Japan

See Also

• May sick -- absenteeism indicative of new students or workers who have become tired of their new schoolwork or jobs.

See also

• 100-yen shop
• Anime
• Art and Architecture
• Bonsai
• Calendar
• Cinema
• Communications
• Customs
• Clothing (kimono, hakama, etc...)
• Cuisine (Sushi, Agedashi Tofu, Dashi, Soy sauce, etc...)
• Dance (traditional)
• Educational System
• Festivals
• Ikebana
• Language (Hiragana, Katakana, Kana, Romaji)
• Literature
• Manga
• Music
• Names
• New Year
• Origami
• Sports
• Tea Ceremony
• Television and Radio
• Tourism

References

The origins of Japanese civilization are buried in legend, with the country's first written records dating from the sixth to the eighth centuries A.D., after Japan had adopted the Chinese writing system.

February 11, 660 BC is the traditional founding date of Japan by Emperor Jimmu Tenno. This however is a version of Japanese history, which was written down in various annales in 6th - 8th centuries AC when the emperors were struggling for power. In order to legitimate their claims to the throne, they had collections of poems set up, which made up a mythological inheritance of power from the sun-godess Amaterasu, still the most venerable deity in the Shintoist pantheon, via her grandson Ninigi to Jimmu Tenno, who was claimed to be an ancestor of the ruling imperial family. This propaganda-myth was taken up again by 19th century historicians and used as a fundamental pillar of Japan's nationalistic Kokutai ideology. More reliable are Chinese sources, which describe a country "Wa" ruled by various family-clans, adhering to their respective clan-deities. Recent anthropological studies suggest immigration from Siberia and/or Polynesia to be the ancestors of the earliest settlers in Japan.

• First Part: Kofun
• Second Part: Asuka

Russian pressure from the north appeared again after Muraviev had gained Outer Manchuria at Aigun (1858) and Peking (1860). This led to heavy Russian pressure on Sakhalin which the Japanese eventually yielded in exchange for the Kuriru islands (1875). The Ryukyu Islands were similarly secured in 1879, establishing the borders within which Japan would "enter the World". In 1898, the last of the "unequal treaties" with Western powers was removed, signalling Japan's new status among the nations of the world. In a few decades, by creating modern social, educational, economic, military, and industrial systems, the Emperor Meiji's "controlled revolution" had transformed a feudal and isolated state into a world power.

During the 1920s, Japan progressed toward a democratic system of government. However, parliamentary government was not rooted deeply enough to withstand the economic and political pressures of the 1930s, during which military leaders became increasingly influential. These shifts in power were made possible by the ambiguity and imprecision of the Meiji constitution, particularly as regarded the position of the Emperor in relation to the constitution.

Japan invaded Inner (Chinese) Manchuria in 1931 and set up the puppet state of Manchukuo under the last Manchu emperor, Pu Yi. In 1933, Japan resigned from the League of Nations. The Japanese invasion of China in 1937 (the second Sino-Japanese War) followed Japan's signing of the "anti-Comintern pact" with Nazi Germany the previous year and was part of a chain of developments culminating in the Japanese attack on United States naval forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941.

After almost 4 years of war, resulting in the loss of 3 million Japanese lives and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan signed an instrument of surrender on Missouri in Tokyo Harbor on September 2, 1945. As a result of World War II, Japan lost all of its overseas possessions and retained only the home islands. Manchukuo was dissolved, and Inner Manchuria was returned to China; Japan renounced all claims to Formosa; Korea was granted independence; southern Sakhalin and the Kuriles were occupied by the U.S.S.R.; and the United States became the sole administering authority of the Ryukyu, Bonin, and Volcano Islands. International Military Tribunal for the Far East, an international war crimes tribunal sentenced seven Japanese military and government officials to death on November 12, 1948, including General Hideki Tojo, for their roles in World War II.

The 1972 reversion of Okinawa completed the United States' return of control of these islands to Japan. Japan continues to agitate for the corresponding return of the Kuril islands from Russia.

After the war, Japan was placed under international control of the Allies through the Supreme Commander, Gen. Douglas MacArthur. U.S. objectives were to ensure that Japan would become a peaceful nation and to establish democratic self-government supported by the freely expressed will of the people. Political, economic, and social reforms were introduced, such as a freely elected Japanese Diet (legislature) and universal adult suffrage. The country's constitution took effect on May 3, 1947. The United States and 45 other Allied nations signed the Treaty of Peace with Japan in September 1951. The U.S. Senate ratified the treaty in March 20, 1952, and under the terms of the treaty, Japan regained full sovereignty on April 28, 1952.

From the 1950s to the 1980s, Japan's history consists mainly of its rapid development into a first-rank economic power, through a process often referred to as the "economic miracle". The post-war settlement transformed Japan into a genuine constitutional party democracy, but, extraordinarily, it was ruled by a single party throughout the period of the "miracle". This strength and stability allowed the government considerable freedom to oversee economic development in the long term. Through extensive state investment and guidance, and with a kick-start provided by technology transfer from the U.S.A. and Europe, Japan rapidly rebuilt its heavy industrial sector (almost destroyed during the war). Given a massive boost by the Korean War, in which it acted as a major supplier to the NATO force, Japan's economy embarked on a prolonged period of extremely rapid growth, led by the manufacturing sectors. Japan emerged as a significant power in many economic spheres, including steel working, car manufacture and the manufacture of electronic goods. It is usually argued that his was achieved through innovation in the areas of labour relations and manufacturing automation (Japan pioneered the use of robotics in manufacturing). Throughout the period of the miracle, its annual GNP growth was over twice that of its nearest competitor, the U.S.A. By the 1980s, Japan - despite its small size - had the world's second largest economy. These developments had a marked impact on its relations with the U.S.A., the foreign nation with which it had the closest links. The U.S.A. initially heavily encouraged Japan's development, seeing a strong Japan as a necessary counterbalance to Communist China. By the 1980s, the sheer strength of the Japanese economy had become a sticking point. The U.S.A. had a massive trade deficit with Japan - that is, it imported substantially more from Japan than it exported to it. This deficit became a scapegoat for American economic weakness, and relations between the two cooled substantially. There was particular friction over the issue of Japanese car exports, as Japanese cars by this point accounted for over 30% of the American market. The U.S.A. also criticised the closed nature of the Japanese economy, which was marked by heavy tariff protection which made entry into the Japanese market difficult for foreign firms. Japan throughout the 1980s and 1990s embarked on a process of economic liberalisation aimed at appeasing American criticism. The car issue was dealt with through a series of "voluntary" restrictions on Japanese exports.

