Japan has a history that dates back thousands of years. Scientists believe the Japanese people descended from many groups that migrated to the islands from other parts of Asia, including China and Korea. As early as 4500 B.C., the Japanese islands were inhabited by fishermen, hunters and farmers. The early culture was known as "Jomon," which meant "cord pattern." That's because the people made pottery decorated with rope-like designs. Scientists believe a race called the "Ainu" were the first inhabitants of what is now Japan. Genetically, the Ainu are believed to be almost identical to Native Americans and other Asiatic peoples. The Ainu still exist today, mostly in the northernmost islands of Japan called "Hokkaido." The next major Japanese cultural changed occured about 200 B.C. The people were known as "Yayoi." The Yayoi were mostly farmers. Scientists believe the present-day Japanese closely resemble the Yayoi in appearance and language.

War played a central part in the history of Japan. Warring clans controlled much of the country. A chief headed each clan; made up of related families. The chiefs were the ancestors of Japan's imperial family. The wars were usually about "land." Only 20% of the land was fit for farming. The struggle for control of that land eventually gave rise to the Samurai.

The Yamato clans conducted many military campaigns on the Asian mainland. The targets included Korea and China. Those campaigns led to the importation of Korean and Chinese culture, technology and martial arts.

Legend says that Emperor Keiko was the first person with the title of "Shogun." The word meant "Barbarian-subduing General." Legend continues that Keiko had a son named "Prince Yamato." He was cunning, fearless, strong and a great martial artist. Many believe that Yamato was a role model for future Samurai.

Ancient Yayoi warriors developed weapons, armour and a code during the ensuing centuries that became the centerpiece for the Japanese Samurai. Early weapons included bows, arrows and swords. Armour included a helmet that protected head and neck, a breasplate that protected the chest, arm and shoulder protectors, and a belly wrap. Later armour included protection for the legs and thighs. Armour changed as the type of battles changed. A big change occured in the 5th century when horses were introduced to Japan. Another change occured in the 15th century because of the constancy of war and the introduction of guns into battle. The code developed from the Chinese concept of the virtues of warriors doing battle to the Samurai code of chivalry known as Kyuba no michi ("The Way of Horse and Bow") to the Bushido ("Way of the Warrior") code.

One meaning of "Bushido" is "Way of the Warrior." It was at the heart of the beliefs and conduct of the Samurai. The philosophy of Bushido is "freedom from fear." It meant that the Samurai transcended their fear of death. That gave them the peace and power to serve their masters faithfully and loyally and die well if necessary. "Duty" is a primary philosophy of the Samurai.

The Samurai rose out of the continuing battles for land among three main clans: the Minamoto, the Fujiwara and the Taira. The Samurai eventually became a class unto themselves between the 9th and 12th centuries A.D. They were called by two names: Samurai (knights-retainers) and Bushi (warriors). Some of them were related to the ruling class. Others were hired men. They gave complete loyalty to their Daimyo (feudal landowners) and received land and position in return. Each Daimyo used his Samurai to protect his land and to expand his power and rights to more land.

The Samurai became expert in fighting from horseback and on the ground. They practiced armed and un-armed combat. The early Samurai emphasized fighting with the bow and arrow. They used swords for close-in fighting and beheading their enemies. Battles with the Mongols in the late 13th century led to a change in the Samurai's fighting style. They began to use their sword more and also made more use of spears and naginata. The Samurai slowly changed from fighting on horseback to fighting on foot.

The Samurai wore two swords (daisho). One was long; the other short. The long sword (daito - katana) was more than 24 inches. The short sword (shoto - wakizashi) was between 12 and 24 inches. The Samurai often gave names to their swords and believed it was the "soul" of their warriorship. The oldest swords were straight and had their early design in Korea and China. The Samurai's desire for tougher, sharper swords for battle gave rise to the curved blade we still have today.
 

 
660 B.C

 Legend says Jimmu Tenno became Japan's first emperor and set up the ruling Yamato State. Weapons and armour develop
 
 

400's A.D

Horses introduced into Japanese fighting.
 
