What is your favourite period in Japanese history ?

**Maciamo** · Aug 22, 2004, 10:38

My favourite is Meiji, then Showa to nowi, then everything betwee Heian and Edo, especially Azuchi-Momoyama.

**Apollo** · Aug 22, 2004, 10:46

My favourite period of Japanese history is:
-The Occupation of Japan (1945-1952), and within this period it is (I have taught):
-Japan in the Cold War in general. (also economic and political history)

**canadian_kor** · Aug 22, 2004, 13:59

I picked Kofun and Asuka period because this period shows the relationship between the ancient Koreans and the Japanese.

**Lina Inverse** · Aug 23, 2004, 06:36

Late Showa, before they had no good anime & hentai!

**Hiroshi66** · Aug 24, 2004, 04:56

I know most about the Early Showa period, which covers World War II. The most fascinating, and shows how Japanese history just climaxes at this point.

**TwistedMac** · Aug 25, 2004, 10:49

late showa and heishei ^^

**mad pierrot** · Aug 25, 2004, 10:50

From feudalism to industry in 30 years. Just blows my mind.

**blessed** · Aug 25, 2004, 11:35

yeah, and you did it (from what i know) pretty hasle free, unlike hard-headed russians who wiped out a 10th of their population.

**Hiroshi66** · Aug 26, 2004, 00:03

Originally Posted by blessed

yeah, and you did it (from what i know) pretty hasle free, unlike hard-headed russians who wiped out a 10th of their population.

True.

But the Meiji government certainly was authoritarian. Under a facade of constitutional and political rule - Meiji Japan was one of the most authoritarian nations in the world - similar to the likes of today's Iran. Why? Simple - it was a theocratic regime based on Shintoism, which had been in decline for centuries and which had, since the sixth century, played second fiddle to the more secterian Buddhist religion.

All political parties had to be registered with the government. Radicals and many liberals were persecuted by their right-wing and conservative/royalist counterparts. This is before the political arrests of the 1930s.

Indeed, the period of thirty years between 1868 and 1898 transformed a feudalistic, authoritarian and backward country into a modern, powerful, and yet authoritarian country.

**EscaFlowne** · Aug 26, 2004, 00:20

Kofun & asuka (early kingdoms : 300-710)
Nara & Heian (710-1185)
Kamakura (first, Minamoto-Hojo shogunate : 1185-1333)
Muromachi (Ashikaga shogunate 1333-1568)

Here, have a

**Hiroshi66** · Aug 28, 2004, 00:11

Thanks Escaflowne.

I have never studied early Japanese history in depth - because it is until the end a matter of opinion? Do you believe that His Majesty the Emperor is a descendent of Amaterasu? Or was he a Korean who migrated from his homeland? Was he nothing but a tribal chief? Another Caesar or Hitler who had the dreams of empire?

**puKKa** · Aug 28, 2004, 02:02

edo to meiji is mine favorite.

does anyone know any good site with info about all the periods, I love history ^^

**Hiroshi66** · Aug 28, 2004, 02:04

Uh - Jref.com has great links, but wikipedia.org, an online encyclopedia, has a very detailed Japanese history section. I have submitted a few articles, mainly on politics.

**Duo** · Aug 28, 2004, 04:21

I like the Bakumatsu, ok i admit cuz of Ruruoni Kenshin, but c'mon, is a time of change and just over all interesting to see the change in mentality.

**Apollo** · Aug 28, 2004, 08:09

I can see there are many here who are interested in feudal Japan, and perhaps also samurai.
Here is a good link, I have spent some time on it to recap and there are good summaries and it is very user-friendly.
The only minus is: It seems to be still under construction, or, the creators of the site seem to have missed some topics, names etc...however, very good site if you want to pass the time and just get a summary on stuff.
http://www.samurai-archives.com/

**Hiroshi66** · Aug 29, 2004, 09:35

Kinda to dress it up again.. what period do you know least about in Japanese history? For me, it would probably have to be.. uh.. the Yayoi/Kofun periods, and also the Muromachi periods. The shogunal alliances changed so much during these years, I know more about Buddhism during these years rather than the actual politics involved.

**Apollo** · Aug 30, 2004, 23:54

Originally Posted by Hiroshi66

Kinda to dress it up again.. what period do you know least about in Japanese history? For me, it would probably have to be.. uh.. the Yayoi/Kofun periods, and also the Muromachi periods. The shogunal alliances changed so much during these years, I know more about Buddhism during these years rather than the actual politics involved.

everything before 12th century Japan I am not soooo interested in I'm afraid...
In fact, my great interest concerning Japan is showa and especially occupation of Japan and Japan today, so everything before that is not my special area, although I feel I know the most important events and people....

**Hiroshi66** · Aug 31, 2004, 04:58

Yes. The Heian Period isn't a very political area.. just know that the courtiers mistreated the people and "they had their heads in the clouds". And taxes were high on peasants.

**mejuami** · Aug 31, 2004, 10:03

i guess i like the Heisei period b/c...

**Hiroshi66** · Aug 31, 2004, 13:54

I have a question - were there Korean troops who occupied Japan during the Japanese occupation?

**Trista** · Aug 31, 2004, 23:50

I voted for Kamakura because I've actually studied the artwork of that time period. Maybe I'm little uninformed of what else happened outside of beautiful architecture and sculptures.

**Apollo** · Sep 1, 2004, 00:52

Originally Posted by Hiroshi66

I have a question - were there Korean troops who occupied Japan during the Japanese occupation?

No, Korea was not a military force in Japan, but I will answer in more detail later, when I will take the opportunity to make a thread about occupation....for the sake of clarity and order.

**Hiroshi66** · Sep 1, 2004, 03:02

Thanks1 =) I just saw your post, and I am going there write now to check it out.

**Mandylion** · Nov 12, 2004, 10:46

Bakumatsu, by far, when taken with a dash of Meiji - watching a government rip itself appart and trying to find its feet again satisfies both historian and political scientist in me. Revolution, blood, sex, intrigue, international power politics - how can you not love it?!

**senseiman** · Nov 12, 2004, 15:21

I like the Kamakura period for a number of reasons. There was a lot of interesting infighting between the imperial court and the bakufu. In the religious world most of Japan's most important Buddhist sects were founded by various interesting characters in reaction to the natural disasters that were a constant during that time. Plus a lot of the best works of midieval literature were composed in that time, especially the military adventures like the Heike monogatari. Makes for interesting studying, though it must have been one of the worst eras in Japanese history to actually have lived through.