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Period: 500 to Jan 26, 700
Colonial Times
Japanese society developed quickly—partly because of its close relationship with neighboring China and the magnificent Tang Dynasty. Among China's influences on Japan were the introduction of Buddhism, writing systems, and different forms of government. Korea is also thought to have been a strong influence on the fledgling Japanese culture. In the seventh century, the great feudal families became the target of efforts to decentralize and lessen their power in favor of -
Jan 1, 600
Japan was founded in 600 BC by the Emperor Jimmu.
Japan is a constitutional monarchy with a multiparty parliamentary system of government. The emperor serves as a ceremonial symbol of state. The head of government is the prime minister, who leads the cabinet and must hold a parliamentary majority. The current emperor is Emperor Akihito. The prime minister is Shinzo Abe. -
Senkaku Islands
apan annexed the islands in 1895, saying that they were unclaimed territory. It says China started showing interest in them only in the early 1970s, after possible oil reserves were discovered nearby. China says that the islands were Chinese for centuries and that Japan took them as a first step toward its later invasion of the Chinese mainland -
Period: to
Economic Struggles
The economy also faced several difficult challenges during the early 21st century: the reemergence of Asian bird flu in Thailand—and its accompanying fears of a pandemic—was accompanied by several substandard years for Thailand's agricultural sector. In addition, the ongoing violence in the southern provinces and the continued threat of terrorist activity has hampered the government's ability to increase levels of foreign investment -
Takeshima Islands Administeref
The barely inhabitable volcanic islets are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and natural gas deposits. Japan says it reconfirmed its right to Takeshima in 1905, during a war with Russia. Since the 1950s, South Korea has maintained a police post there. -
Thailand Borders Established
In 1907 the Thai-Cambodian border was mapped by the French on behalf of a bilateral border commission. According to the 1904 agreement, the border would follow the natural watershed between the countries. However, the resulting map deviated by showing Preah Vihear Temple as being in Cambodia, even though it is on the Thai side of the watershed. Unaware of this, Thailand accepted the map for official use. The Thais discovered the error when they made their own survey in the 1930s, but the ICJ rul -
Flag Adopted
Adopted in 1917, the flag of Thailand is a horizontal tricolor with a blue stripe in the center bordered by white stripes, which are bordered by red stripes. The red symbolizes life and blood, the white symbolizes the purity of the Buddhist faith, and the blue symbolizes solidarity with the Allied forces of World War I. -
Monarchy Established
A constitutional monarchy, Thailand's political situation has been characterized since 1932 by a cycle in which the military alternates power with civilian governments. -
Japanese Invasion of Thailand
On December 7, 1941, a few hours before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan demanded the right to move troops across Thailand to the Malayan frontier. Before the Thais could respond, the Japanese Invasion of Thailand began across the Cambodian border and at seven points along the sea coast. The Thai forces resisted courageously, but were soon beaten soundly by the Japanese. After only six or seven hours, the deeply worried Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram arrived in Bangkok and ordered an imme -
Nothern Territories Claimed by Japan
Soviet forces occupied the islands in 1945, deported Japanese inhabitants and brought in settlers. In 1956, Russia offered to return one of the three islands claimed by Japan and a small group of islets as part of a peace treaty. But Japan rejected that compromise, maintaining that all the islands should be returned. -
Japan signed the armistice ending World War II on September 2, 1945
Under the terms of the surrender, Allied military forces began an occupation of Japan that lasted until a formal peace treaty went into effect on April 28, 1952. -
The 1947 Constitution renounces war and prohibits the maintenance of armed forces for use outside the country,
. In addition, the constitution provides for numerous civil rights, including freedom of thought and conscience, free and equal education, and freedom of the press. The document declares that Japan is a constitutional monarchy and reflects the fact that the emperor is no longer perceived as a divine being, stating instead that his power derives from the people. -
Independence from the United States in 1952.
An Independence Day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's assumption of independent statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state; more rarely after the end of a military occupation. Most countries observe their respective independence days as a national holiday, and in some cases the observance date is controversial or contested. -
Military Took Power In 1992
When the military took power in 1992, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who normally serves only as a figurehead, was forced to act as negotiator for the warring sides in an unprecedented step (although he was less than effective). In September 1992 elections, the Constitution was modified so that all prime ministers must be elected members of the National Assembly and may not be unelected military officials -
Period: to
Local Government
For administrative purposes, the nation is divided into 47 prefectures, each with its own popularly elected governor or mayor and representative assembly. Cities, towns, and villages also elect representative assemblies. Since 1994 electoral reforms, Japan is also divided into 11 blocks at election time for government posts determined by proportional representation. -
Prime Minister Appointed
December 2007 elections, a new Thaksin-affiliated group, the People Power Party (PPP), won a majority in the National Assembly and appointed a prime minister, but they were soon ousted after violent street demonstrations erupted in Bangkok, demanding the prime minister's resignation. The opposition Democrat Party chief then won a special parliamentary vote and became prime minister on December 15. -
UNESCO rejection of Cambodia
In January 2008, the Thai Defense Ministry from the 56th Cabinet of Thailand protested Cambodia's attempt to register the temple as a UNESCO World Heritage Site without agreement from Thailand. -
The Cambodian–Thai border dispute
The Cambodian–Thai border dispute began in June 2008 as the latest round of a century-long dispute between Cambodia and Thailand involving the area surrounding the 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple, located in the Dângrêk Mountains between the Choam Khsant district in the Preah Vihear province of northern Cambodia and the Kantharalak district (amphoe) in the Sisaket province of northeastern Thailand. -
Thailand withdrew Troops
On October 13, 2008, Cambodian prime minister, Hun Sen, issued an ultimatum to Thailand to withdraw troops from a disputed border area by noon Tuesday, October 14. Hun Sen said Thai troops had advanced on a border area called Veal Intry (Eagle Field) near the temple in an attempt to occupy Cambodian land near Preah Vihear. "They must withdraw," he said. Thailand's Prime Minister, Somchai Wongsawat, said he had ordered the army to "take care of the situation so there is no violence." "We do not o
