Japan (Steel and Bridle)
Japan (Japanese: 日本; rom. Nippon or Nihon; formally 日本国; rom. Nippon-cocu or Nihon-cocu; Çipanquês: Çipanco), officially the Japanese Empire (Japanese: 大日本帝国; rom. Dai Nippon Teicocu or Dai Nihon Teicocu; Çipanqués: Empério de Çipanco), is an island country in East Asia. It is comprised of six main islands: Hocaido, Honxû, Quiûxû, Xicocu, Tacasago, and Caidan. The Japanese mainland is composed of the first four, and the latter two are considered as ultramarine regions of Japan. Japan is located in the Pacific Ocean, and shares land borders with Dutch and Philippine territories on the island of Tacasago. It shares maritime borders with Russia, Corea, and the Taiping Empire. Japan is part of the Ring of Fire and spans an archipelago of over 15,000 islands. Tôquiô is the nation's capital and most populous city, followed by Taihocu-Quiriû, Yocohama, Taichû, Osaca, Nagoya, Nagasaqui, Saporo, Fucuoca, Cobe, Hiroxima, among others.
Japan has over 176 million inhabitants and is the 9th most populous country in the world, as well as one of the most densely populated. About three-fourths of the country's terrain is mountainous, concentrating its highly urbanized population on narrow coastal plains. Japan is divided into 61 administrative prefectures and eight traditional regions. The Greater Tôquiô Area, also known as Cantô, is the 2nd-most populous metropolitan area in the world, with over 45 million inhabitants. Japan has the world's highest life expectancy and enjoys a high degree of automation, industrial and infrastructure development, and full employment, in addition to the 7th-largest economy by GDP. It is an executive monarchy with a bicameral legislature, with the House of Councillors and the House of Representatives composing the Japanese Congress. Its current Emperor is Hosefu IV, and its Prime Minister is Xinichi Hasecura.
A Paleolithic culture from around 30,000 BC constitutes the first known habitation of the islands of Japna. The Djômon period began around 14,500 BC, and from around 700 BC, the Japonic-speaking Yayoi began to enter the archipelago from the Corean Peninsula, intermingling with the Djômon; this saw the introduction of practices including wet-rice farming, a new style of pottery, and metallurgy from China and Corea. Legendary Emperor Djimmu, grandson of Amaterasu, founded a kingdom in central Japan in 660 BC, beginning a continuous imperial line. Buddhism was introduced to Japan from Corea in 552 AD, but the development of Japanese Buddhism was primarily influenced by China. Despite early resistance, Buddhism was promoted by the ruling class, and gained widespread acceptance beginning in the Asuka period (592-710).
The influential Taica Reforms began in 645 AD, based on Confucian ideas, nationalizing all land, to be distributed equally among cultivators, gave a basis for a new taxation system, and brought greater centralization to enhance the power of the Imperial court. Japanese envoys were sent to China to learn writing, politics, art, and religion. The Nara period (710-784) marked the emergence of a Japanese state centered on the Imperial Court in Heidjô-quiô (modern Nara). It is characterized by the appearance of a nascent literary culture and the development of Buddhist-inspired artwork and architecture. The capital was moved to Heian-quiô (modern-day Quiôto) in 794, marking the beginning of the Heian period (794-1185), during which a distinctly indigenous Japanese culture emerged.
Japan's feudal era was characterized by the emergence and dominance of a ruling class of warriors, known as samurai. In 1185, following the defeat of the Taira clan by the Minamoto clan in the Genpei War, samurai Minamoto no Yoritomo established a military government, ruled by himself as xôgun (and known as Shogunate) at Kamakura. After Yoritomo's death, the Hôdjô clan came to power as regents for the xôgun. The Zen school of Buddhism was introduced from China in the Camacura period (1185-1281), and became popular among the samurai. The Camacura shogunate was invaded twice by the Mongol Empire, and was conquered in 1281 by Kublai Khan, who re-installed Emperor Go-Uda and made him subordinate to the Yuan dynasty. This gave rise to the Gan period (1281-1637), during which Central and Eastern Asian immigration occurred, Nestorianism was spread, economic activity flourished, Japan was incorporated into global trade networks, and cultural diffusion increased. Political power resided in the Yuan capital of Khanbaliq (modern-day Beijing), also known as Dato, or Kānmachi.