• Military History of Japan

References

External links

People who live in Japan are descendants of those who came from the Asian continent through Sakhalin, Korea and China, especially around Beijing and Shanghai, and from the South by marine route.

According to traditional Japanese history, Japan was founded in the 7th century BC by the ancestral Emperor Jimmu. During the 5th and 6th centuries, the Chinese writing system and Buddhism were introduced with other Chinese cultures via the Korean penisula or directly from China. The emperors were the nominal rulers, but actual power was usually held by powerful court nobles, regents, or shoguns (military governors).

Ancient political structure held that, once battles between rivals were finished, the victoriuous Shogun would migrate to the capital Heian (fully Heian-kyo-to, 'kyo-to' meaning capital city, and the full name now shortened to the suffix, 'Kyoto') to rule under the grace of the Emperor. However, in the year 1185, general Minamoto no Yoritomo was the first to break this tradition, refusing to relocate and subsequently holding power in Kamakura, just south of present-day Yokohama. While this Kamakura Shogunate was somewhat stable, Japan soon fell into warring factions, and suffered through what became known as the Warring States or Sengoku Period. In the year 1600, at the Battle of Sekigahara, Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu either coopted or defeated his enemies, and formed the Tokugawa Shogunate in the small fishing village of Edo (formerly transcribed as 'Yeddo'), what is now known as Tokyo (eastern capital).

During the 16th century, traders from Portugal, the Netherlands, England, and Spain arrived, as did Christian missionaries. During the early part of the 17th century, Japan's shogunate suspected that they were actually forerunners of a military conquest by European powers and ultimately barred all relations with the outside world except for severely restricted contacts with Dutch and Chinese merchants at Nagasaki (Dejima). This isolation lasted for 251 years, until Commodore Matthew Perry forced the opening of Japan to the West with the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854.

Within several years, renewed contact with the West profoundly altered Japanese society. The shogunate was forced to resign, and the emperor was restored to power. The Meiji Restoration of 1868 initiated many reforms. The feudal system was abolished, and numerous Western institutions were adopted, including a Western legal system and government, along with other economic, social and military reforms that transformed Japan into a world power. As results of Sino-Japanese war and Russo-Japanese war, Japan acquired Taiwan, Korea, and other territories.

The early 20th century saw Japan come under increasing influence of an expansionist military, leading to the invasion of Manchuria, a second Sino-Japanese War (1937). Japanese leaders felt it was necessary to attack the US naval base in Pearl Harbor (1941) to ensure Japanese supremacy in the Pacific. However, the entry of the United States into World War II would slowly tilt the balance in the Pacific against the Japanese. After a long Pacific campaign, Japan lost Okinawa in the Ryukyu islands and was pushed back to the four main islands. The United States made fierce attacks on Tokyo, Osaka, and other cities by strategic bombing, and Hiroshima and Nagasaki with two atomic bombs. Japan eventually agreed to an unconditional surrender to the United States on August 15, 1945.

A defeated post-war Japan remained under US occupation until 1952, whereafter it embarked on a remarkable economic recovery that returned prosperity to the islands. The Ryukyu islands remained under US occupation until 1972 to stabilize East Asia, and a major military presence remains there to this day. The Soviet Union seized the Kuril islands north of Hokkaido at the end of WWII, and despite the collapse of the Soviet state and friendly relations between countries, Russia has refused to return these islands.

Japan is academically considered a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliament, the Kokkai or Diet but most of Japanese feel strange to the term monarchy and quite a few scholars argue Japan is a republic. Japan has a royal family led by an Emperor, but under the current constitution he holds no power at all, not even emergency reserve powers. The executive branch is responsible to the Diet, consisting of a cabinet composed of a prime minister and ministers of state, all of whom must be civilians. The prime minister must be a member of the Diet and is designated by his colleagues. The prime minister has the power to appoint and remove ministers, a majority of whom must be Diet members. Sovereignty, previously embodied in the emperor, is vested by the constitution in the Japanese people, and the Emperor is defined as the symbol of the state.

The legislative branch consists of a House of Representatives (Shugi-in) of 480 seats, elected by popular vote every four years, and a House of Councillors (Sangi-in) of 247 seats, whose popularly elected members serve six-year terms. Each house contains officials elected either directly or proportionally by party. There is universal adult suffrage with a secret ballot for all elective offices.

Japan is subdivided into 47 prefectures (ordered by ISO 3166-2):

Hokkaido Aomori Iwate Miyagi Akita Yamagata Fukushima Ibaraki Tochigi Gunma Saitama Chiba Tokyo Kanagawa Niigata Toyama Ishikawa Fukui Yamanashi Nagano Gifu Shizuoka Aichi Mie

Shiga Kyoto Osaka Hyogo Nara Wakayama Tottori Shimane Okayama Hiroshima Yamaguchi Tokushima Kagawa Ehime Kochi Fukuoka Saga Nagasaki Kumamoto Oita Miyazaki Kagoshima Okinawa

The order of this list is from the north to the south, which is commonly accepted in Japan.

Japan, a country of islands, extends along the eastern or Pacific coast of Asia. The main islands, running from north to south, are Karafuto (Jap. 1679-1875), Hokkaido, Honshu (or the mainland), Shikoku, and Kyushu. Mairuppo in the Kuriru retto is over 800km to the northeast of Hokkaido; Naha on Okinawa in the Ryukyu retto is over 600 km to the southwest of Kyushu. About 3,000 smaller islands are included in the archipelago. About 73% of the country is mountainous, with a chain running through each of the main islands. Japan's highest mountain is the famous Mount Fuji at 3,776 m . Oyakobayama, at the northern end of Kuriru retto, is a beautifully formed snow-clad peak (2337m) rising directly out of the sea. Since so little flat area exists, many hills and mountainsides are cultivated all the way to the summits. As Japan is situated in a volcanic zone along the Pacific deeps, frequent low intensity earth tremors and occasional volcanic activity are felt throughout the islands. Destructive earthquakes occur several times a century, often resulting in tsunamis. Hot springs are numerous and have been developed as resorts.

