And the Story of Each One

by Fomalhaut16

Summary of the history of the countries. Because history is the story of their lives. One chapter per country. Historical Hetalia.

3. Nihon

Disclaimer: Neither Hetalia nor its characters belong to me. They are property of their author.

This is a 99% historical fanfic. This is basically a summary of the history of each country. If one wants to internalize more about certain topics, I recommend that each one study on their own. Today I bring you to Japan.

.

Clarifications:

I consider that Japan as we would know it begins in the Yayoi Period, so I started the story there. In turn, Japan represents what were the former Yamato Province and the culture received by the migrations of Korea and China.

-New Characters:

-Emishi: representation of the ancient peoples of northern Japan, descendants of the Jomon, the natives of the island before the migrations. I put him as Japan's brother.

.

I reiterate that this is a historical fanfic, that if one wants to know certain subjects with certainty you must study on your own.

Now yes, enjoy it.

---

日本 (Nihon / Japan)

Beginnings, the Yayoi Period:

The legendary island of Japan had been inhabited for thousands of years, and developing its inhabitants had their own characteristics, but it was not until a period called Yayoi (500 B.C-300 AD), that what is known as Japan was born.

At the beginning of that time, migrations from East Asia, China and Korea mainly, began to arrive to the island. Those inhabitants prior to the migrations were called the Jomon, but at the beginning of the Yayoi Period, everything changed. People began to implement the cultivation of rice and the use of metals, for tools, etc. Even the divisions of work began to take place and the first rulers and first subjects began to appear, these so-called chiefdom. It was the East Asian migrations and these advances on the island that gave birth to a very young nation, which would be called Japan.

But in these times, Japan was small and only represented a part of what he would be in the future. In those remote days, Japan represented everything that the so-called Yamato Province entailed at that time. The culture and society that began to take place in the province of Yamato were one of the bases of what would be known about the culture of Japan, and very soon the chiefdom would be replaced by another political system.

During this period there was the legend of Empress Jingu, who was said to have invaded Korea and returned victorious. But there is little and nothing of truth in this story because in those remote times, the child Japan was mainly cared for by Korea.

The chiefdom soon become aristocracies as things took shape in Japan.

In those days, little Japan was like every child, innocent, inexperienced and extremely amazed by the world that had seen him born.

In his early days, being the closest to him, Korea used to watch over Japan and left him full freedom for the child to develop on his own. It was because of this, that from his earliest beginnings, the boy Japan developed a strong, hard and stoic way, although in reality, he was always cared for and pampered like a prince by Korea and China, who saw him as their treasure that had to be taken care of.

At that time Japan was the Province of Yamato, as has already been said, and he only represented a culture that didn't cover the whole island. One that had begun to develop with the Asian migrations, however, in the north of the island, there were other peoples distinct from him. Japan was called Wa by China at the time, name that Japan himself used for him until the seventh century, since he didn't have a proper name yet, nor a national entity with which to name himself, and at that time, the little Japan saw China as a role model in everything.

Kofun period:

In the so-called Kofun period (300-552), in Japan the aristocracy began to become visible and proof of this were the great tombs where the aristocrats were buried with their weapons, and bronze mirrors; huge graves, as well as the pyramids of Egypt, shaped like a lock from above. In his childhood, Japan had all the autonomy he wanted and all the attention too. China and Korea were still looking at Japan with good eyes, and the young man admired them both. So much was his admiration that in the year 400 he sent Japanese infantry to Korea to aid one of his kingdoms, although he suffered defeat. Despite inexperience and youth, Japan was perseverant and learned from his mistakes, and was meticulous and observant. For a long time Japan was in close contact with Korea and China, since in some way he needed them, because of his youth, admiration and his desire to learn from them. Japan was nourished by Korea and China, without them he would most likely be death in his infancy or he would have been very different. The government of Yamato, and the so-called Five Kings of Wa, the five kings of Japan, maintained a relationship with China. It was in those remote times when Japan began to walk alongside China, listening attentively to his teachings, and generating in him a strong devotion to him.

Slowly, Japan developed alone but with influences from his older brothers, although he lacked much to create a great national and cultural identity, but he would succeed, and he would be unstoppable.

As for the political, the government of the Yamato court was focused on a Kimi ("king"), but from the fifth century the they were called Ōkimi ("great king"). The Tennō title ("emperor"), which was used until the posterity, was used from the mandate of the emperor Tenmu.

Asuka period:

In the year 552, Buddhism was introduced to Japan. And it generated turbulence in him. The young boy was surprised when he became acquainted with Buddhism, since it seemed very strange to his structure of thought. His older brother China was the one who introduced it to him and via Korea it came to Japan. Japan asked his brother where Buddhism came from, and China told him that from a nation in the West, one so wise that he had even been a teacher for China. This made young Japan very surprised. It was there when he began to become aware of the world and of all those places that he didn't know, because he was in a remote place. His brother China told him that, with the exception of India, the Western master nation of him, where Buddhism was born, he shouldn't worry about Westerners, because they were bored, and that he was in that remote place because he was privileged. With this Japan didn't care about the outside world and focused on his own problems and that of his neighbors. Even so, he held a great admiration for India, even though he didn't even know him and only knew about him through his brother.