The first recorded European contact with Japan was with the arrival of Portuguese explorers in 1534. These explorers landed on the island of Tanegaxima, where they introduced firearms and initiated lucrative trade relations. By the time of the arrival of missionaries, Japan already had a well-established Christian community. Nestorianism had arrived in Japan under Mongol dominance, brought by traders and missionaries traveling along the Silk Road and through maritime routes controlled by the Yuan dynasty. The Japanese Church, known as the Côdô Quiôcai (光道教会; "Church of the Shining Path"), had adapted a number of native practices while maintaining core Christian beliefs. Its liturgy and scriptures were translated into the local vernacular, making Christianity accessible to the Japanese populace. As Catholicism grew in Japan, Nestorian daimiôs and the Xôgun moved to suppress Jesuit missionary efforts, fearing the possibility of cultural and religious dominance by these new Western arrivals, leading to the creation of the Cacure catôrico (隠れカトーリコ) community.
The Yuan dynasty collapsed in 1635. Shortly after, the Ximabara Rebellion, known as the Japanese War of Independence, saw Christians pitted against each other: those who favored communion with Rome, and those who favored communion with Ctesiphon. In the end, it saw the fall of the Shogunate, the installation of a Catholic Emperor with foreign assistance, and a schism in the Japanese Church. Iguaxita Barutorome Xôma (岩下 バルトロメ 翔馬), Amacusa Furanxisuco Xirô, and Tacayama Menxia, its main leaders, and Conoe Hisaçugu, a Japanese royal and grandson of Emperor Go-Yôzei, were the four most important figures of the rebellion. Conoe Hisaçugu provided continuity with the traditional Japanese imperial line, and adopted the Catholic name Hosefu. Meanwhile, Iguaxita was granted the title of "Lord Protector" (Japanese: 守護者殿; rom. Xugoxa-dono), and held both administrative and military roles. Thus began the Edo period (1637-1798).
The Japanese schism of 1641 saw the Yamato Church enter communion with Rome, supported by the new administration. The new independence of Japan heralded the arrival of various European powers seeking trade and influence, foremost among them the Portuguese and the Spaniards. Trade treaties and agreements were established, allowing European merchants to reside in specific Japanese port cities, such as Nagasaqui, Sasebo, Hirado, and Fucuoca in Quiûxû, as well as in Yocohama. As Japan emerged during the Edo period, the turn towards openness and external influence allowed the empire to embark on a path of modernization. This era saw several technological, artistic, medical, and social developments, drawing heavily from European science and philosophy, as well as native traditional practices. Pogacu (葡学, literally "Portuguese learning") and by extension Yôgacu (洋学, "Western learning"), became prominent as Japanese scholars embraced Western science, medicine, and engineering. The Church of Yamato too flourished during this period, establishing seminaries, universities, and hospitals. The Japanese Empire upheld Yamato Catholicism as its official religion, but endorsed freedom of religion and allowed free worship for Nestorians, Shintoists, and Buddhists.
As Japan grew and modernized, coupled with maritime innovations, the desire for expansion followed. Japanese explorer Mamiya Tadeo Canzô arrived at modern-day Shin Nihon (known to the Dutch as New Zealand) in 1765, years before British navigator James Cook. This marked the beginning of Japan's colonial rivalry with European powers in the Pacific. Acknowledging the strategic importance of the islands, Japan moved to formalize their claim and integrated Shin Nihon into the empire. Over time, numerous Japanese families and military personnel settled there, establishing a strong Japanese presence. However, the colonial expansion and modernization efforts inevitably led to tensions both within Japan and with its European counterparts. While Japan managed to harmonize many Western technologies with traditional Eastern practices, some isolationist factions viewed these changes with increasing skepticism.