The Japanese Archipelago extends from north to south along the eastern coast of Eurasian Continent or the farthermost west of Pacific Ocean. Japan belongs to the temperate zone with distinct four seasons, but varies from cool temperate in north to subtropical in south. The climate is also affected by the seasonal winds blown from the continent to the ocean in winters and vise versa in summers.

Late June and early July are a rainy season except Hokkaido as a seasonal rain front or baiu zensen (梅雨前線) stays above Japan. In the late summer and early autumn typhoons, grown from tropical depressions generated near the equator, track from the south-west to the north-east and often bring heavy rain.

Its varied geographical features divide Japan into six principal climatic zones.

• Hokkaido: Belonging to the cool temperate zone, Hokkaido has long, cold winters and cool summers. Chishima (Kuriru) or Northeast Islands are fogbound. Precipitation is not large.
• Sea of Japan: The northwest seasonal wind in winters give heavy snowfalls. In summers it is less hot than in the Pacific area but sometimes experiences extreme hot temperature due to the Foehn wind phenomenon.
• Chuo-kochi or Central highland: A typical inland climate gives large temperature differences between summers and winters and between days and nights. Precipitation is not large throughout a year.
• Setonaikai or Inland Sea: The mountains in Chugoku and Shikoku regions block the seasonal winds and bring mild climate and many fine days throughout a year.
• Pacific Ocean): It experiences cold winters with little snowfall and hot, humid summers due to the southeast seasonal wind.
• Nansei-shoto (Ryukyu) or Southwest Islands: It has a subtropical climate with warm winters and hot summers. Precipitation is very large especially affected by the rainy season and typhoons.

Japan has ten regions. Those from north to south are Hokkaido, Tohoku region, Hokuriku region, Kanto region, Chubu region, Kinki region (commonly called Kansai), Chugoku region, Shikoku region, Kyushu region, and Okinawa, the main island in Ryukyu retto.　

Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (1% of GDP) have helped Japan advance with extraordinary rapidity to the rank of second largest economy power in the world only next to the US.

Notable characteristics of the economy include the working together of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors in closely-knit groups called keiretsu; the powerful enterprise unions and shunto; and the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labour force. Most of the these features are now eroding, however, and the economy is currently characterized by stagnation.

Industry, the most important sector of the economy, is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. The much smaller agricultural sector is highly subsidised and protected, with crop yields among the highest in the world. Usually self-sufficient in rice, Japan must import about 50% of its requirements of other grain and fodder crops. Japan maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch. For three decades overall real economic growth had been spectacular: a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s. Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s largely because of the after effects of overinvestment during the late 1980s and contractionary domestic policies intended to wring speculative excesses from the stock and real estate markets. Government efforts to revive economic growth have met with little success and were further hampered in 2000-2001 by the slowing of the US and Asian economies. Furthermore, the declining birth rate in Japan has led to speculation that more skilled immigrants will be required if Japan wishes to maintain its current level of production. The demand for cheap labor has created a boom in the illegal employment market made up mostly of fake exchange students from around the globe.

The crowding of habitable land area and the aging of the population are two major long-run problems. Robotics constitutes a key long-term economic strength, with Japan possessing 410,000 of the world's 720,000 "working robots".

Japanese society is ethnically and linguistically very homogeneous, with small populations of primarily Koreans and Chinese (including Taiwanese), as well as the indigenous Ainu minority on Hokkaido. 99% of the population speaks Japanese as their first language.

Most Japanese people do not believe in any particular religion. Many people, especially those in younger generations, are opposed to religions for historical reasons and the development of science. From the Meiji Era to World War II, Shinto was organized by the government. Many others are ambivalent to religions and use various religions in their life. One may visit a Shinto shrine on New Year's day for the year's success and before school entrance exam to pray to pass. The same person may have a wedding at a Christian church and have funeral at a Buddhist temple.

See also: Religions of Japan

• Cinema
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• Clothing
• Cuisine
• Japanese Crafts
• Dance (traditional)
• Festivals
• Ikebana
• Literature
• Manga
• Music
• New Year
• Onsen (hot springs)
• Origami
• Raku-Go (comedy)
• Sports
• Tourism
• Racism in Japan

Miscellaneous topics

• Japanese calendar
• Communications in Japan
• Transportation in Japan
• Military of Japan
• Foreign relations of Japan
• Japanese Television and Radio
• List of Japanese people
• List of Japan-related topics
• Ethnic issues in Japan

External Links

Other

In 1953, a Martin 404 of Japan Airlines crashed, killing all 37 on board.

Japan Airlines, in addition to the 404's, used DC-3, DC-4, DC-6 and DC-7 during the 1950s. Towards the end of that decade, it started its first international service, to San Francisco.

In 1960, Japan Airlines bought their first jet, a DC-8. Soon after, they decided to re-equip their airline, using jet airplanes only. That decade, many new international destinations were established.

In the 1970s they bought the Boeing 747, the Boeing 727 and the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 to accommodate the ever growing list of international routes, both to its Asian neighbors, and around the world.

In the 1980s Japan Airlines performed special flights for the Crown Prince of Japan and the Princess, Pope John Paul II, and various Japanese prime ministers. During that decade they also began to be more promotionally aware, with plane models and other promotional items being produced in quantity. It also bought new Boeing 767 jets and retired the DC-8's and 727's. In 1985, one of their 747's crashed, killing 540 out of 544 people on board.

Japan Airlines began the 1990s with flights to help evacuate Japanese citizens from Iraq before the start of the Gulf War. In 1992, Japan Air Charters was established, and in 1997, an agreement with The Walt Disney Company was announced, making Japan Airlines the official airline of Disney Tokyo. That year also, JALExpress had been established, with Boeing 737 aircraft. Also in 1997, the airline had to fly the Japanese prime minister to Peru to help negotiate in the Tupac Amaru kidnapping case. Japan Airlines acquired Boeing 777's during that decade, and it was named the official airline of the Sydney Olympic Games.

