Japanese Chronology 1853-1868

1853
1854
1855
1856
1858
1860
1861
1863
1864
1865-1866
1866
1867
1868

Perry arrives in Japan

Shogun seeks opinion of barons on opening Japan
Industrialization in western clans
Treaty of Kanagawa with the United States
Treaty of Shimoda with Russia
Arrival of U. S. Consul-General Townsend Harris 1857
Consul-General Harris presents credentials to Shogun
United States-Japan Commercial Treaty
First Japanese Mission to the United States
Anti-foreign assassinations
Extremists demand the expulsion of foreigners
British bombardment of Satsuma
Satsuma troops stage coup d'etat in Kyoto and expel Choshu army
Foreign squadron opens Straits of Shimonoseki
Civil war in Choshu; Shogun's army defeated
Satsuma-Choshu alliance supporting Emperor
The Shogun resigns
Emperor Meiji announces restoration of power
Shogun surrenders in Edo (Tokyo)

Japanese Chronology 1868-1890

1868
1869
1871
1872
1873

1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881

Imperial restoration of Emperor Meiji

Imperial (Charter) Oath
Four western clans (Satcho Dohi) petition Emperor to accept title to domain
Imperial Decree formally abolishes clans
Railroad opened between Tokyo and Yokohama
Iwakura Mission tours United States and Europe
Edict against Christianity removed
Universal land tax in money instituted
Creation of modern army based on conscription
Split over question of Korean War
Formosan Expedition
Memorial requesting representative assembly
Territorial settlement of Kuriles with Russia
Osaka Conference
Treaty of Kanghwa opens Korea
Forced commutation of feudal pensions
Saigo's Rebellion
Expansion of Imperial Army
Ryukyu Islands incorporated into the Empire
Law for salt of factories to private industry
Okuma's Memorial demanding a Parliament
Okuma exposes Hokkaido scandal
Iwakura establishes principles for Constitution
Okuma ousted
Parliament promised by 1890

1885
1889

Retrenchment and currency stabilization by Finance Minister Matsukata

Li-Ito Convention on Korea
First Cabinet formed
Meiji Constitution proclaimed

Japanese Chronology 1890-1915

1890
1892
1894
1895
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1904
1905

1907
1908
1909
1910
1912
1914
1915

First Diet opened

Violence in elections
Ito becomes Premier
Treaty with Great Britain abolishing extraterritoriality
Outbreak of Sino-Japanese War
Treaty of Shimonoseki
The Triple Intervention, forcing the return of Liaotung
Acquisition of Liaotung by Russia
Rosen-Nishi Agreement
The Open Door Policy
Boxer Uprising
Yamagata-Ito rivalry; Ito forms Seiyukai
Katura's first cabinet
Saionji-Katsura compromise
Anglo-Japanese Alliance
Outbreak of Russo-Japanese War
Taft-Katsura Agreement
Anglo-Japanese Alliance renewed and strengthened
Treaty of Portsmouth
Ito becomes Resident General of Korea
Protectorate over Korea
Katsura Cabinet
Ito assassinated at Harbin
Korea annexed by Japan
Death of Emperor Meiji
Taisho political crisis
Okuma becomes Premier
Japan declares war on Germany
Japan completes capture of German-leased territory in Shantung
Twenty-One Demands presented to China
China reluctantly agrees to demands

Japanese Chronology 1915-1941

1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1921

Resignation of Foreign Minister Kato

General Terauchi becomes Premier
Secret Treaty with Allies, reference Shantung and Pacific Islands
Siberian Expedition
First party cabinet under Hara
Armistice in Europe
Paris Peace Conference
Versailles Treaty
Washington Disarmament Conference

1924
1925
1927
1928
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1936
1937

1938
1940
1941

Assassination of Premier Hara

Japanese Exclusion Act
Universal Suffrage for men
Peace Preservation Law
Shidehara's conciliatory policy toward Russia
General Tanaka is Premier
Murder of Chang Tso-lin in Manchuria
London Naval Treaty
Shooting of Prime Minister Hamaguchi
Manchurian Incident
Formation of State of Manchukuo
Assassinations of Inouye, Dan, and Inukai
Occupation of Inner Mongolia by the Japanese Tangku Truce
Rise of Nationalist philosophy under Araki
Coup by young officers in Army
Anti-Comintern Pact
First Konoue Cabinet
Incident at Marco Polo Bridge
Widespread war in China
Rape of Nanking
Enactment of National Mobilization Law
New Order in East Asia
Tripartite Treaty of Alliance
United States-Japanese negotiations begin
Japan decides to move southward
United States freezes Japanese assets
Imperial Conferences support war plan
General Tojo becomes Premier
Final decision for war
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

Japanese Chronology 1941-1970

1941
1943
1944
1945

1946
1947
1948
1949

Pearl Harbor attacked by Japan

United States declares war on Japan 1942 May-JuneBattles of Coral Sea and Midway
Recapture of Guadalcanal
Creation of Munitions Ministry
Fall of Saipan
Premier Tojo replaced by Koiso
General MacArthur returns to Philippines
Saturation bombing of Tokyo
Okinawa captured
Potsdam Declaration of Allied surrender terms
Japan agrees to surrender
General MacArthur appointed Supreme Commander
Japan surrenders
New Constitution promulgated
Land reform program begun
United States encourages Japanese industrial revival
Chinese communists victorious on mainland

1950
1951
1952
1954
1955
1960
1964
1967
1968
1969

Invasion of South Korea starts Korean War

Dulles negotiates non punitive peace terms for Japan
General MacArthur relieved of his commands
Treaty of Peace signed at San Francisco
Peace Treaty in effect, occupation ends
May Day riot; economy reaches prewar levels
Self-Defense Forces formed
Conservatives continue to rule through Liberal Democratic Party
Extensive demonstrations against U.S.-Japan Security Treaty
Security Treaty ratified
Sato Eisaku appointed Prime Minister
Ultra radical student riots increase in intensity
Riots close Tokyo University
Okinawa reversion becomes a vital issue
Japan becomes third largest industrial power
Riot police oust students from Tokyo University
Tokyo University reopens
Diet approves University Normalization Law
Sato-Nixon Agreement on Okinawa Reversion
Liberal Democratic Party wins at general election