Period+1+Japan+History

= __ Brief Historic Dates of Japan __ = In 1274, the Japanese fought of the powerful army of Kublai Khan, who conquered China years before. In 1543, Japan was surprised to see Portuguese traders on their land; making first contact with the West. In 1549, Christianity was introduced to Japan from Saint Francis Xavier. In order to keep Japanese customs, they expelled all foreigners from Japan in the 1650’s. Japan became a world-wide trading partner in 1858 with the U.S, Britain, Russia, the Netherlands, and France. Japan created its first political party in 1881. In 1905, Japan defeated the Russians in the Russo-Japanese war, thus making them notable as a world power. In WWI, Japan joined the Allies. In WWII, Japan joined Germany in Italy. Prior to Japan attacking Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 1941, the U.S bombed Hiroshima, Japan, and Nagasaki, Japan in 1945. Japan surrendered soon after. The first trains passed through the Seikan Tunnel, the world’s largest tunnel, in 1988. It links Hokkaido and Honshu Islands. In 1998, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge opened, thus making it the largest suspension bridge in the world. Lastly, in 2001, Japan’s new military changes were linked with the U.S.-led war on terrorism. “Rosamund, Else-Mitchell.” //The New Book of Knowledge.// 2010. Grolier Online. Web. 14 May 2010. []

By: Matthew John