• Short or Medium Grained White Rice
• Vegetables (spinach, cucumber, eggplant, burdock (gobo), daikon, sweet potato, lotus root)
• Seafood
• Pickled Vegetables
• Mushrooms (Shiitake, Matsutake, Enokitake)
• Seaweeds (Nori, Konbu, Wakame, Hijiki)
• Noodles (Udon, Soba, Somen)
• Processed Seafood (Niboshi, dried Cuttlefish, Kamaboko)
• Eggs (Chicken, Quail)
• Meats (Pork, Beef, Chicken, Lamb)
• Beans (Soy, Adzuki)

Essential Japanese Flavorings

It is not generally thought possible to make authentic Japanese food without shoyu and dashi.

• Shoyu, Dashi, Mirin, Sugar, Rice Vinegar, Miso, Sake.
• Konbu, Katsuobushi, Niboshi.
• Onion, Garlic, Leek, Chive, Shallot -- all discouraged by Buddhism, but popular in modern Japan
• Sesame Seeds, Sesame Oil, Walnuts or Peanuts to dress.
• Wasabi (and imitation wasabi from Horseradish), Mustard, Red Pepper, Ginger, Shiso (or Beefsteak) leaves, Sansho, Citrus.

Famous Japanese Foods & Dishes

• Deep-Fried dishes (Agemono)
• Donburi - one-bowl dishes of hot steamed rice with various savory toppings
  • Katsudon - deep-fried breaded cutlet of pork (tonkatsudon), chicken (chicken katsudon) or fish (e.g., maguro katsudon)
  • Oyakodon - Chicken and egg (''Mother and Child)) donburi dish
  • Gyudon - seasoned beef donburi dish
  • Tempuradon - deep-fried batter-coated bite-sized foods
• Grilled and Pan-Fried dishes (Yakimono)
  • Teriyaki - grilled, broiled, or pan-fried meat, fish, chicken or vegetables glazed with a sweetened soy sauce.
  • Gyoza - savory Japanese dumplings, often filled with pork, tofu or vegetables
  • Hamachi Kama - grilled yellow tails jaw and cheek bone
  • Okonomiyaki - pan-fried batter cakes with various savory toppings
• Nabemono (One Pot Cooking)
  • Sukiyaki - mixture of noodles, thinly sliced beef, egg and vegetables boiled in a shallow pan
  • Motsunabe - cow intestine, hakusai (bok choi) and various vegetables are cooked in a light soup base
  • Kimuchinabe - similar to motsunabe, except with a kimuchi base and using thinly sliced pork. Kimchi is a traditional Korean dish, but it has also become very popular in Japan, particularly in the southern island of Kyushu, which is situated closest to South Korea.
• Noodles (Menrui)
  • Soba - thin brown buckwheat noodles served chilled with various toppings or in hot broth
  • Ramen - thin light yellow noodle served in hot broth with various toppings; thought to be of Chinese origin, it is a popular and common item in Japan
  • Udon - thick wheat noodle served with various toppings or in a hot shoyu and dashi broth.
  • Champon - yellow noodles of medium thickness served with a great variety of seafood and vegetable toppings in a hot broth; originated in Nagasaki as a cheap food for students
• Other
  • Agedashi Tofu - cubes of deep-fried silken tofu served in hot broth
  • Bento or Obento - combination meal served in a wooden box
  • Hiyayakko-cold tofu dish
  • Osechi - Traditional food eaten at the New Year
• Rice (Gohanmono)
  • Mochi - rice cake
  • Ochazuke - green tea poured over white rice.
  • Onigiri - Japanese rice balls
• Sashimi - slices of fresh seafood served with a dipping sauce and simple garnishes
• Soups (Suimono & Shirumono)
  • Miso soup - soup made with miso, dashi and seasonal ingredients like fish, kamaboko, onions, clams, potato, etc.
  • Dangojiru - soup made with dumplings along with seaweed, tofu, lotus root, or any number of other vegetables and roots
  • Butajiru - similar to Dangojiru, except with pork being its principle ingredient
• Sushi - Vinegared rice topped or mixed with various fresh ingredients.
• Sweets
  • Anmitsu- a traditional Japanese dessert.
  • Dango - Japanese dumpling
  • Kakigori
  • Macha Ice (Green tea ice cream) - green tea flavored ice cream
  • Oshiruko - a warm, sweet red bean soup with rice cake
  • Uiro - a steamed cake made of rice flour

Japanese Influence on other Cuisines

Teppanyaki is said to be an American invention, as is the California roll, and while the former has been well received in Japan the latter has not and has, at worst, been termed not Sushi by Japanese people. However thanks to some recent trends in American culture such as Iron Chef and Benihana, Japanese culinary culture is slowly fusing its way into American life. Japanese food, which had been quite exotic in the West as late as the 1970s, is now quite at home in parts of the continental United States, and has become an integral part of food culture in Hawaii.

References

Tsuji, Shizuo. (1980). Japanese cooking: A simple Art. Kodansha International/USA, New York.

• 645 大化 Taika
• 650 白雉 Hakuchi
• 686 朱鳥 Shuchou
• 701 大宝 Taihou
• 704 慶雲 Keiun
• 708 和銅 Wadou
• 715 霊亀 Reiki
• 717 養老 Yourou
• 724 神亀 Jinki
• 729 天平 Tenpyou
• 749 天平感宝 Tenpyou-kanpou
• 749 天平勝宝 Tenpyou-shouhou
• 757 天平宝字 Tenpyou-houji
• 765 天平神護 Tenpyou-jingo
• 767 神護景雲 Jingo-keiun
• 770 宝亀 Houki
• 781 天応 Ten'ou
• 782 延暦 Enryaku
• 806 大同 Daidou
• 810 弘仁 Kounin
• 824 天長 Tenchou
• 834 承和 Shouwa
• 848 嘉祥 Kajou
• 851 仁寿 Ninju
• 854 斉衡 Saikou
• 857 天安 Tennan
• 859 貞観 Jougan
• 877 元慶 Genkei
• 885 仁和 Ninna
• 889 寛平 Kanpyou
• 898 昌泰 Shoutai
• 901 延喜 Engi
• 923 延長 Enchou
• 931 承平 Shouhei
• 938 天慶 Tengyou
• 947 天暦 Tenryaku
• 957 天徳 Tentoku
• 961 応和 Ouwa

