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Japan
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400 BC |
Korean farmers about this time brought rice to Japan. Links: Japan, Korea, Food 
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171 BC |
There was a major wave of migration to Japan from the Korean Peninsula. The migration of other peoples from mainland Asia around this time brought metal tools, rice and new farming techniques. Computer modeling in 2011 showed a that the migration also had significant impact on linguistic development. Links: Japan, Korea, South Korea, Language
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578 |
The family business Kongo Gumi was founded in Japan by a Korean in Osaka to build Buddhist temples. The company continued to flourish in 2010 as general builder. Links: Japan, Architect
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700 800 |
The Tanka (short song) poetry form emerged in Japan about this time. The unrhymed verse formalized to 31 syllables arranged in a 5 line pattern of 5-7-5-7-7. In 2005 it became popular on cell phones. Links: Japan, Poet, Telecom
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1002 1019 |
In Japan Lady Murasaki Shikibu wrote her classic court novel "The Tale of Genji." The novel "Genji Monogatari" (Genji the Shining One) was later considered the world's 1st novel. The long work explored the imperial court of the Heian period through the life and many loves of Genji, son of the emperor's favorite concubine. Arthur Waley made an English translation in 6 installments between 1925 and 1933. Edward Seidensticker made a translation in 1976. Royall Tyler made a new translation in 2001. In 2000 Liza Dalby authored her novel "The Tale of Murasaki." Links: Japan, Writer, Books
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1253 |
Dogen Zenji (b.1200), Japanese founder of the Soto School of Zen Buddhism, died. In 2010 Zenji’s masterwork “Treasury of the True Dharma Eye” was translated into English. Links: Japan
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1392 |
The Chosun Dynasty (Joseon Dynasty) was established. In 2005 Yi Ku (73), the son of Korea's last crown prince, died alone of a heart attack in Japan. He was the last member of the Chosun dynasty that ruled Korea from 1392 until 1910. Links: Japan, Korea
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1587 Jul 25 |
Japanese shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi banned Christianity in Japan and ordered all Christians to leave. Although the order was not immediately enforced. A decade later, the crackdown began, and 26 Christians were crucified. Links: Japan, Religion
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1592 |
Toyotomi Hideyoshi sent an army to invade Korea after Korea refused to help him invade China. This set off a war that lasted 6 years. Links: China, Japan, Korea
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1592 1598 |
Korean Adm. Yi Sun Sin (1545-1598) employed his ironclad "turtle ships" to fight off an invasion by Japan. Hundreds of Japanese vessels were sunk during the prolonged Japanese invasion. Links: Japan, Korea, Ship
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1592 |
Korea defenders led by Gen. Jeong Mun-bu scored a victory over an invading Japanese army at Bukgwan. A monument with a description of the fight was raised a century later. During the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-1905 a Japanese general shipped the monument to Japan where it was set in the Yasukuni shrine. It was recognized by a South Korean in 1978 and in 2005 Shinto priests agreed to return it to Seoul. Links: Japan, Korea, South Korea
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1597 |
In Nagasaki 26 Japanese and Western Christians were crucified. These martyrs were beatified in 1627 and became saints in 1862, among the 42 people from Japan who have been canonized, or reached sainthood. Links: Japan, Vatican, Religion
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1598 Sep 18 |
Toyotomi Hideyoshi (b.1536), Japan’s unifier and folk hero, died. His death left two main rivals for power, Ishida Mitsunari and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Links: Japan
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1600 Oct 21 |
Tokugawa leyasu defeated his enemies in the battle of Sekigahara and affirmed his position as Japan's most powerful warlord. The win enabled Ieyasu to found a 265-year ruling dynasty. Links: Japan
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1603 |
In Japan the wooden Nihonbashi bridge, half way between Edo Bay and Edo Castle, was built. In 1911 it was replaced by a stone version. Links: Japan
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1605 Dec 27 |
English sea captain John Davis was killed by Japanese pirates whose ship he had captured off the coast of Sumatra. In 1889 Clements Markham authored “A Life of John Davis, the Navigator, 1550-1605, Discoverer of Davis Straits.” Links: Britain, Japan, Explorer, Biography
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1639 |
Jesuit Father Petro Kassui Kibe, a convert to Christianity, was captured, tortured and martyred in Tokyo. He had initially managed to escape persecution and traveled to Rome, where he became a Jesuit and was ordained to the priesthood. He then returned to Japan to minister to other oppressed Christians. The 188 other martyrs included four Jesuit priests, other priests, brothers and nuns, lay men and women, all killed in different cities between 1603 and 1639 after the Japanese government outlawed Christianity. In 2007 Pope Benedict XVI approved recognition of their martyrdom. Links: Japan, Vatican
