After suffering defeat in the Pacific War and two atomic bombings, Japan surrendered in 1945 and came under a seven-year Allied occupation, during which it adopted a new constitution. In 1931, Japan invaded and occupied Manchuria; following international condemnation of the occupation, it resigned from the League of Nations two years later. [308][309] Japanese animated films and television series, known as anime, were largely influenced by Japanese manga and have been extensively popular in the West. Kotodama (言霊) refers to the Japanese belief that mystical powers dwell in words and names. Characteristic authors of the period included Futabatei Shimei and Mori Ōgai,[179] although the most famous of the Meiji era writers was Natsume Sōseki,[180] who wrote satirical, autobiographical, and psychological novels[181] combining both the older and newer styles. [260], Contemporary Japanese culture combines influences from Asia, Europe and North America. [90], Takauji set up his shogunate in the Muromachi district of Kyoto. For other uses, see. [272] The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter is considered the oldest extant Japanese narrative. Japan is an island country in East Asia, located in the northwest Pacific Ocean. [81] The shogunate further consolidated its political power relative to the Kyoto aristocracy. [110] The Constitution of Japan, adopted in 1947, is the oldest unamended constitution in the world. [328] The country hosted the official 2006 Basketball World Championship[329] and will co-host the 2023 Basketball World Championship. [50] Japan nevertheless entered a phase of population decline that continued well into the following Heian period. [14][15], A Paleolithic culture from around 30,000 BC constitutes the first known habitation of the islands of Japan. [183] Japan has the second highest number of researchers in science and technology per capita in the world with 14 per 1000 employees. The population rose from 34 million in 1872 to 52 million in 1915. [171] Major government priorities also included the introduction of railways, telegraph lines, and a universal education system. [244], The occupation sought to decentralize power in Japan by breaking up the zaibatsu, transferring ownership of agricultural land from landlords to tenant farmers,[245] and promoting labor unionism. [267] Japanese corporations successfully retained a loyal and experienced workforce through the system of lifetime employment, which assured their employees a safe job. [256] Since 1973, all elderly persons have been covered by government-sponsored insurance. [272] Ordinary Japanese people became wealthy enough to purchase a wide array of consumer goods. [247] Almost all children continue their education at a three-year senior high school. two unsuccessful invasions of Korea in 1592 and 1597, international condemnation of the occupation, atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, International Military Tribunal for the Far East, largest earthquakes in its recorded history, Anti-Firearms Squads and Counter-NBC Terrorism Squads, Agriculture, forestry, and fishing in Japan, Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Programme for International Student Assessment, has one of the world's highest suicide rates, "Official Names of Member States (UNTERM)", Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, "Population Estimates Monthly Report February 2021)", "2015 Population Census: Basic Complete Tabulation on Population and Households", "World Economic Outlook Database, October 2020", "You say 'Nihon,' I say 'Nippon,' or let's call the whole thing 'Japan'? (eds.). Yamaguchi, 36. [239], Japanese writing uses kanji (Chinese characters) and two sets of kana (syllabaries based on cursive script and radical of kanji), as well as the Latin alphabet and Arabic numerals. [255] Approximately 60 percent of Japanese aged 25 to 34 have some form of tertiary education qualification, and bachelor's degrees are held by 30.4 percent of Japanese aged 25 to 64, the second most in the OECD after South Korea. 42. Beginning in the 12th century, political power was held by a series of military dictators (shōgun) and feudal lords (daimyō), and enforced by a class of warrior nobility (samurai). [148], Forms of theatre such as kabuki and bunraku puppet theatre became widely popular. They would provide conversation, sing, and dance for customers, though they would not sleep with them. [207] The franchise for the House of Representatives had been gradually expanded since 1890,[208] and in 1925 universal male suffrage was introduced. Kuroda, Sokichi (January 13, 2020). [296], Emperor Naruhito's reign began upon the abdication of his father, Emperor Akihito, on May 1, 2019.