• 964 康保 Kouhou
• 968 安和 Anna
• 970 天禄 Tenroku
• 973 天延 Ten'en
• 976 貞元 Jougen
• 978 天元 Tengen
• 983 永観 Eikan
• 985 寛和 Kanna
• 987 永延 Eien
• 988 永祚 Eiso
• 990 正暦 Shouryaku
• 995 長徳 Choutoku
• 999 長保 Chouhou
• 1004 寛弘 Kankou
• 1012 長和 Chouwa
• 1017 寛仁 Kannin
• 1021 治安 Jian
• 1024 万寿 Manju
• 1028 長元 Chougen
• 1037 長暦 Chouryaku
• 1040 長久 Choukyuu
• 1044 寛徳 Kantoku
• 1046 永承 Eishou
• 1053 天喜 Tengi
• 1058 康平 Kouhei
• 1065 治暦 Jiryaku
• 1069 延久 Enkyuu
• 1074 承保 Jouhou
• 1077 承暦 Shouryaku
• 1081 永保 Eihou
• 1084 応徳 Outoku
• 1087 寛治 Kanji
• 1094 嘉保 Kahou
• 1096 永長 Eichou
• 1097 承徳 Joutoku
• 1099 康和 Kouwa
• 1104 長治 Chouji
• 1106 嘉承 Kajou
• 1108 天仁 Tennin
• 1110 天永 Ten'ei
• 1113 永久 Eikyuu
• 1118 元永 Gen'ei
• 1120 保安 Houan
• 1124 天治 Tenji
• 1126 大治 Daiji
• 1131 天承 Tenshou
• 1132 長承 Choushou
• 1135 保延 Houen
• 1141 永治 Eiji
• 1142 康治 Kouji
• 1144 天養 Ten'you
• 1145 久安 Kyuuan
• 1151 仁平 Ninpei
• 1154 久寿 Kyuuju
• 1154 久寿 Kyuuju
• 1156 保元 Hougen
• 1159 平治 Heiji
• 1160 永暦 Eiryaku
• 1161 応保 Ouhou
• 1163 長寛 Choukan
• 1165 永万 Eiman
• 1166 仁安 Ninnan
• 1169 嘉応 Kaou
• 1171 承安 Shouan
• 1175 安元 Angen
• 1177 治承 Jishou
• 1181 養和 Youwa
• 1182 寿永 Juei
• 1184 元暦 Genryaku
• 1185 文治 Bunji
• 1190 建久 Kenkyuu
• 1199 正治 Shouji
• 1201 建仁 Kennin

• 1204 元久 Genkyuu
• 1206 建永 Ken'ei
• 1207 承元 Jougen
• 1211 建暦 Kenryaku
• 1213 建保 Kempou
• 1219 承久 Joukyuu
• 1222 貞応 Jouou
• 1224 元仁 Gennin
• 1225 嘉禄 Karoku
• 1227 安貞 Antei
• 1229 寛喜 Kanki
• 1232 貞永 Jouei
• 1233 天福 Tenpuku
• 1234 文暦 Benryaku
• 1235 嘉禎 Katei
• 1238 暦仁 Ryakunin
• 1239 延応 En'ou
• 1240 仁治 Ninji
• 1243 寛元 Kangen
• 1247 宝治 Houji
• 1249 建長 Kenchou
• 1256 康元 Kougen
• 1257 正嘉 Shouka
• 1259 正元 Shougen
• 1260 文応 Bun'ou
• 1261 弘長 Kouchou
• 1264 文永 Bun'ei
• 1275 建治 Kenji
• 1278 弘安 Kouan
• 1288 正応 Shouou
• 1293 永仁 Einin
• 1299 正安 Shouan
• 1302 乾元 Kengen
• 1303 嘉元 Kagen
• 1306 徳治 Tokuji
• 1308 延慶 Enkyou
• 1311 応長 Ouchou
• 1312 正和 Shouwa
• 1317 文保 Bunpou
• 1319 元応 Gen'ou
• 1321 元亨 Genkou
• 1324 正中 Shouchuu
• 1326 嘉暦 Karyaku
• 1329 元徳 Gentoku
• 1331 元弘 Genkou
• 1334 建武 Kenmu
• 1336 延元 Engen
• 1340 興国 Koukoku
• 1346 正平 Shouhei
• 1370 建徳 Kentoku
• 1372 文中 Bunchuu
• 1375 天授 Tenju
• 1381 弘和 Kouwa
• 1384 元中 Genchuu
• 1390 明徳 Meitoku
• 1394 応永 Ouei
• 1428 正長 Shouchou
• 1429 永享 Eikyou
• 1441 嘉吉 Kakitsu
• 1444 文安 Bunnan
• 1449 宝徳 Houtoku
• 1452 享徳 Kyoutoku
• 1455 康正 Koushou
• 1457 長禄 Chouroku
• 1460 寛正 Kanshou
• 1466 文正 Bunshou
• 1467 応仁 Ounin
• 1469 文明 Bunmei
• 1487 長享 Choukyou
• 1489 延徳 Entoku
• 1492 明応 Meiou
• 1501 文亀 Bunki
• 1504 永正 Eishou
• 1521 大永 Daiei
• 1528 享禄 Kyouroku
• 1532 天文 Tenmon
• 1555 弘治 Kouji
• 1558 永禄 Eiroku
• 1570 元亀 Genki
• 1573 天正 Tenshou - the name was suggested by Oda Nobunaga
• 1592 文禄 Bunroku
• 1596 慶長 Keichou
• 1615 元和 Genna
• 1624 寛永 Kan'ei
• 1644 正保 Shouhou
• 1648 慶安 Keian
• 1652 承応 Jouou
• 1655 明暦 Meireki
• 1658 万治 Manji
• 1661 寛文 Kanbun
• 1673 延宝 Enpou
• 1681 天和 Tenna
• 1684 貞享 Joukyou
• 1688 元禄 Genroku
• 1704 宝永 Houei
• 1711 正徳 Shoutoku
• 1716 享保 Kyouhou
• 1736 元文 Genbun
• 1741 寛保 Kanpou
• 1744 延享 Enkyou
• 1748 寛延 Kan'en
• 1751 宝暦 Houreki
• 1764 明和 Meiwa
• 1772 安永 An'ei
• 1781 天明 Tenmei
• 1789 寛政 Kansei
• 1801 享和 Kyouwa
• 1804 文化 Bunka
• 1818 文政 Bunsei
• 1830 天保 Tenpou
• 1844 弘化 Kouka
• 1848 嘉永 Kaei
• 1854 安政 Ansei
• 1860 万延 Man'en
• 1861 文久 Bunkyu
• 1864 元治 Genji
• 1865 慶応 Keio
• 1868 明治 Meiji - Mutsuhito, the Meiji Emperor
• 1912 大正 Taisho - Yoshihito, the Taisho Emperor
• 1926 昭和 Shouwa - Hirohito, the Showa emperor
• 1989 平成 Heisei - Akihito, the reigning emperor