By observing Buddhism well, it pleased him. It seemed positive to him that it was a unifying religion to a certain extent, since he knew well that any tradition or religion shared by many made him stronger by adopting some national entity, which was what young Japan was looking for at that time. To be able to develop and be able to live up to his brothers. And so, it was Buddhism soon settled in Japan as his religion, in parallel with Japan's own religion, Shinto's. Unlike Shinto's, which had lots of gods and demons, Buddhism didn't impose any gods and didm't seek the veneration of any deity. Despite their enormous differences, both religions coexisted well and neither appeased the other.

When Japan meditated for the first time, he had an unrepeatable and inexplicable experience. Put the mind in silence and deepen the emptiness made him think and realize that only in the emptiness things are born, only in silence there can be a word, only in darkness can light be born, only in chaos can born something new.

Japan started his own path, along with his brothers, but his own path. A path that would finish away from everything that was. When adopting Buddhism, Japan modified it a little under his form of being.

This in religious matters, and in politics:

Prince Shotoku, a relative and advisor to the current Empress Suiko, began a centralized government, and began a flourishing in Japanese culture. They began to build numerous temples, palaces, and capitals, based on the Chinese and Korean models, further strengthening the relationship of Japan with both. In early Japan, he saw them as role models, and soon he began to feel a different feeling for his brother China, who Japan believed was a woman. A feeling that was born red, but it would turn black.

Soon Japan began to implement the Chinese characters (the kanjis), obtaining great influences from his brother, and resulting in one of the oldest current writings. Soon, Japan implements codes of conduct and government ethics from China, adapting them to his own way of being and thinking. To further strengthen relations with China, Shotoku sent ambassadors to establish egalitarian diplomatic relations between Japan and China.

To the surprise of the latter, his younger brother grew quickly and his imposing and sharp gaze made him admire him. Soon Japan stopped being just a little brother. Japan already sought to be recognized, although in that period he did so through culture.

In the year 621, Prince Kume sent a campaign in Korea, accompanied by a huge and large army. This proved his great strength and progress. The young Japan didn't do this with proposes of frightening or intimidating, on the contrary, he just wanted to impress and be admired by his brothers. Although Korea didn't like it much, and China, although he smiled, he soon knew that Japan could present problems in the future. But China preferred not to believe that. He didn't really believe it. That army was what would be known as a samurai army.

During this period in Japan, he grew considerably, despite still being a child. The art in Japan flourished, mainly the Buddhist art, implanted mainly by the great prince Shotoku.

Hakuho period:

After the death of Prince Shotoku, in 621, Kotoktenno succeeded him, who began to reinforce the imperial power over the aristocracies, which formed family clans.

In this period arose a clan called Soga, which slowly monopolized political power and constituted a threat to the imperial government. Finally the situation became critical. The Clan Soga had monopolized public and imperial positions and possessed the biggest power. The young Japan saw this clan with suspicion and as an obstacle. What he wanted was to strengthen the imperial power, and that the political power wasn't at the hands of a single clan that would only stall him. Young Japan, despite his youth and good living situation, always knew what had to be done. By the time the situation didn't allow for more, Prince Naka no Oe, along with others and young Japan, planned a plot, called the Isshi Incident, which in Japan personally murdered the leader of the clan, in audience with the Empress, who shouted of horror. Stained with blood, and stained his fine clothes, Japan, along with the others began the extermination all the clan. In the eyes of Japan, this was good. Cruel was the life of the Eastern nation, and to carry it all, Japan built a code of morals and honor that in a certain way, helped to justify it.

The Clan Soga was destroyed, and the Empress abdicated. Her brother Kotoku, with Nakatomi no Kamatari and Prince Naka no Oe, drafted a series of laws called Taika Reforms in the year 646 in order to strengthen the central government establish an agrarian reform, restructure the imperial court according to the Chinese model, and even encouraged the sending of embassies and students to China in order to imitate cultural aspects of this country.

In addition to uniting the states in provinces and further unify the young Japan.

Japan from his youth was centered, and he had a clear image of what he wanted, and nothing and nobody would interpose. He wanted to be great, to be admired, he wanted China. He loved him because his admiration for him had changed. But cruel would be destiny for both. In those days, Japan still didn't hate his brother, and still didn't seek to be feared, he was still very young.

After the deaths of Emperor Kotoku, in 654, and of Empress Kogyoko, Prince Naka no Oe assumed the throne under the name of Emperor Tenji, who formally promulgated the first ritsuryō (compilation of laws based on Confucian philosophy and Chinese laws).

Nakatomi no Kamatari, who wrote these codes in Japanese, was rewarded by receiving the surname Fujiwara, and would become the founder of the Fujiwara clan. After the application of the ritsuryō, the old powerful clans were deprived of their privileges and became high-ranking bureaucrats, while the lower layers of the old elite became local officials.

The wars continued to happen in China and Korea. In the year 618 the Tang dynasty took power in China. The Japanese sent three expeditionary armies (in 661, 662 and 663) to aid one of the kingdoms of Korea. During these expeditions Japan suffered one of the worst defeats in his ancient history, losing 10,000 men and numerous ships and horses. This was the first real defeat of his life, and the first time he felt resentment against his beloved brother. A passing resentment, but one that would leave a shadow on him.

Japan began to worry about an invasion by the new alliance between Korea and China. In 670 he ordered to census the population to recruit elements for the army. In addition, the north coast of Kyūshū was fortified, guards were set up and crenels built on the shores of the Tsushima and Iki Islands.

The Japanese forgot the external war to the death of Emperor Tenji in the year 671. And Japan returned to normal because his brothers never invaded him.

In 672 two successors disputed the throne in the Jinshin War, where Japan observed what his destiny would be.