[297]. In 1854, a United States fleet forced Japan to open trade to the West, which led to the end of the shogunate and the restoration of imperial power in 1868. Kidder, J. Edward (1993). [74] The largest domestic airport, Haneda Airport in Tokyo, was Asia's second-busiest airport in 2019. [10] The characters 日本 mean "sun origin". Collcutt, Martin C. (1983). [223][224] Japan's population is expected to drop to around 100 million by 2050. [34] The period draws its name from the de facto imperial capital, Asuka, in the Kinai region. [294], In spite of Japan's economic difficulties, this period also saw Japanese popular culture, including video games, anime, and manga, become worldwide phenomena, especially among young people. [108], Historically influenced by Chinese law, the Japanese legal system developed independently during the Edo period through texts such as Kujikata Osadamegaki. The Portuguese were allowed to trade and create colonies where they could convert new believers into the Christian religion. [16], During the Yayoi period, the Yayoi tribes gradually coalesced into a number of kingdoms. [32], The Asuka period began as early as 538 CE with the introduction of the Buddhist religion from the Korean kingdom of Baekje. [97] Soon European traders would introduce many new items to Japan, most importantly the musket. 43. The Tokugawa shogunate imposed a strict class system on Japanese society and cut off almost all contact with the outside world. [235] Throughout the latest century, Western customs originally related to Christianity (including Western style weddings, Valentine's Day and Christmas) have become popular as secular customs among many Japanese. Search Rank Over Time. [291] Nationalist politics have exacerbated this, such as denial of the Nanjing Massacre and other war crimes,[292] revisionist history textbooks, which have provoked protests in East Asia,[293] and frequent visits by Japanese politicians to Yasukuni Shrine, where convicted war criminals are enshrined. "Chronology of the Earliest Pottery in East Asia: Progress and Pitfalls". The Japanese military failed to defeat the Chinese government led by Chiang Kai-shek and the war descended into a bloody stalemate that lasted until 1945. During this period, Japan became the world's largest manufacturer of automobiles and a leading producer of electronics. [52][53], The early 20th century saw a period of Taishō democracy (1912–1926) overshadowed by increasing expansionism and militarization. To a certain extent, demography dictates the hegemony of the old in Japan. [53][56][57] This process accelerated during the 1930s, spawning a number of radical nationalist groups that shared a hostility to liberal democracy and a dedication to expansion in Asia. The government believed that Japan had to acquire its own colonies to compete with the Western colonial powers. Female Emperors appear in recorded history until the Meiji Constitution declared strict male-only ascension in 1889. Turnbull, Stephen and Hook, Richard (2005). Tokyo During this period, the first known written reference to Japan was recorded in the Chinese Book of Han in the first century CE. The new date for the Olympics are scheduled from July 23 to August 8 2021. [53][60] On December 7–8, 1941, Japanese forces carried out surprise attacks on Pearl Harbor, as well as on British forces in Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong, among others, beginning World War II in the Pacific. "Oligarchy, Democracy, and Fascism," in, Maher, Kohn C. (1996). [220] The extreme right became influential throughout the Japanese government and society, notably within the Kwantung Army, a Japanese army stationed in China along the Japanese-owned South Manchuria Railroad. [175] For inbound tourism, Japan was ranked 11th in the world in 2019. "The Earliest Societies in Japan," in. The explorer entered a lunar orbit on October 4, 2007,[191][192] and was deliberately crashed into the Moon on June 11, 2009. [276] The Meiji era saw the decline of traditional literary forms as Japanese literature integrated Western influences. [104], After a few years, as the Jesuits believed that if they understood the language they would achieve more conversions to Catholic religion, Portuguese became the first Western language to have a Japanese dictionary, compiled by Jesuits such as João Rodrigues and published in Nagasaki in 1603. [172] The Meiji government promoted widespread Westernization[173] and hired hundreds of advisers from Western nations with expertise in such fields as education, mining, banking, law, military affairs, and transportation to remodel Japan's institutions. The American Perry Expedition in 1853–54 more completely ended Japan's seclusion; this contributed to the fall of the shogunate and the return of power to the emperor during the Boshin War in 1868. In 1180, Taira no Kiyomori was challenged by an uprising led by Minamoto no Yoritomo, a member of the Minamoto clan whom Kiyomori had exiled to Kamakura. [240] The Japanese superbattleship Yamato was sunk en route to aid in the Battle of Okinawa. "Japanese Beginnings". [205] This and the rice riots of 1918 increased the power of Japan's political parties over the ruling oligarchy. [108] During the period, some of Japan's most representative art forms developed, including ink wash painting, ikebana flower arrangement, the tea ceremony, Japanese gardening, bonsai, and Noh theater. ", "Japan Targets to Export More Ships, Revive Global Market Share", "Trends in the Visitor Arrivals to Japan by Year", "The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017", "Germany Breaks Korea's Six-Year Streak as Most Innovative Nation", "How much does your country invest in R&D? [269], The earliest works of Japanese literature include the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki chronicles and the Man'yōshū poetry anthology, all from the 8th century and written in Chinese characters. By 1450 Japan's population stood at ten million, compared to six million at the end of the thirteenth century. More modern-day tastes includes green tea ice cream. [104] It consists of a lower House of Representatives with 465 seats, elected by popular vote every four years or when dissolved, and an upper House of Councillors with 245 seats, whose popularly-elected members serve six-year terms. [59] In 1940, the Empire invaded French Indochina, after which the United States placed an oil embargo on Japan. (2016). 