Modern Japanese History from 1868 - to the present


Historical Periods - at a Glance

Many countries, including Great Britain, sometimes refer to perods of their hisrory by name. This is often the name of the King, Queen or Ruler at that time. For example Tudors and Stewarts. Sometimes the first name of the ruler is used as in Elizabethans, Victorians, Edwardians, The Japanese use a similar system refering to each time span by the name of its Imperial family.


The Japanese Calendar

The Japanese calendar combines the Western and the Japanese systems. Years are numbered by the western system and also the surname of the reigning emperor.

For example:

  • The present era Heisei (meaning achieving peace) began when Emperor Akihito came to the throne in 1989 so that year was Heisei 1.
  • In 1926 Akihito's father's became emperor and was called Showa. That year was Showa 1.
    He died in 1989 - Showa 63

The Japanese system is generally used within the country and on all official documents. The Western system is used for international business.


Time

Japan is 9 hours ahead of British time. There is no daylight saving time: when Britain changes to summer time the difference is 8 hours
.

Modern Times

Modern Tokyo By Night


10. Meij

i

1868 - 1912


11. Taisho

1912 - 1926


12. Showa

1926 - 1989


13. Heisei

1989 - present

Modern Tokyo by Night


1868 - Tokugawa (Edo) end. Meiji begins.

The city of Keyoto renamed Toyko and made the capital.



1869 - Meiji


Colonisation of Hokkaido begins


1890 - Meiji

Imperial Diet convenes for the first time

Diet Building


1894 - Meiji

Chinese - Japanese war begins


1895 - Meiji

China cedes territory to Japan - ending the war. Russia, France and Germany force Japan to relinquish the territory
.


1904 - Meiji

Russian-Japanese war begins


1905 - Meiji

Treaty of Portsmouth ends the war. Korea becomes a Japanese protectorate
.


1910 - Meiji

Korea becomes a Japanese colony
.


1923 -Taisho

The Great Kanto Earthquake


1932 - Showa

On 15 May young naval officers assassinate the prime minister and attempt a coup.


1933 - Showa

Japan withdraws from the League of Nations


1937 - Showa

Chinese-Japanese war begins and last until 1945


1941 - Showa

Japan enters World War II. On 7th December Japan attacks Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The USA declares war on Japan
.


1942 - Showa

By May Japan had control of South East Asia - all the red areas marked on the map - as well as many Pacific Islands.

The crosses mark the ensuing battles in the Pacific.

By August the USA had defeated Japan's navy, stopping them from invading further territory.


1944 - Showa

September the USA dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasak totally devastating the two cities Thousands of People died. Five days later the Japanese government surrendered and on 14 August, World War II ended.


1950's - Showa

Many Asian countries began developing their own industries. With stable governments, modern factories and a well-educated workforce Japan prospered.


The USA helped to rebuild the Japanese economy which was in ruins, Japanese factories supplied military equipment for the Korean War, which helped their economic revival.


1960's - Showa

By this time Japan was the world's second largest economic power after the USA and had started selling cars on the world wide market.

Government begins to promoter computer industry


1964

Tokyo stage the Olympic Games.


1970's - Showa

  • 1975 - Japan launched the first VHs on to the market
  • 1979 - Compact discs were developed by a Dutch and a Japanese company


1980's S howa

The Japanese became the world's largest manufacturer of motor vehicles


1989 -Showa - Heisei

Emperor Hirohito (Showa) dies.

Akihito (Heisei) becomes the new emperor.


1990's -- Heisei

1995 - The Great Hanshin Earthquake in Kobe

1998 - Japan and several South-East Asian countries experience serious economic problems
.


2000 - Heisei

Shinkansen ("bullet train") came into service

Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is now one of the largest cities in the world.


2002 - Heise

Joint hosts with South Korea of the World Cup