After the triumph of Emperor Tenmu in 684, he ordered that all civil and military officers should dominate the martial arts. That's when Japan looked for his brother China and asked him to teach martial arts for the first time. China was pleased, and trained Japan. Japan was good with bow and sword, but China taught him to move with agility, grace and flexibility. And he saw the perseverance and fury the fight that his brother could have. Japan learned fast, and took pride in China, who saw Japan as a blessing, but at the same time and watched carefully.

The successors of Emperor Tenmu culminated the work in the year 702, with the military reforms of the Taihō Code, through which a large and stable army was achieved according to the Chinese system. Each heishi (soldier) was assigned to a gundan (regiment) during a part of the year and the rest was devoted to agricultural tasks. Each soldier was equipped with bows, a quiver and a pair of swords. And Japan made himself felt even more.

Establishment and Justification of the Imperial System:

During the eighth century, the rulers of Yamato and Japan knew that to legitimize themselves as emperors with respect to the people and to be unquestionable, they needed a legendary and mythical history and story, which also contributed to a national identification that revolved around them. So it was that the legends of Shinto were established.

Shinto said that Japan had been created by the gods Izanagi and Izanami. According to legend, of these two would have been born the three major gods: Amaterasu (goddess of the sun and lady of the heavens), Susanoo (god of the oceans) and Tsukuyomi (god of darkness and the moon). The First Emperor of Japan, and his founder, was said to be the great-grandson of Amatarasu, goddess of the Sun, the greatest of Shinto's. With this mythical and legendary story, the emperors were more than legitimized since they supposedly came from a divine being, and so, taking bases in the histories of the Shinto, many of the national elements of Japan were taken from there. With this not only the emperors were legitimized but magnified and the main bases of Japanese nationalism were seated. And with this Japan found his name. He was not Wa. He knew what name he should take. He was Japan, the nation of the Rising Sun. The easternmost of all. And Japan believed his story, and really thought him great. He would not accept any other name. And when the sun came up, on top of Mount Fuji, so that all Western nations saw him, Japan said aloud: "Watashi wa taiyō no akarui namidadesu." * And everyone looked at him, but no one knew what he would entail his pride not even China, the one who loved him the most, who looked at him silently, without understanding.

And so the legends of Shinto, mixed with the interests of the elites. And although Japan knew it at first, he soon believed his own invention.

Nara period:

This period covers the year 710, where the capital of Japan is transferred to Heijō-kyō, near the city of Nara, until the year 794, where the capital is transferred to Heian-Kio (now Kyoto). It was in the Nara period, where the climax of Chinese influence in Japan came, and the climax of their relationship, forever. During this period Buddhism and Confucianism prospered, and China's influence became increasingly evident, having an effect on the literature compiled by the imperial court. Soon, thanks to the influences of China, literature flourished as never before in Japan, with Japanese poetry appearing for the first time in written language.

However, the Chinese system never finished fitting into Japan. And that was one of their first frictions. Soon, disputes between the imperial court, noble families and clans, and Buddhist monks began to occur. And a nobiliary plot wasn't long in coming. Soon, many nobles tried to seize power. Prince Nagaya seized the moment, but the sons of Fuhito Fujiwara arrested him and sentenced him to death in 729. Japan soon began to see himself in a noble war. And blood welled up from him. However, a few years later the children of Fuhito died after a smallpox epidemic, attributed to a curse that the prince launched before dying. And Japan was sick for this. The epidemic caused Emperor Shōmu to move to several cities that were declared ephemerally as capitals between 740 and 745, before returning to Nara. And Japan was in a period of confusion when he wanted was to flourish culturally even more.

After the abdication of Emperor Shōmu in 749, the Buddhist clergy took power with the support of Empress Kōken who, although abdicated in 758, continued to exercise power over the court, favoring an important Buddhist monk called Dōkyō. Japan hated them both, and soon he wanted to kill everyone so they would leave him in peace.

This caused that the Fujiwara clan and the emperor Junnin tried to make a coup, next to the young Japan in 764 that failed, causing the deposition of the emperor and the execution of Fujiwara no Nakamaro, leader of the conspiracy. The Empress resumed the throne with the name of Empress Shōtoku, continuing with the cession of power to Dōkyō, who even came to be named by an oracle as successor to emperor. However, the Empress died due to smallpox in 770, and Japan exiled Dōkyō and started a new course in politics by expelling Buddhist monks from the government and suspending government patronage to that religion. The measures propelled by the Emperor Kōnin (770-781) and Emperor Kanmu (781-806) finally caused the imperial court to leave Nara, considering it unhealthy and with the aim of disconnecting from the Buddhist temples that existed in the city. They moved first temporarily to Nagaoka-kyō in 784 and finally to the new capital Heian-Kio ("Capital of Peace and Tranquility") in 794.

Throughout this turbulent period, Japan reproached his brother for blaming him in a certain way for his problems, believing that the implementation of his systems generated disturbances in him. But China calmed his brother, and he hugged him, and Japan decided to forgive him. He allowed himself to be hugged. He vowed to conquer and love his brother, even if he didn't know what this meant to him.

With the birth of the Unified State of Silla (a kingdom of his brother Korea), the threat of a Korean invasion to Japan disappeared, so the Nara Court focused their attention on the emishi ("barbarians"), inhabitants of the north of Japan, with whom they had had numerous altercations.

