• Total aid: $8.88bn (donations)

Japan's official aid donations are the second-largest of any single country (they were formerly the largest, until overtaken by the US in 2001). Most aid goes to Asia and the Pacific, especially China. In the Pacific, aid supports the fishing industry. In 2001, Japan admitted to "buying" support for whaling.

Japan's tendency to limit its contacts with the outside world ended in 1853, when a US naval squadron forced trading concessions from the last of the Tokugawa shoguns.

• 1868 Meiji Restoration; overthrow of Tokugawa regime and restoration of imperial power.
• 1872 Modernization along Western lines. Japan's strong military tradition becomes state-directed.
• 1889 Constitution modeled on Bismarck's Germany adopted.
• 1894–1895 War with China, ending in Japanese victory.
• 1904–1905 War with Russia, ending in Japanese victory. Formosa (Taiwan) and Korea later annexed.
• 1914 Joins World War I on Allied side. Sees limited naval action.
• 1919 Versailles peace conference gives Japan limited territorial gains in the Pacific.
• 1923 Yokohama earthquake kills 140,000.
• 1927 Japan enters period of radical nationalism, and introduces the notion of a "coprosperity sphere" in southeast Asia under Japanese control. Interpreted in the US as a threat to its Pacific interests.
• 1931 Chinese Manchuria invaded and renamed Manchukuo.
• 1937 Japan launches full-scale invasion of China proper.
• 1938 All political parties placed under one common banner; Japan effectively ruled by militarists.
• 1939 Undeclared border war with Soviet Union; Japan defeated.
• 1940 Fall of France in Europe; Japan occupies French Indo-China.
• 1941 US imposes total trade embargo, including oil, on Japan thereby threatening to stifle its military machine. Japan responds in December by launching attack on US fleet at Pearl Harbor and invading US, British, and Dutch possessions in the Pacific.
• 1942 Japan loses decisive naval battle of Midway.
• 1945 Huge US bombing campaign culminates in atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: over 200,000 die. Soviet Union declares war on Japan. Emperor Hirohito surrenders, gives up divine status. Japan placed under US military government with Gen. MacArthur as supreme commander.
• 1947 New US-style constitution: retains emperor in ceremonial role.
• 1950 Korean War. US army contracts lead to quick expansion of Japanese economy.
• 1952 Treaty of San Francisco. Japan regains independence. Industrial production recovers to 15% above 1936 levels.
• 1955 Formation of LDP, which governs for next 38 years.
• 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Bullet train (Shinkansen) inaugurated. Japan admitted to OECD.
• 1973 Oil crisis. Economic growth falls. Government-led economic reassessment decides to concentrate on high-tech industries.
• 1976 LDP shaken by Lockheed bribery scandal; in subsequent election it remains in power but loses outright majority for first time.
• 1979 Second oil crisis. Growth continues at 6% per year.
• 1980 LDP regains overall majority.
• 1982 Honda establishes first car factory in US.
• 1988 Japan becomes world's largest aid donor and overseas investor.
• 1989 Death of Emperor Hirohito. Accession of son, Akihito. Recruit–Cosmos bribery scandal leads to resignation of Prime Minister Noburo Takeshita; replaced by Sosuke Uno, in turn forced to resign over sex scandal.
• 1990 Tokyo stock market crash.
• 1991–1992 LDP torn by factional disputes, further financial scandals, and the issue of electoral reform.
• 1993 Reformists split from LDP and create new parties. Elections; LDP loses power. Morihiro Hosokawa becomes prime minister at head of seven-party coalition.
• 1994 Hosokawa resigns. Pull-out of SDPJ causes collapse of coalition. New three-party coalition includes LDP and SDPJ. Opposition parties unified by creation of Shinshinto. Political reforms introduced to eradicate "money politics."
• 1995 Kobe earthquake kills more than 5000 people.
• 1996 Elections: LDP minority government. Copper trader Yasuo Yamanaka sentenced to eight years in prison for incurring losses of $2.6 billion while acting for the Sumitomo Corporation.
• 1997 Severe economic recession.
• 1998 Crisis over reform of banking and financial system.
• 2000 Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi falls into coma, replaced by Yoshiro Mori. LDP loses overall majority in general election.
• 2001 LDP turns to populist right-winger Junichiro Koizumi as prime minister; five women appointed to cabinet.
• 2002 Japan cohosts soccer World Cup.
• 2003 LDP reelected.
• 2005 Train derailment kills over 100.

Weather chart

The Sea of Japan has a moderating influence on the climate. Winters are less cold than on the Asian mainland, and rainfall is much higher. Spring is perhaps the most pleasant season, with warm, sunny days without the sultry, oppressive heat and rainfall of the summer. Recent freak storms and heavy floods have raised concern over the implications of global climate change.