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1641 |
Japan designated an artificial island in Nagasaki harbor as the only place that foreigners could live. Links: Japan
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1671 1743 |
Kaigetsudo Ando (d.1743), Japanese artist, was born. He is also called Okazaki Genshichi. Links: Artist, Japan
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1702 |
Omori Yoshikiyo, Japanese ehon artist, created his work “Trailing Willows,” which depicted the working women in the government sanctioned pleasure quarter of Kyoto. Links: Artist, Japan
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1704 Feb 19 |
In Japan Kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro I (b.1660, the first of the Danjuro line, was murdered by a rival on stage. Links: Japan, Theater, Murder
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1714 |
In Japan Ando Kaigetsudo (1671-1743) was banished to the island of Oshima. He was the founder of the Kaigetsudo school of ukiyo-e (scenes of the transient world of daily life) painters and print designers. Links: Artist, Japan
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1717 |
Ono Pharmaceutical was founded by Ichibei Fushimiya as an apothecary in Osaka, Japan. In 1947 Ono Pharmaceutical was established. Its shares listed on the Osaka Securities Exchange in 1962 and the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1963. Links: Japan, Pharma
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1732 Apr 17 |
The 2nd Kamchatka Expedition was announced in the Russian Senate and Vitus Bering was named as captain commander. I.K. Kirilov, chief secretary of the senate, expanded Bering’s mandate to include astronomical and scientific observations, to explore the seas between Siberia and Japan and to establish trade relations with peoples encountered. Links: Russia, Japan, Denmark, Siberia, Explorer
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1755 |
Watanabe Shiko (b.1683), Japanese painter based in Kyoto, died. Links: Artist, Japan
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1759 |
Soga Shohaku (1730-1781), Japanese artist, created his “Hanshan and Shide” about this time. Links: Artist, Japan
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1760 Oct 21 |
Katsushika Hokusai (d.1849), Japanese printmaker, was born. Hokusai was a master designer of color woodblock prints. His paintings included 36 views of Mt. Fuji done when he was 70. Links: Artist, Japan
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1762 |
Gosakuramachi ascended Japan’s throne. She ruled until 1770 and as of 2006 was Japan's last woman ruler. Links: Japan, Women
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1776 |
Ike Taiga (b.1723), Japanese painter based in Kyoto, died. Links: Artist, Japan
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1780 |
A Japanese whaling ship ran aground near the western end of the Aleutian Islands. Rats from the ship reached the nearest island giving it the name Rat Island. The incident introduced the non-native Norway rat, also known as the brown rat, to Alaska. The rats terrorized all but the largest birds on the island. In the Fall of 2008 poison was dropped onto the island from helicopter-hoisted buckets for a week and a half. By mid 2009 there were no signs of living rats and some birds had returned. Links: USA, Japan, Alaska, Whales
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1781 |
Soga Shohaku (b.1730), Japanese artist, died. Links: Artist, Japan
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1781 |
Chobei Takeda I (32) started a business selling traditional Japanese and Chinese medicines in Doshomachi, Osaka. In 1925 it was incorporated as Chobei Takeda & Co., Ltd., with capital of 5.3 million yen and Chobei Takeda V as president. The Company changed its name to Takeda Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. in 1943. Its English name was changed to Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. in 1961. Links: Japan, Pharma
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1783 |
Yosa Buson (b.1716), Japanese painter based in Kyoto, died. Links: Artist, Japan
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1790 |
Ito Jakuchu (1716-1800), Japanese painter, created his "Compendium of Vegetable and Insects." Links: Artist, Japan
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1795 |
Maruyama Okyo (b.1733), Japanese painter based in Kyoto, died. His work included a 50 mile scene in "Both Banks of the Yodo River." Links: Artist, Japan
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1799 |
Nagasawa Rosetsu (b.1754), Japanese painter based in Kyoto, died. Links: Artist, Japan
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1800 |
Ito Jakuchu (b.1716), Japanese painter based in Kyoto, died. Links: Artist, Japan
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1811 |
Matsumura Gekkei (b.1752) also known as Goshun, Japanese painter based in Kyoto, died. Links: Artist, Japan
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1816 |
Two British naval ships under Captain Basil Hall landed at Okinawa, in the Ryukyu archipelago, which was then known as Loo-Choo. In 1818 Hall published an account of his voyage: “Account of a Voyage of Discovery to the West Coast of Corea, and the Great Loo-Choo Island.” Links: Britain, Japan
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1830 1840 |
Hokusai (1760-1849) made his "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji during this decade. The wood blocks included "Under the Wave of Kanagawa," "The Back of Mt. Fuji from Minobu River," and "Winter Loneliness." The last was inspired by a poem of Minamoto no Muneyuki Ason. Another series was titled "A Tour of Japanese Waterfalls. Links: Artist, Japan