As it was said, what is known and where the Japanese culture developed under the tutelage of China and Korea was the province of Yamato, which was the south and center of the island. But in the north, there were still other peoples, exempt from external influences. And with them Japan had problems, because he didn't want to understand anything that didn't resemble him. He didn't want to tolerate them, because they were different.

Emishi, personification of the emishi, was brother of Japan, or at least half brother. Emishi descended directly from Jomon, the natives of Japan before the migrations of Korea and China. Emishi recriminated Japan not wanting to meet his ancestor Jomon and worship his relatives on the continent, and said he was the barbarian for wanting to kill his brother just for being different, and resist being oppressed assimilated, culturalized and killed by that who thought he was better. But Japan did not listen to the truthfulness of Emishi, he only sought to possess him and preferred to believe his own truth. He didn't see Emishi as his brother, but soon whether or not his brother would not mind either. But he did now.

With disappointment at his brother's denial, Emishi and Japan had cruel battles. Where brother's blood was spilled.

In 774 an important revolt broke out, known like the war of the Thirty and Eight Years, where the emishi used a system of "war of partisan" and a sword of curved blade, that had better performance when it was mounted, unlike the sword straight from the army of the Nara Court. In this war, Japan began to desire an expansion towards the north, trying to appease the emishi, who fought against that one that was his brother for his liberty.

It was not until 796, through Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, when they finally managed to defeat Emishi. And Japan rose in victory. Sakanoue received from Japan the title of Seii Taishōgun ("Great Pacifier General of the Barbarians") that was a nice euphemism for assassin of free people.

Japan killed Emishi with a Katana in the stomach. Emishi looked at him sadly, but swore that something of him will always present in posterity. Emishi's blood was impregnated in the skin of Japan, and Emishi went to Japan forever

But Japan didn't care, increasingly took pride in himself and renegade with what seemed uncivilized and not according to his codes. Until soon he began to wish his brother China, to wish that he was his. Because he thought he deserved him.

Heian Period:

This period in Japan began in the year 794, with the establishment of the capital in what is now Kyoto. And it ends with the first shogunate: the Kamakura.

-Of the Aristocracy: during this period, the model of China was completely modified for the interests of Japan and theirs. Generating and transforming culture, generating their own characteristics. They soon stopped implementing the rigid Japanese codes of Taika and Taiho, much to his annoyance, and strengthened the imperial institutionalism, during the reign of Emperor Kanmu, flourishing in the Chinese style, for the taste of this one. But at the death of the emperor, everything changed forever between Japan, and his brother. In 806, Japan abruptly abandoned the cultural assimilation of his brother China. That came to claim him, but Japan coldly told him that he wanted to be separated from him, because he was beginning to believe that he would never become great if he only imitated him. He felt small and diminished when he was with his beloved brother, and he believed that the only way to become great was to stop following him in everything. China felt a deep sadness. He loved his brother. He had seen him grow up and he had created him too. But Japan was now cold and distant with him. He had his own interests. When Japan decided to cut ties with his brother forever, he didn't look at him, and long tears ran down his eyes. China agreed to leave and didn't return, but told him that he would always be for him. Japan still didn't hate China. He still loved him, wishing and admiring him. But he thought he should continue without him. In 838, relations between China and Japan were terminated. He was not a child anymore. He was a teenager who would seek his way away from his brothers. Moving away until even the feeling disappeared.

Soon, the Fujiwara Clan began a process of equalization of the superior hierarchies of the government, and from the 9th century, they established close marital ties with the royal family. They became regents and began to monopolize senior positions in the Council of State. Towards the end of the 11th century, the Fujiwara ruled Japan de facto, and forced the emperors who came to power to abdicate. Although all this didn't matter to Japan. He looked at the indifferent panorama, for he was satisfied. This advance of aristocracies without the influence of his brother, although it hurt, had made the Japanese culture become sophisticated, revolving around court life. In turn, the literature advanced considerably with the implementation of Kana, writing adjusted to Japan. Soon new literary genres were established, and numerous diaries, essays, personal writings were born, around the year 1000. All this made the Japanese culture show off even more, and Japan was proud to be able to develop without the influence of any of his brothers. Soon forgot the outside world.

As for the military, which still didn't give much importance to Japan, began to emerge what would be the samurai. With regard to the horse, the armor, etc. These military groups were responsible for the security of the cities as well as fight against the revolts, in short, they responded to the interests of the powerful people. As for the social, things were not going very well, and Japan was going through it, but more and more he spent more time with the nobles than with the people. Soon they began to privatize the lands under the power of the aristocrats or clans. The allocation of land was no longer in force and these were under the power of the nobles, and the peasants also.

-Of the Samurai: with this social decline, along with the famines and epidemics that hit Japan, who didn't feel well at that time, strikes and rebellions took place on the part of the peasants. The nobles, in order to maintain order, granted powers to warriors armed with Katanas, so that they could act as agents of repression and appeasement of these revolts. This is where the word samurai is first mentioned, meaning "those who serve".

Japan felt nothing for those hungry and deprived of their lands that had once been theirs. Japan became cold after spending too much time with the nobles, and his heart became sick from the famines and epidemics.

These repressive movements paid off in 935. Taira no Masakado began to generate disturbances in an area called Kanto, and although the court didn't give much importance, when his was proclaimed emperor, the court was alarmed. Therefore, the court ordered an army to repress and the rebellion was stifled. From that moment, military leaders began to define themselves as a local aristocracy in the places where they defeated. This was what samurai would be in the future.

Of the samurai clans that stood out the most were the Taira clan and the Minamoto clan. Soon began a rapid militarization in all areas, even in Buddhist temples monks carried weapons.

