Structured Lists Directory

Overview

Japanese Historical Periods

Japanese Historical Periods is a classification system that divides approximately 16,000 years of Japanese history from the Jomon Period to the Reiwa Period based on archaeological, cultural characteristics, and political transitions. It provides an important framework for understanding the distinctive cultures and social systems of each era, from prehistoric times (Jomon, Yayoi, Kofun) through the formation of the ritsuryo state, the rise of warrior government, to the transitions of early modern, modern, and contemporary periods.

Japanese history historical periods chronology archaeology Japan
code slug name description category endYear startYear
01 jomon-period Jomon Period Period characterized by cord-marked pottery. prehistoric -300 -14000
02 yayoi-period Yayoi Period Period when rice cultivation and metal tools began. prehistoric 300 -300
03 kofun-period Kofun Period Period when large keyhole-shaped burial mounds were constructed. ancient 538 300
04 asuka-period Asuka Period Period when Buddhism was introduced and the foundation of the ritsuryo state was laid. ancient 710 538
05 nara-period Nara Period Period when the capital was established at Heijo-kyo (Nara) and the ritsuryo state was completed. ancient 794 710
06 heian-period Heian Period Period when the capital moved to Heian-kyo (Kyoto) and aristocratic culture flourished. classical 1185 794
07 kamakura-period Kamakura Period Period when the first warrior government (shogunate) was established. medieval 1333 1185
08 muromachi-period Muromachi Period Period when the Muromachi shogunate was established, including the Northern and Southern Courts conflict and the Sengoku period. medieval 1573 1336
09 sengoku-period Sengoku Period A period of civil wars in the late Muromachi period with competing regional daimyo. medieval 1573 1467
10 azuchi-momoyama-period Azuchi-Momoyama Period Period of national unification under Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. early-modern 1603 1573
11 edo-period Edo Period A peaceful period of over 260 years under the Edo shogunate. early-modern 1868 1603
12 meiji-period Meiji Period Period when Japan began its path to becoming a modern nation through the Meiji Restoration. modern 1912 1868
13 taisho-period Taisho Period Period characterized by Taisho Democracy and democratic tendencies. modern 1926 1912
14 showa-period Showa Period Period that experienced war, reconstruction, and high economic growth. modern 1989 1926
15 heisei-period Heisei Period Period of economic stagnation after the bubble burst and advancing globalization. contemporary 2019 1989
16 reiwa-period Reiwa Period Current period where digitalization and addressing social issues are advancing. contemporary 2019

The major historical period divisions of Japanese history.