Japan

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 * = ===Historical===

Summary
||= ===Historical Timeline=== ||= ===Historical Enemies=== || ||= ===Map of the country=== ||= ===Flag and Significants=== ||
 * = ===Historical Conflict===
 * = ===Traditional Cultures===

||= ===Traditional Clothing=== ||= ===Traditional Foods=== || = =

=Historical Summary=

In the early Jomon Period (13000BC-300BC) The Japanese Islanders were gatherers, hunters, and fishers. With the introduction of rice to the local agriculture in 100BC social classes started to develop and the Island began to unite under one rule. By 400AD most of the island was united under the name Yamato Japan. Buddhism was brought into the county by Chines mainlanders in the years between 538-552.A new government was established after the Chinese model.By 710 the first permanent capital was established. During the period of Nara and Heian a their was a gradual decline of Chinese influence. The political power steadily shifted from the central government to independent land owners.From 1016-1392 a series of internal and some external conflicts took place. During the era of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (1368-1408) he established trade with Ming China and increased domestic production through improved agriculture. These economic changes resulted in the development of markets, towns, and new social classes. In 1542 the first Portuguese traders and Jesuit missionaries introduced firearms and Christianity to Japan.Succeeding Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu became the most powerful man in Japan. Ieyasu promoted foreign trade but enforced the suppression and persecution of Christianity in 1614. In 1633 shogun Iemitsu started to isolate Japan. Yet despite the isolation, domestic trade and agriculture production continued to improve. A four class system started to form. Western teaching entered Japan again in the 1720. Russians unsuccessfully trade to establish trade and were fallowed by other Europeans and Americans. In a serious of reforms religious freedom was established in 1873. Due to a financial crisis in the middle 1880's the Japanese currency system was reformed.Japan was forced to withdraw from the League of Nations in 1933 because of the conflicts with China. After WW1 in 1940 Japan joined the Axis powers Germany and Italy.As a consequence of WW2 Japan put a new constitution into effect in 1947 which took all power from the emperor making him a symbol of the state. This new constitution also forbid Japan to ever lead a war again or to maintain an army. A peace treaty in 1952 ended U.S. occupation in Japan from WW2. After the Korean War the Japanese economy flourished again, but due to an oil crisis in1973 Japan shifted to high technology industries to stabilize the economy.

=Historical Timeline=

**604** Prince Shotoku's Constitution of seventeen articles is promulgated. **645** The Taika reform is introduced. The Fujiwara era starts. || **784** The capital moves to Nagaoka. || **1016** Fujiwara Michinaga becomes regent. **1159** The Taira clan under Taira Kiyomori takes over the power after the Heiji war. **1175** The Buddhist Jodo sect (Pure land sect) is introduced. **1180-85** In the Gempei War, the Minamoto clan puts an end to Taira supremacy. || **1192** Minamoto Yoritomo is appointed shogun and establishes the Kamakura government. **1221** The Jokyu Disturbance ends a struggle between Kamakura and Kyoto resulting in the supremacy of the Hojo regents in Kamakura. **1232** A legal code, the Joei Shikimoku, is promulgated. **1274 and 1281** The Mongols try to invade Japan twice, but fail mainly because of bad weather conditions. **1333** The Kamakura bakufu falls. || **1336** Ashikaga Takauji captures Kyoto. **1337** The emperor flees and establishes the Southern court in Yoshino. **1338** Takauji establishes the Muromachi government and a second emperor in Kyoto (Northern court). **1392** Unification of the Southern and Northern courts. **1467-1477** Onin war. **1542** Portuguese introduce firearms and Christianity to Japan. **1568** Nobunaga enters Kyoto. **1573** The Muromachi Bakufu falls. || Momoyama || **1575** The Takeda clan is defeated in the battle of Nagashino. **1582** Nobunaga is murdered and succeeded by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. **1588** Hideyoshi confiscates the weapons of farmers and religious institutions in the "Sword Hunt". **1590** Japan is reunited after the fall of Odawara (Hojo). **1592-98** Unsuccessful invasion of Korea. **1598** Death of Hideyoshi. **1600** Tokugawa Ieyasu defeats his rivals in the battle of Sekigahara. || **1614** Ieyasu intensifies persecution of Christianity. **1615** The Toyotomi clan is destroyed after Ieyasu captures Osaka Castle. **1639** Almost complete isolation of Japan from the rest of the world. **1688-1703** Genroku era: popular culture flourishes. **1792** The Russians unsuccessfuly try to establish trade relations with Japan. **1854** Commodore Matthew Perry forces the Japanese government to open a limited number of ports for trade. || **1872** First railway line between Tokyo and Yokohama. **1889** The Meiji Constitution is promulgated. **1894-95** Sino-Japanese War. **1904-05** Russo-Japanese War. **1910** Annexation of Korea. **1912** Death of emperor Meiji. || **1923** The Great Kanto Earthquake devastates Tokyo and Yokohama. || **1937** Second Sino-Japanese War starts. **1941** Pacific War starts. **1945** Japan surrenders after two atomic bombs are dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. **1946** The new constitution is promulgated. **1952** The Allied Occupation of Japan ends. **1956** Japan becomes member of the UN. **1972** Normalization of relations to China. **1973** Oil crisis. || **1995** The Great Hanshin Earthquake hits Kobe. Sarin Gas attack in the Tokyo subway by AUM sect. ||
 * -300 BC || Jomon || The early Japanese were gatherers, hunters and fishers. ||
 * 300 BC-300 || Yayoi || The intoduction of rice agriculture begins the development of a social hierarchy and hundreds of small countries that started to unify into larger countries. ||
 * 300-538 || Kofun || **300** Japan is for the first time more or less united. Large tombs (kofun) were built for the deceased leaders. ||
 * 538-710 || Asuka || **538/552** Introduction of Buddhism.
 * 710-784 || Nara || **710** Nara becomes the first permanent capital.
 * 794-1185 || Heian || **794** The capital moves to Heian (Kyoto).
 * 1192-1333 || Kamakura || **1191** The Zen sect is intoduced.
 * 1338-1573 || Muromachi || **1334** Kemmu restoration: the emperor restores power over Japan.
 * 1573-1603 || Azuchi
 * 1603 - 1867 || Edo || **1603** Ieyasu is appointed shogun and establishes the Tokugawa government in Edo (Tokyo).
 * 1868-1912 || Meiji || **1868** Meiji restoration.
 * 1912-1926 || Taisho || **1914-18** Japan joins allied forces in WW1.
 * 1926-1989 || Showa || **1931** Manchurian Incident.
 * 1989- || Heisei || **1993** The LDP loses its majority in the diet.