Minamoto no Yoriyoshi, a member of the Minamoto clan, was involved in a conflict called the Zenkunen War or the Nine Years' War. The conflict happened when, Abe no Yoritori, descendant of the emishi, and member of Clan Abe didn't give the taxes to the Court, reason why they sent Yoriyoshi to speak with him.

Japan craved deep down in a conflict with the Abe Clan, as he hated all those who descended from Emishi, and who remembered him. This hatred was new, since he began to idolize and begin to detest everyone who was not like him.

Yoriyoshi and Yoritori agreed to an arrangement, but the Clan Abe betrayed Yoritori by killing him because they wanted a conflict. Japan was happy with this. Soon, a war broke out between the Minamoto Clan and the Abe Clan, and Japan strongly supported the Minamoto clan, as he saw the Abe clan as a continuation of Emishi. In the war, Japan was losing a bit of himself, and soon he started his heart slowly darkening.

It was not until the year 1062, that Yoriyoshi and his son defeated the Abe clan, and Kurijagawa took the head of the leader to Kyoto as a sign of victory. Japan was happy with that.

Yoriyoshi's son, Yoshii, was named in this war Hachimantaro, which means Son of the God of War, due to his victories in battle.

The continuing economic and security decline led to the Fujiwara, Taira and Minamoto clans rivaling in the 10th century. Emperor Go-Sanjo soon left the Fujiwara clan out of administrative decisions. Soon, with the ritsuryō already abolished, the Insei was established, which caused all the emperors to abdicate and be puppets of the great clans, and it was so for three generations.

In this period Japan isolated himself and stopped thinking about what would happen outside. He also didn't know many, only his brothers, China and Korea, and he had heard from some others, but nothing more. Reason why to become self-absorbed was easy for him. He still loved his brother China. But that love with time was thinning.

In the year 1083, the Minamoto again found themselves in trouble in a war called the Three Years' War, caused by tensions between the Minamoto and Kiyowara clans. The Court in this conflict refused to support the Minamoto clan, who when coming out victorious from the conflict went in search of their reward, and only demanded the taxes back. Japan didn't like this attitude of the Court, but he didn't say anything. In parallel, the Taira Clan was going through a good time with the support of the Court, which caused the Minamoto Clan and the Taira Clan to begin a dangerous distancing. In 1150, taking advantage of the death of Emperor Toba, the clans clashed and fought openly. This was called the Hogen Rebellion.

Minamoto not Yoshitomo betrayed his family and allied with Taira no Kiyomori. The battle was brief. The leader of the Minamoto was executed and his son exiled. The Fujiwara were completely removed from power. And the dominant clans remained the Taira and the Minamoto. In 1159, another confrontation occurred known like Heiji Rebellion, in where Yoshitomo faced Kiyomori. The victory of the Taira clan made that the members of the Minamoto clan were all killed and the few that remained were also killed in time. In 1167, the emperor appointed Kiyomori Grand Minister, which made him the first de facto military governor of Japan. Establishing for the first time the Samurai class, this would be part of Japan forever. Due to the power it exercised, the emperor Go-Shirakawa tried, in vain, a coup d'état. For this reason he was exiled and Kiyomori deposed his grandson to the throne, who ascended in 1180. This provoked the wrath of the opponents to the hegemony of the Taira clan, which initiated the so-called Genpei War.

-Genpei War:

Japan had no wars of that magnitude since he had fought against Emishi, and over time, wars for power became increasingly frequent. Japan began to forget the life he had led before, and war was the only thing that occupied his mind. Japan was beginning to be shaped by blood and fire. But he still didn't completely change his heart.

The Genpei wars, were one of these conflicts, happened between the most powerful clans of Japan: the Taira and the Minamoto, between 1180 and 1185. Although Japan only observed it from afar. He didn't take sides, he only hoped for the best for himself.

In 1180, two independent revolutions broke out by different members of the Minamoto Clan. They were Yorisama and Yoritomo. Both rebellions were easily suppressed. Yoritomo was forced to flee to Kanto and Yorisama made Seppuku (suicide, honorable way of dying, according to Japanese traditions), before being captured, in the Battle of Uji.

There were some fluctuations and conflicts among the clans for some time, but in 1183 the Taira decided to face Minamoto no Yoshinaka so that he would not come to Yoritomo's help. Even so, Yoshinaka defeated the Taira at the Battle of Kurikara and enlisted his army with the help of Yoritomo, who met at the Second Battle of Uji, in 1184. Yoshinaka lost the battle and tried to flee, but was attacked and beheaded. With this, the Minamoto focused their efforts on defeating their main enemies: the Taira.

Indifferent to the nobiliary wars, Japan met what would be known as Lady Shizuka Gozen, one of the most famous women in Japanese history and literature. Japan loved her works and could spend hours with her. Great was the influence and impact that she had on him and for posterity, because Japan kept her in his heart. The image of her under the blossoming Sakura (cherry trees), was an image that Japan could never get out of his head. But he cannot do anything for her. Apparently, power and war began to matter more to Japan than anything else, even if one's heart cooled with indifference.

Yoshitsune, Yoritomo's younger brother, led an army in his name and finally, in the battle of Dan no Ura, the Minamoto rose in victory.

Yoritomo soon began to see his brother as a threat and a rival, and ordered his pursuit. Finally in the battle of Koromogawa, in 1189, he finally committed suicide.