17. [77][78] As of 2014[update], approximately 0.5% of Japan's total area is reclaimed land (umetatechi). [310][311], Traditionally, sumo is considered Japan's national sport. [248] The two top-ranking universities in Japan are the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University. [130], The Government of Japan has been making changes to its security policy which include the establishment of the National Security Council, the adoption of the National Security Strategy, and the development of the National Defense Program Guidelines. 10,500–ca. [280], Among cultural developments, the immediate post-occupation period became a golden age for Japanese cinema. The English term shogunate refers to the bakufu. 300 B.C. [16] This was followed from around 14,500 BC (the start of the Jōmon period) by a Mesolithic to Neolithic semi-sedentary hunter-gatherer culture characterized by pit dwelling and rudimentary agriculture. [257], Shigeru Yoshida served as prime minister in 1946–1947 and 1948–1954, and played a key role in guiding Japan through the occupation. [53], The Empire of Japan invaded other parts of China in 1937, precipitating the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945). (ed.). Tokyo is Japan's capital and largest city; other major cities include Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Kobe, and Kyoto. [125] Japan has strained relations with China and Taiwan over the Senkaku Islands and the status of Okinotorishima. The earliest written work of history to mention Japan, the Book of Han completed around 82 AD, states that Japan, referred to as Wa, was divided into one hundred kingdoms. Japanese has a lexically distinct pitch-accent system.Early Japanese is known largely on the basis of its state in the 8th century, when the three major works of Old Japanese were compiled. The Hakluyt Society, 3rd series, vol. [13] The first version of the name in English appears in a book published in 1577, which spelled the name as Giapan in a translation of a 1565 Portuguese letter. Ishikawa As requested by the United States, Japan reconstituted its army in 1954 under the name Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), though some Japanese insisted that the very existence of the JSDF was a violation of Article 9 of Japan's constitution. [76] The habitable zones, mainly in coastal areas, have extremely high population densities: Japan is one of the most densely populated countries. [122], The Edo period was characterized by relative peace and stability[123] under the tight control of the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled from the eastern city of Edo (modern Tokyo). [295], On March 11, 2011, one of the largest earthquakes recorded in Japan occurred in the northeast. [244] The Ainu language, which is a language isolate, is moribund, with only a few native speakers remaining as of 2014[update]. In Hinsley, FH (ed.). [224], Japan's expansionist vision grew increasingly bold. [176] As part of its Westernization drive, the Meiji government enthusiastically sponsored the importation of Western science, above all medical science. These high levels of both literacy and numeracy were part of the socio-economical foundation for Japan's strong growth rates during the following century. [46] Adopting Western political, judicial, and military institutions, the Cabinet organized the Privy Council, introduced the Meiji Constitution, and assembled the Imperial Diet. The high-speed Shinkansen (bullet trains) that connect major cities are known for their safety and punctuality. [48][49][50] After victories in the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), Japan gained control of Taiwan, Korea and the southern half of Sakhalin. Tokushima After Nobunaga was assassinated in 1582 by Akechi Mitsuhide, his successor Toyotomi Hideyoshi unified the nation in 1590 and launched two unsuccessful invasions of Korea in 1592 and 1597. Takeuchi, Rizo (1999). "North Kyushu Creole: A Language Contact Model for the Origins of Japanese," in, McCullough, William H. (1999). [184], The Japanese consumer electronics industry, once considered the strongest in the world, is in a state of decline as competition arises in countries like South Korea and China. [27] These reforms culminated with the promulgation of the Taihō Code, which consolidated existing statutes and established the structure of the central and subordinate local governments. In Reischauer, Edwin et al. [53] The nationalization of land undertaken as part of the ritsuryō state decayed as various noble families and religious orders succeeded in securing tax-exempt status for their private shōen manors. [270] The GNP expanded at an annual rate of nearly 10% from 1956 until the 1973 oil crisis slowed growth to a