=Historical Enemies=

Japan:Met in 13000BC-300BC Fought in 13000BC-1894AD
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Germany:Met in 1919 Fought in 1919
=Historical Conflicts=

A huge period of clan wars starting from 13000BC brought the country together and formed it into fight crazed country. Then after the Mongol concoring of China they started the first Mongol Invasion on Japan. Yet they had to pull back due to whether. The Mongols tried for another invasion but they had to pull back again due to the whether. Their was no third invasion because of trouble in China. Under the rule of Hideyoshi Japan invaded Korea but were pushed out by Korean and Chinese forces.Through conflicts of interests between China and Japan which led to the first Sino-Japanese War. Though Japan won they were forced to give back the land they concered. Yet new conflicts sprung up between Russia and Japan which led to the Russo-Japanese War. Then came World War 1 which japan plade only a small part in by fighting Colonial German troops. Then the Second Sino-Japanese War, but was flushed out by the start of the Pacific War when Japan made the first move by attacking the allied powers at Pearl Harbor and several other places in the Pacific. Years after the atomic bombing on Hiroshima and Nagasaki Japan set up its new constitution which did not allow japan to have a standing army.

=Map Of Country=

Japan is a collection of adjacent islands located in the Atlantic Ocean right of the eastern coast of China and Korea.

=Flag and Significant=

Nisshoki (literally, Rising-Sun Flag) was adopted as Japan's national flag in 1870. It also is called Hinomaru (literally, Disk of the Sun) and Nihon no Kokki (Flag of Japan). The red circle represents the sun.



=Traditional Cultures=

Geisha girls most commonly seen as young ladies withGeisha were very common in the 18th and 19th centuries, and are still in existence today, although their numbers are dwindling. "Geisha," pronounced /ˈgeɪ ʃa/ ("gay-sha").



During the era of the rule of the samurai, the earlier term yumitori (“bowman”) was also used as an honorary title of an accomplished warrior even when swordsmanship had become more important. Japanese archery (kyujutsu), is still strongly associated with the war god Hachiman.

Japanese castle (城, shiro) were fortresses composed primarily of wood and stone. They evolved from the wooden stockades of earlier centuries, and came into their most well-known form in the 16th century. Like European castles, the castles of Japan were built to guard important or strategic sites, such as ports, river crossings, or crossroads, and almost always incorporated the landscape into their defence.

**Traditional Clothing** The word Kimono actually referred to all types of clothing. It also remains to be the national costume of Japan. Some of the earliest designs of the kimono were hugely influenced by the Hanfu, which is a part of Chinese clothing. During the 8th century, Chinese fashion trends gained popularity amongst the Japanese. The kimono turned into a stylish version during Japan’s Heian period. Over the years, one could see visible changes in the designs of the kimono. == = ** The zori formed a major part of Japanese traditional clothing. These were often worn with the kimono. The zori are open sandals that can be described as slip ons. Today, one can see many styles of the zori being used with modern fashion. ** =

The jūnihitoe was worn only the court ladies in Japan. This layered Japanese traditional clothing came onto the scene around the 10th century. This is an elegant garment that is considered to be a prized possession today. The jūnihitoe can also be considered as one of the most expensive of all Japanese traditional clothing.

The geta can be described as our regular flip-flops. These have a high wooden base and are worn with Japanese traditional clothing such as the Kimono or even the yukata.

=Traditional Foods=

Traditional Japanese food is undoubtedly one of the healthiest and most delicious in the world and fortunately for most of us, foods like tofu, sushi, tempura, miso, soba, and even green tea are now familiar and freely available to people outside Japan.

http://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?contid=3&wmn=Asia&cid=82&cn=Japan&sname=Population&snid=3 http://www.paperlantern.net/basics/geography.html http://www.discover-japan.info/gettingthere_maps_japan.htm