538/552: Buddhism is introduced to Japan
593: The first Buddhist temple in Japan is built
794: The capital of Japan moves from Nara to Kyoto
ca. 1008: The Tale of Genji is written
1192: The first Shogun, Yoritomo, is appointed
1543: The Portuguese introduce firearms to Japan
1581: Yasuke becomes the first Black samurai
1592:
Japan invades Korea
1639: Japan isolates itself from trade with the West
1707: Mount Fuji erupts
1868: The start of the Meiji Restoration
1871: Feudalism is abolished in Japan
1904-1905: Russo-Japanese War
1939: World War II begins
1945: The US drops atomic bombs on the cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima
1956: Japan becomes a member of the United Nations
1995: Kobe earthquake
2011: 9.0 earthquake and tsunami hit the coast of the Tōhoku region