims to this war, and many people lost their family, houses, and hopes.

Heisei (1989-)

Seito Sakakibara,15 (False Name) who killed an Elementary School student

Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake (January 17th, 1995)

HOME

Last up dated on March 15, 2006 by Sachie Yamahata