Japan was outraged at the outcome of the war, and didn't like Yoritomo, who had sent to kill Lady Shizuka, but Japan learned that sometimes he didn't matter if he liked things or not, if they benefited he would accept them over the ones he had loved.

-Kamakura period:

In 1192, Yoritomo, self-proclaimed Shogun, military title of great prestige and importance, he established the first Shogunate (a kind of feudal system or dukedoms), which lasted at least 700 years later. With this important figure, the emperor became definitely a mere spectator in the political and economic life of the country, while the samurai would go to govern the country de facto. And Japan for the first time left his fine clothes and dressed as a samurai. He had accepted this, and soon Japan would forget everything and only understand the struggle.

Yoritomo, now with the acceptance of Japan, established the coastal town of Kamakura, which would be the center of the Shogunate. Here begins the samurai period of Japan, who forgot art and culture only because of his new attraction to the katana.

Soon, the Imperial Court granted the shogunate the power to appoint their own vassals as state and provincial protectors and administrators. In parallel, the Imperial Court continued appointing provincial officers and owners of private property and administrators, so that Japan's policy became ambiguous, as there was a civil administration by the Imperial Court and a feudal administration by the shogunate.

After three generations, the shogunate was left without heirs. So the widowed wife of Yoritomo decided to raise a child of the Fujiwara clan, and name him shogun. But he was just a puppet of Clan Hojo, the clan of Yoritomo's wife. The Hojo Clan became powerful in this period and they came to control the policy of Japan. For this reason, in 1219, Emperor Go-Toba, seeking the ancient power that the emperors possessed, blamed the Hojo clan for outlaws to illegitimate them. The imperial troops soon mobilized and the Jokyu War (1219-1221) arose, which ended in the Third Battle of Uji. The imperial army was defeated, and the emperor exiled. And the government by the samurai was confirmed over the country. Japan was proud of this, because each time more he felt admiration for the warriors than for the cultures of his brothers.

Conflicts soon arose between the samurai, imperial aristocrats, and peasants, so the Clan Hojo dictated the Goseibai Shikimoku code, which served as the legal code in the shogunate, which in turn modified the military customs with precise and concise slogans, in comparison with Confucianism Chinese applied in court. Japan when more militarized became, more stubborn also became. And more reluctant to continue using the methods of his brother, by whom his admiration was fading.

In the literature of the time, you can see the conflict in Japan and the chaos in which he was submerged.

In the religious aspect, there was a popularization of Buddhism, and many sects of it emerged, most banned in a short time, and so Zen Buddhism was born, Japanese Buddhism. The hardest and most strict branch of Buddhism.

-Mongolian invasions to Japan:

For a long time, Japan had become self-absorbed and almost forgotten the outside world, but soon he would have to look outside and face the West.

In the year 1274, Japan heard shouts of wars and drums in the distance and without ever expecting it; Japan was invaded by the Mongols. Soon, Japan had to measure up to Mongol, cousin of China, who was much, more expert in war than Japan himself. Soon Japan knew that little could be done against a completely different battle system than he knew and could do nothing under the rain of arrows of the Mongols, and less before the guns of fire. When he confronted Mongolia, he introduced himself and told him that he would have no mercy with him, whom he called the pampered twin of China, a comment that annoyed Japan, and he never forgot it. Japan, with desperation, escaped almost crawling as he had several arrows stuck in him. Japan would have continued invaded had it not been for a storm that devastated the Mongolian fleet, who returned to Korea to replenish.

When they left, Japan was paranoid and traumatized, so he ordered to fortify the coasts in case the Mongols returned. And yes, they returned. In 1281, a second invasion occurred. The samurais faced with rafts to the Mongols so that these didn't enter on earth, whereas Japan, impotent and terrified, ran to a Shinto temple to ask to the goddess Amaterasu that interceded for them.

And a typhoon devastated the fleet of Mongols, who the few who remained fled. The Japanese celebrated this and the legend of the Kamikaze (Divine Wind) was born, and Japan was filled with pride, considering himself chosen among the gods.

Japan then knew two things: the horrible feeling of being invaded, and that he wanted to do it someday. And Japan's mind and heart darkened even more, and another part of his soul was lost.

-Kenmu Restoration:

At the beginning of the 14th century, the Hojo clan was in decline, and was facing a possible imperial restoration by Emperor Go-Daigo. To prevent it, the Hojo sent an army but the emperor escaped, with imperial insignia with him. The emperor sought refuge with the armed monks, who received him with good pleasure and prepared for some attack.

After failed attempts of the Hojo for the emperor to abdicate, they decided to put another emperor but could not perform the ceremony due to lack of royal insignia.

Kusunoki Masashige, who would be the model for the samurai in the future, decided to fight for the emperor, and from a castle fortified on a mountain, he resisted the attacks of the Hojo clan. Finally the castle fell silent in 1332, and Masashige fled to fight later. The emperor was captured and taken to Kyoto, given by the Hojo, and exiled to the Island of Oki. The Hojo tried in vain to become Masashige's army, who fortified another castle. The persistence of this made the emperor return. Upon learning of this, the Hojo sent one of their generals, Ashikaga Takauji, for him. But he saw more benefit in an alliance with the emperor, and betrayed the Hojos. In 1333, they were also betrayed by Nitta Yoshisada, who joined the emperor, and his army went to Kamakura and finally defeated the Hojos. And Japan saw the cherry blossoms fall.