External Links

• Aomori
• Goshogawara
• Hachinohe
• Hirosaki
• Kuroishi
• Misawa
• Mutsu
• Towada

Hokkaido

• Abashiri
• Akabira
• Asahikawa
• Ashibetsu
• Bibai
• Chitose
• Date
• Ebetsu
• Eniwa
• Fukagawa
• Furano
• Hakodate
• Ishikari
• Iwamizawa
• Kitahiroshima
• Kitami
• Kushiro
• Mikasa
• Monbetsu
• Muroran
• Nayoro
• Nemuro
• Noboribetsu
• Obihiro
• Otaru
• Rumoi
• Sapporo
• Shibetsu
• Sunagawa
• Takikawa
• Tomakomai
• Utashinai
• Wakkanai
• Yubari

The list excludes 23 special wards, major concentrations of cities in Tokyo.

Aomori, Aomori prefecture, Aozora Bunko, APNIC, Arahata Kanson, Arai, Arai Hakuseki, Arakawa, Araki Sadao, Arao, Arida, Arisaka, Arishima Takeo, Arkanoid, Arlong, Art and architecture of Japan, Art-name, Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan, Articuno, Arts of the Far East, Asahi, Asahi, Chiba, Asahi Shimbun, Asahikawa, Asahikawa Airport, Asaka, Asakawa Yuu, Asakiyumemishi, Asakusa, Asano Tadanobu, ASCII (magazine), Ashibetsu, Ashida Hitoshi, Ashikaga, Ashikaga clan, Ashikaga shogunate, Ashikaga Takauji, Ashikaga Yoshiaki, Ashikaga Yoshiakira, Ashikaga Yoshiharu, Ashikaga Yoshihide, Ashikaga Yoshihisa, Ashikaga Yoshikatsu, Ashikaga Yoshikazu, Ashikaga Yoshimasa, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, Ashikaga Yoshimochi, Ashikaga Yoshinori, Ashikaga Yoshitane, Ashikaga Yoshiteru, Ashikaga Yoshizumi, Ashiya, Asian Theatre of World War II, Astro Boy, Asuka period, Atami, Attack on Pearl Harbor, Aube, Aum Shinrikyo, Awa, Chiba, Awa, Tokushima, Awaji Island, Ayabe, Ayumi Hamasaki, Azai Hisamasa, Azai Nagamasa, Azai Sukemasa, Azuchi-Momoyama period, Azumanga Daioh

Battle of Anegawa, Battle Angel Alita, Battle of Guadalcanal, Battle of Halhin Gol, Battle of Iwo Jima, Battle of Leyte Gulf, Battle of Midway, Battle of Mikagehama, Battle of Mikatagahara, Battle of Mimasetoge, Battle of Nagakute, Battle of Nagashino, Battle of Okehazama, Battle of Okinawa, Battle of Peleliu, Battle of Sekigahara, Battle of the Coral Sea, Battle of the Planets, Battle of Shizugatake, Battle of Tedorigawa, Battle of the Eastern Solomons, Battle of Tsushima, Battle of Uchidehama, Battle of Yalu River (1894), Battle of Yalu River (1904), Battle royale, Battle Royale (movie), Battles of Bunroku and Keicho, Battles of Kawanakajima

Beautiful Dreamer (movie), Belt, Bento, Benzaiten, Beppu, Berserk (anime), Berserk (manga), Betamax, Bibidi, Big O (anime), Bio Android, Bibai, Bisai, Bishounen, Bishoujo, Bizen, Blackjack (manga), Blazing Transfer Student, Blue (2001 movie), Blue Cosmos, Blue Gender, BoA, Bob Sapp, Bogu, Bojutsu, Bokeh, Bokken, Bombardment of Shimonoseki, Bombing of Tokyo in World War II, Bonsai, Boogiepop, Boogiepop Phantom, Boomer, Bow-Lingual, Bowser (Nintendo character), Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Breath of Fire, Bright Noa, Broly, Broome, Bubble Bobble, Bubblegum Crash, Bubblegum Crisis, Bubblegum Crisis 2040, Buddha, Buddhism, Budo, Bujinkan, Bukkake, Bulma, Bungotakada, Bunkyo, Burakumin, Bushido, Bust A Move, Buu, Buyoh, Buzen, Byodoin, Byoyomi

