The earliest recorded history of Japan dates back to the reign of the emperor Jimmu during the sixth century BC. Political and economic power was in the hands of a group of noble dynasties that operated on a largely feudal basis. The 12th century AD saw the emergence of the
shogun, a military governor drawn from one of the great families, who ruled with the consent of the others. Only an external threat such as the attempted Mongol invasions in the late 13th century would unite the various families against the common enemy. This helped create a latent national consciousness which slowly
developed over the next 300 years.
The actual unification of Japan began during the Tokugawa period (1600-1868). During this period, the shogun retained supreme executive power, retaining Japan’s unyielding resistance to foreign influence. However, in the late 19th century, a new breed of rulers took control and embarked on a program of rapid industrialization, establishing a Western-style system of administration.
The military was the main driving force behind this process but formal executive power was in the hands of the Emperor, who inherited his position and was treated by most of his subjects as a demi-god. Japan’s imperial ambitions in the Far East developed, resuming after World War I (which Japan took little part in) with China as the main target. Japan’s subsequent collision with the British, who had substantial political and economic interests in China, contributed to her alliance with Germany in World War II.
Between 1938 and 1941, Japan’s forces occupied China and South-East Asia. At its zenith, the Japanese empire, which carried the Orwellian title ‘Co-Prosperity Zone’, stretched as far south as Indonesia and eastwards far into the Pacific. The American response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor slowly pushed back the Japanese over the following four years, on the brink of surrendering when the devastating nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki sealed the outcome. Japan was occupied by American troops who imposed the constitution in 1946 that governs Japan today. Throughout the East-Asian region lingers strong resentment at Japan’s brutal treatment of its subject populations, compounded by the fact that Japan was - and is - in denial about its history.
Since 1950, Japan has overseen exceptional economic growth, becoming one of the world's most powerful economies. Tokyo dazzles with bright lights and high-tech gadgetry. Bustling cities burst with skyscrapers, bullet trains, trendy nightlife and rampant consumerism. Yet beneath the brash modernity beats an ancient heart. This is still the realm of the exquisite art of the geisha and the skill of the sumo wrestler; where ancient festivals are celebrated and food is elevated to an art form. And Japan is still a land of great natural beauty, from the snow festivals and lavender farms of the northern isle of Hokkaido to the sun-drenched beaches of the subtropical south. Whether you choose to climb Mount Fuji or relax at volcanic hot spring resorts, Japan is unforgettable.
GeographyJapan is separated from the Asian mainland by 160km (100 miles) of sea. About 70 per cent of the country is covered by hills and mountains, a number of which are active or dormant volcanoes. A series of mountain ranges runs from northern Hokkaido to southern Kyushu. The Japanese Alps (the most prominent range) run in a north–south direction through central Honshu. The highest mountain is Mount Fuji at 3,776m (12,388ft). Lowlands and plains are small and scattered, mostly lying along the coast and composed of alluvial lowlands and diluvial uplands. The coastline is very long in relation to the land area, and has very varied features. The deeply indented bays with good natural harbors tend to be adjacent to mountainous terrain.
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