The history of Japan is greatly supported by the archaeological evidences indicating the people started living on this island in upper Paleolithic period. It's divided into several periods, which were ruled by different rulers. Starting from the Jomon period, some of the prominent ones are discussed below:

• Jomon Period- the Japanese inhabitant during this period lived by hunting and fishing. They use to produce cord marking on the pottery.
• Kofun Period (AD 300-710) - during this period, weapons, articles and agricultural tools were introduced from Korea and China. The chief character of this period was the huge mounded tombs that were built for the political elite. These were surrounded with clay cylinders and figurines called haniwa.
• Nara Period (AD 710- 794) - a centralized government was established with its capital at Nara. It followed a Ritsuryo system, which was a Chinese style system of law codes. Temples such as kokubunji was established and Buddhist religion was followed with flourishing art and architecture. It was during this period that the great Buddha at the todaiji temples was built.
• Heian Period (AD 794-1185) - many families specially the Fujiwara family, gained control of the government. A more indigenous style of living culture was introduced than Chinese style culture that dominated Nara Period. Beautiful gardens in the palaces and residences of royal families have distinct style of architecture. The period was also famous for literary masterpieces.
• Kamakura Period (1185-1333) - Minamoto family overthrew the Taira family that dominated in the late previous period. Military style of government was started in this period by member of the warrior class. Its powerful realistic style was depicted by the statue of guardian deities and other sculpture at temples.
• Muromachi Period (1333-1568) - it was dominated by the standoff between emperor Go-Daigo and his supporter Ashikaga Takauji, who overthrew Kamakura. Peasants and merchants began to improve their condition with emergence of more plebian form of government.
• Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1568-1600) - contacts with Europeans increased during this period and ornate decorative style was developed at the hands of war loads.
• Edo Period (1600-1868) - during this period, the control over Japan was gained by Tokugawa Ieyasu in Edo (now Tokyo). The new merchant class of culture flourished with the start of kabuki drama.
• Meiji Period (1868-1912) - the western culture and civilization began pervading in every aspect of Japanese life. modern Japanese literature was born and the first literary work was written in modern colloquial language.
• Taisho Period (1912-1926) - western books become famous among educated urban middle class. Radio broadcast, large circulation newspaper and general monthly magazine added to the richness of cultural life.
• Showa Period (1926- 1989) - after the financial crises of 1927, Japan regained its control of Government and regain its economy among the world's leading democratic powers.

After it, started the Heisei Period (1989 to present), which worked for the upheaval of Japan and led to some important events in Japan's history.

Nancy Eben
Japan History and Cheap Tokyo Hotels http://www.budgetjapanhotels.com/