 

500's A.D

 Buddhism arrived in Japan; becomes a powerful philosophy for rulers and warriors.
Soga clan dominated the Yamato court
 
 

645 A.D

Taika Reforms began
 
 

702 A.D

Taiho law codes established the Great Council of State
 
 

710 A.D

Nara rule began with first permanent capital
 
 

781 A.D

 Emperor Kammu came to power and moved capital to Kyoto a few years later.
 

794 A.D
Heian period began
 

858 A.D
Fujiwara family gained control of imperial court
 

935 A.D

 Taira Masakado revolted and proclaimed himself "The New Emperor." Other Samurai leaders exerted their influence across the land and changed the history of Japan
 
 

1180-85 A.D

 Minamoto Yoritomo takes up arms against the Taira clan in The Gempei War.
 

1192 A.D

 Yoritomo became first permanent shogun of Japan and set up his Samurai government in Kamakura.
 

1200's A.D

 Mongols invade Japan. The Samurai defeat the Mongols after many years of fierce fighting and intervention by 'devine winds' which destroy the Mongol fleet.
 

1318 A.D

 Go-Daigo became the 96th Emperor of Japan. He attempted to overthrow the Hojo regents, but gave rise instead to a new dynasty of Shoguns, the Ashikaga family, who set up their government in the capital city of Kyoto.
 

1400's A.D
Master swordsmen established schools to teach their style of ken-jutsu.
 

1467-77 A.D

The Onin War saw the decline of the Shogun's power and began the Sengoku Jidai ("The Age of the Country at War") which lasted 150 years.
 
 

1542 A.D

Portuguese guns were introduced into Japan.
 
 

1560 A.D

 Oda Nobunaga began the process of unifying Japan. Toyotomi Hideyoshi continued the quest after Nobunaga's death.
 
 

1592 A.D

 Hideyoshi invaded Korea on his way to invading China, but died in 1598 before succeeding.
 
 

1603 A.D

 The Tokugawa family began ruling Japan. The regime lasted more than 200 years.
 
 

1605 A.D
 

 Miyamoto Musashi, began his musha-shugyo (warrior pilgrimage). Musashi fought and won more than 60 sword fights before the age of 30. He founded the Individual School of Two Skies and taught for many years. At the age of 60, Musashi wrote Gorin No Sho ("The Book of Five Spheres" ... aka - "The Book of Five Rings"), the most famous writing about the Japanese Sword Arts. He also wrote "The 35 Articles on the Art of Swordsmanship."
 
 

1615 A.D

 Tokugawa Ieyasu drew up the "Buke Sho Hatto" (Rules for Martial Families) before his death. It gave Samurai 13 guides to living as a warrior during peace time.
 

1630 A.D

Japan cut its ties with the outside world.
 

1702 A.D

 The infamous incident of the '47 Ronin.' When an attack by the loyal samuarai from the disgraced house of 'Asano,' set out to seek revenge on the Kira, the court official felt to be the instument of Asano's fall from grace almost two years earlier.
 

1703 A.D

The '47 Ronin.' are ordered to commit ritual suicide thus preserving their memories as noble warriors rather than criminals. Their deeds and sacrifice personify the qualities of the 'bullshido ideal.'
 

1854 A.D

Commodore Matthew Perry opened trade between the United States and Japan.
 

1867 A.D

Emperor Mutsuhito regained his traditional powers and took the name Meiji. It was the beginning of the Meiji Restoration. Meiji (Mutsuhito) set up his new capital city in Edo (Tokyo).
 

1868 A.D

Emperor Meiji introduced the "Five Articles Oath" which began the dismantling of the Samurai class.
 

1873 A.D

Emperor Meiji established an army based on conscription; an army open to anyone.
 

1876 A.D

 Emperor Meiji declared a new law that ended the wearing of swords. The Samurai had lost their profession and their right to wear swords. Their position as a special class ended after almost 1,000 years.
 

1877 A.D

Saigo Takamori rebells against Emperor Meiji's decrees and leads the Satsuma rebellion. His rebellion fails and he commits suicide, making him to all intents and purporses 'the last samurai.'