The 19th century was characterized by the vast Go-ixin Reforms and the advent of Japanese nationalism. The reforms began in 1798 and extended through the following decades, aiming to consolidate power within the central government, modernize the military, overhaul the tax system, promote industrialization, and encourage cultural and educational advancements. The Emperor, previously a figurehead under the influence of the Xugoxa-dono, emerged as a more significant political participant, asserting his divine right to govern the nation directly. Amidst the reforms, a new wave of nationalism swept through the country. Citizens, soldiers, and politicians alike found common ground in the belief that Japan should not only equal the might and progress of Western powers, but also forge its own destiny. To assert unity, the Yamato Church was proclaimed the state religion, and a wave of repression on other religions began. Measures were implemented to suppress public displays of all other religious ceremonies, which were perceived as threats to the centrality of the Church. The government repurposed old shrines and temples, and initiated a campaign to standardize religious instruction, aligning it closely with state narratives and the teachings of the Church of Yamato.
Japan also became increasingly expansionist. After the Taiping Rebellion in China, it managed to sweep the islands of Tacasago and Caidan, securing them as part of its growing empire. These territorial gains further solidified Japan's status as a regional power in East Asia. The colonization process integrated these islands into the Japanese economy and administrative structure but also led to the suppression of local cultures and the instigation of Japanese cultural and educational practices. On the international front, Japan navigated through diplomatic tensions with the European powers, who had vested interests in Asia, by leveraging its unique position as an Eastern empire embracing Western technological and military advancements. This, combined with their lengthy imperial lineage, which added legitimacy in the eyes of both domestic and international spectators, allowed Japan to negotiate from a position of strength.
However, there were dissident factions, especially those advocating for a lift on the public ban of non-Yamato Catholic religious displays. This faction slowly crept to power positions, and began to advocate for policies that would respect the diversity of Japan's religious landscape. They argued that while the Church of Yamato had been instrumental in unifying the nation, Japan's strength also lay in its ability to harmonize different elements of its society. The movement gained momentum after several incidents that highlighted the negative consequences of religious suppression, including civil unrest in regions with significant minority religious communities. Drawing from Japan's tradition of syncretism, where Shinto, Buddhism, and Nestorian Christianity had coexisted, the dissenting faction within the government began to push for a relaxation of the strict state religion policies, resulting in the Edict of Religious Tolerance of 1896.
In the 20th century, Japanese imperialism reached new heights in China, as Japan moved to occupy Shandong and Jiangsu following the collapse of the Beiyang government. This expansion was facilitated by the political chaos in China during the Warlord Era, following the collapse of the Qing Dynasty and the inability of the Beiyang government to establish a stable and unified Chinese state. Japan's occupation of the Chinese coastal areas was driven by a desire to access resources, control strategic ports, and extend its influence on the Asian mainland, all while promoting a Pan-Asian ideology under Japanese leadership. With support from Mejico, the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (大東亜共栄圏; Dai Tôa Quiôeiquen; GEACPS) was founded in 1940, following the establishment of the Wu State, a Japanese protectorate based around the city of Zanhe, and the normalization of relations between Japan and the Philippines.
Japan's pursuit of regional dominance and economic growth saw the enhancement of zaibatsu power through state corporatism, fostering robust industries that propelled it into the ranks of global economic leaders. In the 1970s, Japan granted Shin Nihon its independence through the Cagoxima Accords. Nevertheless, the island nation continued to strengthen its geopolitical influence, particularly through close relations and ideological alignment with the Iberoamerican Commonwealth of Nations. This partnership proved instrumental during Japan's military support of the Philippine government in the 2017 Civil War, effectively quelling the insurgency and demonstrating Japan's strategic military capabilities and willingness to intervene to maintain order within its sphere of influence.