Emperor Ankan of Japan, Emperor Anko of Japan, Emperor Annei of Japan, Emperor Antoku of Japan, Emperor Bidatsu of Japan, Emperor Buretsu of Japan, Emperor Chokei of Japan, Emperor Chuai of Japan, Emperor Chukyo of Japan, Emperor Daigo of Japan, Emperor En'yu of Japan, Emperor Fushimi of Japan, Emperor Go-Daigo of Japan, Emperor Go-En'yu of Japan, Emperor Go-Fukakusa of Japan, Emperor Go-Fushimi of Japan, Emperor Go-Hanazono of Japan, Emperor Go-Horikawa of Japan, Emperor Go-Ichijo of Japan, Emperor Go-Kameyama of Japan, Emperor Go-Kashiwabara of Japan, Emperor Go-Kogon of Japan, Emperor Go-Komatsu of Japan, Emperor Go-Komyo of Japan, Emperor Go-Mizunoo of Japan, Emperor Go-Momozono of Japan, Emperor Go-Murakami of Japan, Emperor Go-Nara of Japan, Emperor Go-Nijo of Japan, Emperor Go-Reizei of Japan, Emperor Go-Saga of Japan, Emperor Go-Sai of Japan, Emperor Go-Sanjo of Japan, Emperor Go-Shirakawa of Japan, Emperor Go-Suzaku of Japan, Emperor Go-Toba of Japan, Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado of Japan, Emperor Go-Uda of Japan, Emperor Go-Yozei of Japan, Emperor Hanazono of Japan, Emperor Hanzei of Japan, Emperor Heizei of Japan, Emperor Higashiyama of Japan, Emperor Horikawa of Japan, Emperor Ichijo of Japan, Emperor Ingyo of Japan, Emperor Itoku of Japan, Emperor Jimmu of Japan, Emperor Jomei of Japan, Emperor Junna of Japan, Emperor Junnin of Japan, Emperor Juntoku of Japan, Emperor Kaika of Japan, Emperor Kameyama of Japan, Emperor Kammu of Japan, Emperor Kazan of Japan, Emperor Keiko of Japan, Emperor Keitai of Japan, Emperor Kenzo of Japan, Emperor Kimmei of Japan, Emperor Koan of Japan, Emperor Kobun of Japan, Emperor Kogen of Japan, Emperor Kogon of Japan, Emperor Kokaku of Japan, Emperor Koko of Japan, Emperor Komei of Japan, Emperor Komyo of Japan, Emperor Konin of Japan, Emperor Konoe of Japan, Emperor Korei of Japan, Emperor Kosho of Japan, Emperor Kotoku of Japan, Emperor Momozono of Japan, Emperor Mommu of Japan, Emperor Montoku of Japan, Emperor Murakami of Japan, Emperor Nakamikado of Japan, Emperor Nijo of Japan, Emperor Nimmyo of Japan, Emperor Ninken of Japan, Emperor Ninko of Japan, Emperor Nintoku of Japan, Emperor of Japan, Emperor Ogimachi of Japan, Emperor Ojin of Japan, Emperor Reigen of Japan, Emperor Reizei of Japan, Emperor Richu of Japan, Emperor Rokujo of Japan, Emperor Saga of Japan, Emperor Sakuramachi of Japan, Emperor Sanjo of Japan, Emperor Seamounts, Emperor Seimu of Japan, Emperor Seinei of Japan, Emperor Seiwa of Japan, Emperor Senka of Japan, Emperor Shijo of Japan, Emperor Shirakawa of Japan, Emperor Shoko of Japan, Emperor Shomu of Japan, Emperor Suinin of Japan, Emperor Suizei of Japan, Emperor Sujin of Japan, Emperor Suko of Japan, Emperor Sushun of Japan, Emperor Sutoku of Japan, Emperor Suzaku of Japan, Emperor Takakura of Japan, Emperor Temmu of Japan, Emperor Tenji of Japan, Emperor Toba of Japan, Emperor Tsuchimikado of Japan, Emperor Uda of Japan, Emperor Yomei of Japan, Emperor Yozei of Japan, Emperor Yuryaku of Japan

Empress Gemmei of Japan, Empress Gensho of Japan, Empress Go-Sakuramachi of Japan, Empress Jito of Japan, Empress Kogyoku of Japan, Empress Koken of Japan, Empress Meisho of Japan, Empress Saimei of Japan, Empress Shotoku of Japan, Empress Suiko of Japan

Ena, Endo Shusaku, Endymion, Engrish, Eniwa, Enka, Enki, Ennichi, Ennin, Enola Gay, Enomoto Takeaki, Enoshima, Enoshima Engi, Enryakuji, Enzan, Ernest M. Satow, Esaki Leona, Esashi, Ethnic issues in Japan, Ethnic Japanese, Evangelion general characters, Evangelion Glossary, Evangelion List of Angels, Evangelion List of Eva-Units, Evangelion Media, Excel Saga, Ezo

Fuchu, Fuchu, Hiroshima, Fuchu, Tokyo, Fugazi, Fuji, Fuji Bank, Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd, Fuji Television, Fuji, Shizuoka, Fujieda, Fujifilm, Fujii Sadakazu, Fujiidera, Fujiko Fujio, Fujimi, Fujimoto Kazuko, Fujimura Shinichi, Fujinomiya, Fujio Masayuki, Fujioka, Fujisawa, Fujishima Kosuke, Fujishita Mashio, Fujitsu, Fujiwara family, Fujiwara no Michinaga, Fujiwara no Mototsune, Fujiwara no Yoshifusa, Fujiyoshida, Fukagawa, Fukaya, Fukuchiyama, Fukuda Eiko, Fukuda Takeo, Fukue, Fukui prefecture, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Airport, Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, Fukuoka prefecture, Fukuroi, Fukushima, Fukushima prefecture, Fukuyama, Fukuzawa Yukichi, Full contact karate, Full Metal Panic, Funabashi, Furano, Furigana, Furukawa, Fusako Shigenobu, Fushigi Yuugi, Fushimi, Fussa, Futabatei Shimei, Futanari, Futtsu, Fuyu Yoshiaki, Fx-6300G

Go, Go (board game), Go Nagai, Go players, Go proverb, Go Seigen, Go strategy and tactics, Gobo, Gobo, Wakayama, Godzilla, Godzilla vs Mothra, Godzilla vs The Cosmic Monster, Godzilla vs The Sea Monster, Godzilla vs The Thing, Godzilla, King of the Monsters, Gogeta, Gohan, Gojo, Goju Ryu, Goku, Gold Roger, Gomoku, Goro Shimura, Goshogawara, Gose, Gosen, Gotanda Station, Goten, Gotenba, Gotenks, Gothic lolita, Gotsu, Gradius, Grave of the Fireflies, Gravitation (anime), Great Hanshin earthquake, Great Kanto earthquake, Great Teacher Onizuka, Greater East Asia War, Greater East Asia War in the Pacific, Greater Tokyo Area, Green tea, Ground zero, GTO

