A rough explanation of Japanese history

 A rough explanation of Japanese history

(1) Paleolithic Period (~14,000 BC)
(2) Jomon Period (14,000 BC - 10th century BC)
(3) Yayoi period (approx. 10th century BC - mid 3rd century AD)
(4) Kofun period (mid 3rd century - approx. 7th century)
(5) Asuka Period (592-710)
(6) Nara Period (710-794)
(7) Heian Period (794-1185)
(8) Kamakura Period (1185-1336)
(9) Muromachi Period (1336-1573)
(10) Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573-1603)
(11) Edo Period (1603-1868)
(12) Meiji Period (1868-1912)
(13) Taisho Period (1912-1926)
(14) Showa Period (1926-1989)
(15) Heisei period (1989-2019)
(16) Reiwa period (2019 - )

In (4) and (5), it is sometimes called the "Yamato period".
In (8) and (9), it is sometimes called the "Sengoku period".


(1) Paleolithic Period (~14,000 BC)
The end of the Ice Age. People came from the still-connected continent. They ate Naumann elephant.
 

(2) Jomon Period (14,000 BC - 10th century BC)
Gradually became more settled. Hunting and gathering. Some cultivation (e.g. chestnut trees). Characterized by cool earthenware and stylish accessories.

(3) Yayoi period (approx. 10th century BC - mid 3rd century AD)
Began to grow a lot of rice. Smarter than the Jomon period. Technology advanced, but so did weapons, and the first war (group armed conflict) in Japan broke out.

(4) Kofun period (mid 3rd century - approx. 7th century)
When important people died, they built huge tombs. The most famous example is the Nintoku-tennō-ryō Kofun in Osaka. It's so big that it looks like a hill.

(5) Asuka Period (592-710)
The world's oldest wooden building, Hōryū-ji, was built. Buddhism began. It was influenced by China.

(6) Nara Period (710-794)
Buddhism became popular among the nobility. The giant Buddha statue at Todai-ji Temple (Nara Prefecture) was created. The deer of Nara were considered to be messengers of the gods from that time. Japanese mythology was created at this time.

(7) Heian Period (794-1185)
An era in which the nobility competed to be fashionable. The hiragana script used in modern Japanese was created. The Tale of Genji and The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter were written, and female novelists also became active. Waka and Hyakunin Isshu were also born.

(8) Kamakura Period (1185-1336)
The era of the samurai. It emerged as a result of the corruption of the aristocracy. The government was located in what is now Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. The Great Buddha of Kamakura was also born. Zen was also born. The video game "Ghost of Tsushima" was created during this period.

(9) Muromachi Period (1336-1573)
A period of continuous warfare. The largest war in Japan, known as the "Onin War", lasted for 11 years (1467-1477). Many people died.

(10) Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573-1603)
Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi tried to unify Japan. There was a lot of war during this period too. Together with the Muromachi Period, it is also known as the "Warring States Period".

(11) Edo Period (1603-1868)
The era of the common people. Ieyasu Tokugawa ruled Japan. It gradually became more peaceful. Many aspects of culture, such as kabuki, ukiyoe, novels, and food, continue to this day in modern Japan.

(12) Meiji Period (1868-1912)
Japanese people began to learn about foreign countries and longed to visit them. The lunar calendar was replaced by the solar calendar. Many things changed. People's hairstyles also changed. Samurai disappeared.

(13) Taisho Period (1912-1926)
Japan became more modern and internationalized. The First World War led to economic growth and the emergence of many wealthy people. Education also became more widespread, and urbanization progressed.

(14) Showa Period (1926-1989)
The Showa period was very different before and after World War II. Before the war, the military gradually became more powerful, and the newspapers also encouraged people to look forward to the war. The military was very arrogant at the time, and they caused a lot of trouble for other countries.
After losing the war with the dropping of two atomic bombs, Japan had many children, and businesses for children also increased. These became the basis for today's pop culture.

(15) Heisei period (1989-2019)
An era of economic recession. A number of large-scale natural disasters occurred. An era in which Japan never went to war.

(16) Reiwa period (2019 - )
Now
 
Historically speaking, I think it's interesting to look at the Jomon period, the Heian period, the Edo period, and the Showa period and beyond.

(We will be linking to characteristic photos and videos from each period, but for now the page is still a work in progress)