-Muromachi period:

After helping the Emperor Go-Daigo to regain the throne, Ashikaga expected a greater reward than he felt received and, taking advantage of the dissatisfaction of the samurai with respect to the new government, decided to rebel.

The Ashikaga clan descended from the Minamoto clan, so they felt entitled to power. Because of this, the emperor quickly mobilized an army against Takauji, but that one emerged victorious in 1336. Desperate, the emperor ordered Masashige to confront Takauji troops, but again he was victorious. After this, Masashige committed Seppuku. At that time Takauji named his son Emperor and Emperor Go-Daigo escaped to the south. From there, two courts began to exist, the Court of the South and the Court of the North. The south court of the emperor and the north court of the Ashikaga shogunate. It was not until 1392 that, thanks to the diplomatic skills of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu that both lineages were reconciled and the southern court ceased to exist.

This division in Japan led to the loss of effective power over politics. The Ashikaga shogunate stood as the central government, but it was weak compared to the Kamakura shogunate. This made the temporary protectors no longer simple officers, as they had organized local samurai and armies based on the ideas of lord and vassal, becoming feudal lords of independent command over respective places. This class was called Daimyo (Great Surnames).

-Sengoku period:

This period, which literally means the "era of the Warring States", finished sealing the mentality and growth of Japan forever.

The conflict originated when a controversy over who should be invested with the title of shogun, after the withdrawal of, until then, shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa. In 1464, Yoshimasa had no heirs. He persuaded his younger brother, Ashikaga Yoshimi, to abandon the monk's life, and that is how Yoshimi was named heir of his brother. In 1465, the unsuspected birth of a son of Yoshimasa put the previous plans in doubt. The little one, Yoshihisa, caused friction between the two brothers. Yamana took this as an opportunity to oppose Hosokawa, in addition to supporting the boy as heir to the shogunate. Hosokawa, who had always worked closely with Yoshimi, supported him as the successor of Ashikaga Yoshimasa. The war broke out in the city of Heian-kyō. This was considered by the shogun Ashikaga as an act of rebellion, and thus it was that the Ashikaga and their supporters were forced to fight this uprising. The Ashikaga tried to prevent the outbreak of war on the next heir, but the situation escalated into a war that would designate the leader of the victorious faction as the next shogun. By 1467, uncertainty had caused division among the warring clans, and the successor dispute served as a pretext for what would be an all-out struggle for military supremacy. In the end there was no clear winner. The complex network of features made them simply fight each other to exhaustion. This period had internal wars, like the Onin War. And it also had other issues that angered Japan which were: In 1510 an incident occurred in Korea that marked for Japan the beginning of a new period of isolation. Some Japanese who marketed in the ports of Pusan, Chefo and Yonfo rebelled against the local authorities and had to retire to Japan, after losing two hundred and ninety-five of their own. With this the relations between the two countries were cut off. In 1512 the first cases of syphilis were registered in Japan, a disease that was called "Chinese morbid".

And for 101 years (1467-1568) Japan fought. He had become accustomed a bit since the last wars, but in the Sengoku period, Japan knew a truth that he should not forget. Wars are not for nobility, nor for peace, nor for ideals. They are for interests. For the interests of the powerful people. And soon felt disgust. How much they had died in all their wars. And how many would die in the coming wars. How many people that maybe didn't even know why they were fighting, and they would not be rewarded. And Japan saw the truth in front his eyes. And he felt a deep pain. Between the blood, the cries of wars, and the infinite pain, Japan could only ask why. Why they fought? Why man, who had the privilege of being born in that world, with respect to the biggest of the universe, why they kill each other? It had not always been like that. Japan knew it. Bu he didn't understand anything else, and knew that everyone would be tied to Samsara, the wheel of suffering, until the Men didn't realize what was forgot.

And Japan only fought without reasons, and with the blood it stained in the hands and in the face. That was his cruel and sad baptism. He was an adult already, and he lamented the cruel destiny of men and him, that he was created by them. But Japan forgot this, and was filled with hatred. A poisonous and angry hatred. And when the sun came out again in Japan, he was no longer the same. He had completely transformed. And soon his world would change forever. Japan would crash with a hard wall that would define his destiny.

-Japan and the West:

In these periods, Japan tried to occupy his mind in something other than war, because he knew how insane it was, and culture began to flourish. There were transformations in architecture, painting, singing and poetry. In addition, it happened that, after centuries China returned timidly to appear before him. Japan was very different from that time when he was with his brother, and all that admiration and love he had felt for his older brother had almost disappeared. Japan bothered to see China there, but tried to force himself to try to love him again. He never made it.

The trade with China resumed a bit, and China, in vain, tried to calm the pain and anger of his brother, who really tried to love his brother returned, but when he tried it more, more anger felt for him.

Yoshisama promoted Zen Buddhism, and the ideology of "the beauty of imperfection" was born, which greatly influenced Japan and could anesthetize his post-war feelings a bit. From there was born a phrase with which they referred to Japan, as "the perverse beast that only delights with delicate and tender things". And soon the artistic expressions of the tea ceremony, and the Ikebana (flower arrangements) were born.

But what would change the most would impact Japan: The first time the West reached his shores.

When Japan saw the ships, he knew that something strange happens. Japan and theirs went to inspect who came to their shores and that's when Japan first saw the West. And he would never forget it. There, Japan met Portugal and his brother Spain.