still-rapid average annual rate of just over 4% until 1991. [184] Itō Hirobumi, the first Prime Minister of Japan, responded by writing the Meiji Constitution, which was promulgated in 1889. [1] He encouraged Christianity to incite hatred toward his Buddhist enemies and to forge strong relationships with European arms merchants. [293] Seafood and Japanese rice or noodles are traditional staples. [128] The country's military (the Japan Self-Defense Forces) is restricted by Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which renounces Japan's right to declare war or use military force in international disputes. Henceforth, the Minamoto shoguns became puppets of the Hōjō regents, who wielded actual power. [93], A large network of national parks has been established to protect important areas of flora and fauna as well as 52 Ramsar wetland sites. [165] Japan maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch,[74] prompting critiques that Japan's fishing is leading to depletion in fish stocks such as tuna. [320], Populations of workers in professions considered unclean, such as leatherworkers and those who handled the dead, developed in the 15th and 16th centuries into hereditary outcast communities. Takayama's old town has been beautifully preserved with many buildings and whole streets of houses dating from the Edo Period (1600-1868), when the city thrived as a wealthy town of merchants.. [163] Many samurai there, inspired by the nationalist doctrines of the kokugaku school, adopted the slogan of sonnō jōi ("revere the emperor, expel the barbarians"). During this period, the first known written reference to Japan was recorded in the Chinese Book of Han in the first century CE. [31], Japan's feudal era was characterized by the emergence and dominance of a ruling class of warriors, the samurai. [100] Japan is the world's fifth largest emitter of carbon dioxide. [146] This lifestyle inspired ukiyo-zōshi popular novels and ukiyo-e art, the latter of which were often woodblock prints[147] that progressed to greater sophistication and use of multiple printed colors. Despite this, almost immediately after Hideyoshi's death, war broke out between Hideyori's allies and those loyal to Tokugawa Ieyasu, a daimyō and a former ally of Hideyoshi. [5] Evidence of human habitation has been dated to 32,000 years ago in Okinawa's Yamashita Cave[6] and up to 20,000 years ago on Ishigaki Island's Shiraho Saonetabaru Cave. Garon, Sheldon. 30. [252][251][253] As of 2017[update], Japan's public spending on education amounted to just 3.3 percent of its GDP, below the OECD average of 4.9 percent. Benchmark. [161] This results in one of the world's highest levels of crop yields per unit area, with an agricultural self-sufficiency rate of about 50% as of 2018[update]. The period takes its name from Nobunaga's headquarters, Azuchi Castle, and Hideyoshi's headquarters, Momoyama Castle. [254] In 2017, the country ranked third for the percentage of 25- to 64-year-olds that have attained tertiary education with 51 percent. [276] In 1960, the massive Anpo Protests saw hundreds of thousands of citizens take to the streets in opposition to the US-Japan Security Treaty. In 1564, he faced a rebellion instigated by the Buddhist clergy and Yokoseura was destroyed. [20] The expansion of the Yayoi appears to have brought about a fusion with the indigenous Jōmon, resulting in a small admixture genetically. [104], Japan's legislative organ is the National Diet, a bicameral parliament. Welcome to Old Japan. Eventually, Japan descended into a period of civil war. [206] The Seiyūkai and Minseitō parties came to dominate politics by the end of the so-called "Taishō democracy" era. During this war, the Taira clan led by Taira no Kiyomori defeated the Minamoto clan. Many Japanese people practice both Shinto and Buddhism; they can either identify with both religions or describe themselves as non-religious or spiritual. [167] These men, known as the Meiji oligarchs, oversaw the dramatic changes Japan would experience during this period. There, in the dim blue death of day Where white tea roses grow, Petals and scents are strewn astray Till night be sweet enow; Then lovers … [68] On May 1, 2019, after the historic abdication of Emperor Akihito, his son Naruhito became Emperor, beginning the Reiwa era. [290] Beginning in 2000, Japan implemented the Happy Monday System, which moved a number of national holidays to Monday in order to obtain a long weekend. [231] On December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack on the American fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The vast majority of Japan's population in the Edo Period and before was made up of farmers who typically lived in simple, thatched roof buildings. The armies of Chōshū and Satsuma soon marched on Edo and the ensuing Boshin War led to the fall of the shogunate. Rhee, Song-Nai et al. [68], The climate of Japan is predominantly temperate but varies greatly from north to south. The Minamoto clan under Minamoto no Yoritomo emerged victorious from the Genpei War of 1180–85, defeating their rival military clan, the Taira. [117], Japan has close economic and military relations with the United States, with which it maintains a security alliance. [157] Japan ranks highly for competitiveness and economic freedom.