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1830 |
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), Japanese artist, created his famous woodblock print “Beneath the Wave of Kanagawa” about this time. Links: Artist, Japan
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1854 Dec 23 |
The 8.4 Ansei Tokai Quake struck Japan. The epicenter ranged from Suruga Bay to the deep ocean, but destroyed houses as far away as in Edo. The accompanying tsunami caused damage along the entire coast from the Boso Peninsula in modern-day Chiba prefecture to Tosa province (modern-day Kochi prefecture). Links: Japan, Earthquake
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1854 Dec 24 |
The 8.4 Ansei Nankai Quake struck Japan. Over 10,000 people from the Tokai region down to Kyushu were killed. Links: Japan, Earthquake, Disaster
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1855 Nov 11 |
The 6.9 Ansei Edo earthquake hit near Tokyo, Japan. Some 8,000 casualties resulted with about 14,000 structures destroyed. Links: Japan, Earthquake, Disaster
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1855 |
Japan acquired some of the Kurile Islands (Kuril Islands), a chain of 56 islands that extended 744 miles from Hokkaido to Russia's Kamchatka peninsula. The Treaty of Commerce, Navigation and Delimitation established the border between Iturup and Urup. This border confirmed that Japanese territory stretched south from Iturup and Russian territory stretched north of Urup. Sakhalin remained a place where people from both countries could live. Links: Russia, Japan
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sustainable development information to research going green!
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1860 Mar 17 |
The Japanese ship Kanrin Maru, under Admiral Yoshitake Kimura, entered the Golden Gate after a 37-day voyage, on a diplomatic mission to San Francisco. It was the first Japanese ship to cross the Pacific. 3 sailors died while the ship was in SF. It set sail to return to Japan on May 8. Links: USA, Japan, SF
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1860 Mar 29 |
The USS Powhatan arrived in San Francisco as part of a diplomatic mission from Japan. It carried official envoys including Niimi Buzennokami, the first Japanese ambassador to the US. Links: USA, Japan, SF
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1860 Apr 25 |
The first Japanese ambassador to the US, Niimi Buzennokami, and his 74-man staff arrived in Washington to present their credentials to Pres. James Buchanan. Links: USA, Japan, BuchananJ
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1867 Jan 8 |
Japan’s Emperor Osahito died. The Tokugawa Shogunate gave up power as a revolutionary movement overthrew Shogun Iyesada. Rebels introduced a representative government under the name of Emperor Maiji (1852-1912). Ryoma Sakamoto, a samurai, helped topple the feudal government system. Ryoma means Dragon Horse. Links: Japan
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1867 Nov 15 |
Ryoma Sakamoto, the rebel who helped topple Japan’s feudal government system, was assassinated. In 1966 Ryotaro Shiba authored the historical novel "Ryoma on the Move" in 8 paperback volumes. Between 1987 and 1996 a comic series on Ryoma ran in magazines and a 23-volume compilation was later made. Links: Japan
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1869 |
Japan’s Yasukuni shrine was dedicated to the Japanese who died in wars since 1853. The name, which means “peaceful country,” was bestowed by Emperor Meiji in 1879. Links: Japan
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1870 |
Baseball was brought to Japan by American missionaries. Links: Japan, Baseball
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1875 |
Joseph Neesima founded Doshisha Univ. in Kyoto, Japan. He had previously acquired an American education at Amherst College after defying a ban on travel abroad. Links: USA, Japan, Massachusetts, Education
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1878 May 15 |
The Tokyo Stock Exchange, Japan’s 1st public trading institution, formed. Links: Japan
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1878 |
The Tokyo Stock Exchanged opened. Links: Japan, Money
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1879 Mar 25 |
Japan invaded the kingdom of Liuqiu (Ryukyu) Islands, formerly a vassal of China. The Ruykyuan monarchy was abolished and the islands were annexed to create the Okinawa Prefecture. Prior to this Okinawa had paid tribute to both Japan and China. Okinawa became imperial Japan’s first colony. Links: China, Japan
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1879 |
The Tenshodo store, located in the heart of Ginza, the busiest high-end shopping district in Tokyo, was founded. Links: Japan, Retail
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1880 |
Japan’s Yokohama Specie Bank was founded. It became the Bank of Tokyo in 1946. Following later mergers it became part of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group in 2005. Links: Japan, Banking
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1882 |
Jigoro Kano (1860-1938), founder of judo, opened his first judo school, the Kodokan, in Tokyo. Some 40 years later he added a women’s section. Links: Japan
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1884 |
Japan reportedly discovered the Senkaku islands. In 1895 it ascertained that the Senkaku islands were “terra nullius,” controlled or claimed by no one, and annexed them. Links: China, Japan
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