The ENTIRE History of Japan

How did an isolated island nation ruled by emperors and samurai become one of the world’s most powerful and technologically advanced countries? Journey through the complete history of Japan—from its prehistoric origins and the rise of the Yamato state to the age of the samurai, Mongol invasions, warring states, Tokugawa shogunate, Meiji Restoration, Japanese Empire, Second World War and extraordinary post-war recovery. Featuring engaging narration, original illustrations, animated maps and full captions, this documentary condenses thousands of years of Japanese history into one clear and entertaining story. If you enjoy illustrated documentaries about nations, civilisations and empires, subscribe to The Illustrated Past for more journeys through world history. CHAPTERS 00:00 Japan Should Not Make Sense 00:38 Before Japan 02:22 The Yayoi Transformation 03:17 The Yamato State 04:19 Buddhism and the First Capitals 06:03 Heian Japan 07:09 The Samurai Take Power 08:20 The Mongol Invasions 09:49 Ashikaga and the Sengoku Era 11:37 The Three Unifiers 13:21 Tokugawa Japan 16:01 The Black Ships 17:31 The Meiji Transformation 19:27 Empire and Total War 22:28 Occupation and Reinvention 23:44 Modern Japan Which period of Japanese history should we explore in greater detail next? Let us know in the comments. #HistoryOfJapan #JapaneseHistory #HistoryDocumentary