Guan Yin, Guandong army, Gundam, Gundam - The 08th MS Team, Gundam 0080, Gundam 0083, Gundam F-91, Gundam Seed, Gundam Seed Episode 1, Gundam Seed Episode 2, Gundam Seed Episode 3, Gundam Seed Episode 4, Gundam Seed Episode 5, Gundam Seed Episode 6, Gundam Seed Episode 7, Gundam Seed Episode 8, Gundam Seed Episode 9, Gundam Seed Episode 10, Gundam Wing, Gundam Wing - Endless Waltz, Gundam X, Gungrave, Gunma prefecture, Gunpei Yokoi, Guru (dragonball), Gushikawa, Gyoda, Gyokko Ryu, Gyokuon-housou, Gyokuro, Gyoza

Hida province, Hidaka, Hidaka subprefecture, Hideaki Anno, Hideki Shirakawa, Hideo Nomo, Higashi-ku, Higashihiroshima, Higashikagawa], Higashikuni Naruhiko, Higashikurume, Higashimatsuyama, Higashimurayama, Higashine, Higashiosaka, Higashiyama, Higashiyamato, Higuchi Ichiyo, Hikari, Hikari (Shinkansen), Hikaru no Go, Hiki, Saitama, Hikone, Himeji, Himeji Castle, Himi, Himiko, Himizu Ryu, Hinamatsuri, Hino, Hino Rei, Hirado, Hiraide Shu, Hiraga Gennai, Hiragana, Hirakata, Hiranuma Kiichiro, Hirara, Hirata, Hirata Tsuyoshi, Hiratsuka, Hirohito, Hirokazu 'Hip' Tanaka, Hironobu Sakaguchi, Hiroshige, Hiroshima, Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Hiroshima prefecture, Hirota Koki, His and Her Circumstances, Hisai, Historical tale, History of Japan, History of Okinawa, Hita, Hitachi, Hitachi, Ibaraki, Hitachi 917, Hitachinaka, Hitachiota, Hitokiri, Hitoyoshi, Hirosaki, Hiyama subprefecture, Hiyayakko

Hofu, Hogen Rebellion, Hojo, Hojo clan, Hojo Masako, Hojo Tokimune, Hojojutsu, Hokkaido prefecture, Hokkaido University, Hokuriku region, Hokusai, Hombu Dojo, Honda, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Honda Civic CRX, Honda Integra, Honda Jazz, Honda Toshiaki, Hondo, Honen Shonin, Hongo, Honinbo Shusaku, Honjo, Honjo, Akita, Honjo, Saitama, Honshu, Japan, Horikawa, Hoshi Sato, Hosokawa clan, Hosokawa Morihiro, House of Councillors of Japan, House of Peers, House of Representatives of Japan, Howl's Moving Castle, Hozumi Shigeto, Hudson Soft, Hull note, Hunter x Hunter, Hyogo prefecture, Hyuga, Hylian, Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Hyrule, Hyrule Castle

Isahaya, Isamu Noguchi, Isao Tomita, Ise, Ise province, Isesaki, Ishibashi Ningetsu, Ishibashi Tanzan, Ishida Mitsunari, Ishigaki, Ishihara colour test, Ishihara Shintaro, Ishii Sogo, Ishikari, Ishikari subprefecture, Ishikawa prefecture, Ishikawa Takuboku, Ishinomaki, Ishioka, ISO 3166-2:JP, ISO 3602, Isoroku Yamamoto's sleeping giant quote, Issei Japanese, Issei Japanese American, Issey Miyake, Itabashi, Itagaki Seishiro, Itagaki Taisuke, Itako, Itami, Ito, Ito Hirobumi, Ito Noriko, Ito Sachio, Ito Takaaki, ITOCHU, Itoigawa, Itoman, Iwai, Iwaki, Iwaki province, Iwakuni, Iwakura, Iwakura Tomomi, Iwamizawa, Iwanuma, Iwase province, Iwashiro province, Iwata, Iwatani Toru, Iwate prefecture, Iwato, Iwatsuki, Iwo Jima, Iyo, Iyomishima, Izumi, Izumi Kyoka, Izumi province, Izumi, Kagoshima, Izumi, Osaka, Izumiotsu, Izumisano, Izumo, Izumo province, Izumo, Shimane

Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi, Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryu, Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga, Japanese aircraft carrier Shokaku, Japanese aircraft carrier Soryu, Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku, Japanese Academy Awards, Japanese Alps, Japanese American, Japanese American Internment, Japanese angelica-tree, Japanese archery, Japanese Baseball, Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame, Japanese battleship Musashi, Japanese battleship Yamato, Japanese beetle, Japanese bobtail cat, Japanese bondage, Japanese Buddhism, Japanese calendar, Japanese Canadian, Japanese clans, Japanese clothing, Japanese Communist Party, Japanese copyright law, Japanese cuisine, Japanese era name, Japanese expansionism, Japanese Experiment Module, Japanese Cultural Festival, Japanese festivals, Japanese grammar, Japanese Grand Prix, Japanese gunboat Akagi, Japanese hip hop, Japanese Instrument of Surrender (1945), Japanese Judo, Japanese knotweed, Japanese language, Japanese language and computers, Japanese language guide, Japanese Language Proficiency Test, Japanese literature, Japanese name, Japanese New Year, Japanese numerals, Japanese Peace Bell, Japanese person, Japanese proverbs, Japanese Red Army, Japanese Robin, Japanese Rose, Japanese school uniform, Japanese Sea Lion, Japanese ship naming conventions, Japanese sports, Japanese submarine I-52, Japanese tea ceremony, Japanese television programs, Japanese traditional dance, Japanese translation note, Japanese TV dramas, Japanese Wikipedia

Jean-François de La Pérouse, Jidai Matsuri, Jigglypuff, Jigoro Kano, Jim Breen, Jinenkan, Jingo of Japan, Jirachi, Jiro Watanabe, Jiu jitsu, Jizo, Jodo Shinshu, Joetsu, JOJO's Bizarre Adventure, Jojutsu, Jokichi Takamine, Jokyu incident, Jomon, Josei, Joyo, JR Kobe Line, JR Namba Station, Judo, Jun Tsuji, Junji Ito, Jusenkyo, Juso station, Just in time, JVC