3.1 Kamakura Period

Yuan Dynasty invaded Japan twice in 1200s. The Battle of Bunei on began on early October 1274 with a combined force of Mongolia and Korea massacring inhabitants of Tsushima islands. In October 19, they lost many battle ships due to typhoon and remaining troops retreated. The Battle of Kohan was the second invasion. Unable to land, they lost many battle ships due to typhoon again and retreated.

3.2 Muromachi Period

Joseon Dynasty of Korea invaded Tsushima islands in 1419. Successefully repulsed and Korean troops retreated in July 3.

3.3 Azuchi-Momoyama Period

This period is marked with proliferation of firearms and a complete disappearance of personal braveries as the factor in a battle. After series of fierce battles, Buddhist monks were stripped of their domains and they became a purely religious authority.

The Battle of Bunroku (文禄の役) Regency Toyotomi Hideyoshi organized 160,000 men army and the navy for the conquest through Korea and into Daynasty of Ming in 1592. A truce was signed in January 1593 reinstating Korean king as its ruler. The Battle of Keicho (慶長の役) began by Japan remobilizing their soilders from 1597 to 1598 into Korea. After Hideyoshi's death, a retreat from Korea on October was ordered by retainers of Toyotomi Hideyori.

In 1600, the outcome of Battle of Sekigahara determined who would be the de facto ruler of Japan.

3.4 Edo Period

This period was one of relative peace under the authority of the Bakufu (Shogunate); It would remain so until the Meiji Revolution and Restoration of Imperial Power and all the strife during that process.

Two major events occurred during the decades following the Battle of Sekigahara:

• The Siege of Osaka, 1614– 1615 in which the Tokugawa shogunate defeated the forces of Toyotomi Hideyori
• The Shimabara Rebellion, 1637– 1638, in which the Tokugawa shogunate defeated peasants in Hizen and Higo Provinces.

4 Modern Period

After a long peace, Japan rearmed by importing, then manufacturing western weapons, and finally manufacturing weapons of own designs. Japan became the first non-European nation to win a war against a European nation winning Russo-Japanese War. It was also the first non-European nation to sign an mutual defence plan with an European nation, United Kingdom. Japan was the last nation to enter the race to colonize the world as well as the only non-European nation to be involved in both World Wars. Severly hampered by still developing industries, Japan started its last major war against United States with less than a tenth of industrial capabilities. Japan has never participated in a major war as a combatant after losing World War II. Even today, Japan remains a military power but remains hampered by political and ideological infightings that prevents export of military hardwares as well as purchases of oversea capabilities. Currently, Japan is the only nation with a self space exploration capacity but without nuclear arms.

4.1 Meiji Period

4.1.1 Modern Army Established

In 1873, the conscription law declared by Imperial Government and Imperial Japanese Army was established. Samurai lose their status as the only class with military obligations.

4.1.2 Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895)

Fought against Qing Dynasty of China in the Korean peninsula and the coast of China. Japan conquered Seoul in July 23 and Won the Battle of Houtou in July 25. The Ryohtoh peninsula in China was conquered in November.

The Treaty of Shimonoseki ( Japanese: 下関条約) was signed between Japan and China at the end of war. By this treaty, Japan forced China to open ports for international entry and trade and ceded the southern portion of Fengtien province of China, the islands of Taiwan to Japan. China also had to pay a war indemnity of 200 million Kuping taels. Korea also received independence from China.

4.1.3 Russo-Japanese War and WWI

In the Russo-Japanese War in 1905 someone says an Asian power defeated a European power for the first time. 1914 Japan was part of the Allies during World War I and was rewarded with control of German colonies in the Pacific and got interests of German at Shandong. Small group of cruisers and destroyers also participated in various missions in Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.

4.2 Taisho Period

4.3 Showa Period

Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931 and established Manchukuo in 1932. In 1937, Japan and China ( Republic of China) began undeclared war against each other.

In September of 1940, Germany, Italy, and Japan had allied under the Tripartite Pact. In July of 1940, the US banned the shipment of aviation gasoline, to Japan, and by 1941, shipments of scrap iron , steel, gasoline, and other materials had practically ceased. Meanwhile, American economic support to China began to increase.

In April of 1941, Japan and Russia signed a neutrality pact and Japan increased pressure on the French and Dutch colonies, in Southeast Asia, to cooperate in economic matters. On July 22, 1941, Japanese forces occupied the naval and air bases of southern Indochina in French colonies.

The Pacific War begins with the Attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.

4.3.1 The Atlantis

It is sometimes argued that the Japanese decision to attack the Allies was, in large part, influenced by the capture of British documents with regards to British forces, the defenses of Singapore, codes, and information on Australia and New Zealand, as well as an appraisal of Japanese intentions. These documents were captured by the German Hilfskreuzer (cruiser) Atlantis, on November 11, 1940.

4.4 Heisei Period

5 See also

• List of Japanese battles
• Battles of the Imperial Japanese Navy
• Jinan Incident
• Greater East Asia War

• Military History
  • Military history of China
  • British Military History
  • Military History of the Netherlands
  • Military History of the Philippines
  • Military History of Singapore
  • Military History of the United States
  • World War II
    • Pacific Theater
• Imperial Japanese Army
• Military of Japan
• History of Japan

Japanese history *

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