When he saw them, he knew it, and he didn't know what to do. These two western nations seemed strange to them, although these were more concentrated in seeing impressed around than in him. When Japan spoke, Portugal spoke cordially, and Spain just looked around. Japan received them warmly and let them stay under conditions and surveillance, because Japan was not stupid, and wanted to know the Westerners and their goals, as well as their distant world. Spain didn't take long to inspect the place and talk to the villagers, while Portugal decided to meet Japan. Portugal brought a globe to Japan, and asked him if he knew that the earth was round. Japan obviously knew it. Who didn't know? Portugal was surprised, and told him that people in the West believed it was flat. Japan there knew that Westerners were suceptible to ignorance. Portugal actively spoke to him about his world and their histories and political forms, and even though Japan pretended to be interested and surprised, he considered Europeans barbarians, as well as smelling rather badly. On the other hand, the Europeans considered Japan complex and intriguing. Japan knew there that what his brother China had said was true, Westerners were quite simple and short-minded, but he was curious about them and let them be in their lands for a while. But everything would change. Soon Japan and the shogunate began to see that these Europeans began to preach a religion called Christianity, and that this religion began to spread rapidly, even great Daimyos had become. This to Japan didn't like at all, and finally knew the goal of these Europeans who had come to him. What they wanted was a European conquest through that religion, because if people thought like them, everything was already served. And Japan would never let himself be invaded and conquered by anyone, and less ideologically. Soon, Japan faced Portugal and his brother Spain. Facing them, he told them to leave and never to return. Portugal tried to talk to him, but Japan refused, curtly, saying: "Watashi wa sudeni gaikoku no shūkyō or ukeirete imasu. Watashi wa mōichido sore or shimasen. Watashi wa shūkyō not baishunpude wa arimasen. "* Finally, Spain, who was the king of the world at this time, went to battle along with his brother, but Japan was better than the two of them together. And Portugal finally agreed to leave, taking his brother, but they never forgot him and Japan didn't forget either. Japan ordered the daimios to leave Christianity and sent to kill any Jesuit, and all the converted peasants. Soon, Christianity was forbidden and the entry of any European. Japan began to isolate himself paranoically, but with reason.

But he was not a fool; he knew anyway that he should be aware of what was happening in the world and what they were planning in the West so he let only one keep in touch with him. He chose Holland, because he was concise and direct, and he didn't matter to lower religious line, he only mattered to market and juts that. Therefore, he was with the only Westerner with whom Japan got along. Also, he accept the trade with his brother China. And only with these two Japan had contact in a long time.

-Azuchi-Monoyama period:

Internally, feudal conflicts continued. But Japan saw them as decisive for him, and he acted actively in them. Not caring about the blood spilled. Without impoverishing the suffering.

This period is characterized by a complete territorial unification of Japan and the Japanese invasions of Korea, highlighting three great figures: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

In 1551 the young Oda Nobunaga inherited the family feud, carried out a series of fortunate alliances, among which the one sealed with the neighboring clan of the Tokugawa, lords of Mikawa, stands out. Since Nobunaga in 1560 defeated Imagawa Yoshimoto, Lord of Suruga, his conquests and victories became unstoppable, which allowed him to advance towards Kyôto, the city he entered in 1568, deposing the shogun Ashikaga Yoshihide and then restoring the position of the Imperial House, whose situation had been very precarious. Five years after his entry into Kyôto, in 1573, Oda Nobunaga ended the Ashikaga Shogunate by deposing his last shogun, Yoshiaki, and declared himself dainagon (imperial advisor), opening the Azuchi-Monoyama transition period, which is named after him of the castles of the great lords of the time: Nobunaga (castle of Azuchi) and Hideyoshi (castle of Fushimi-Momoyama).

Oda Nobunaga was implacable with his enemies, including the Buddhist temples, which were neutralized throughout the decade of 1570. Among the opponents of Nobunaga was the Takeda clan, whose cavalry, which enjoyed the greatest prestige, suffered a crushing defeat in 1575 at the Battle of Nagashino, being unable to cope with the controlled discharges of the 3000 Nobunaga harquebusiers, which would highlight the innovative skills of this brilliant military.

As a result of his campaigns, in about thirty years, Oda Nobunaga managed to dominate a third of the main island of Honshû, including the most important provinces from the economic and political point of view. The only territories that escaped his control were the domains of the Môri and Hojo clans.

To ensure the submission of all the feudal lords Oda proceeded to take a series of measures: in addition to granting his most faithful vassals the most important strategic provinces, he decided to reassign fiefs to separate all the lords of their respective traditional domains in the that they had potentially dangerous links; issued the edict "Only castle in a district", by which only each lord was allowed possession of a castle in each territory; finally, the "Weapons requisition Law", as its name suggests, was intended to limit the arms capacity of his opponents.

Japan planned to be in "good shape" internally, expand and have internal stability and balance, so that he could see what happened outside with more tranquility.

Oda Nobunaga was very inclined to boost the economy, for which he imposed cadastral censuses (without making exception neither with the nobles nor with the monasteries), stabilized and sanitized the currency (although it didn't manage to coin a new single currency), dictated a series of liberalizing reforms (such as the abolition of customs and trade union privileges to stimulate trade and crafts) and promoted the promotion of interregional trade (for which communications were also improved).

Japan at that time, with Chinese trade, already possessed the first firearms, and greatly desired a territorial expansion and unification, paranoid with the stories that reached the ears of the great Westerns nations.

For more than he tried to isolate himself from the world, after all, what made him more aware of it than ever.

When Japan had been completely unified thanks to Hideyoshi, a completely violent process, he soon filled with the desire for expansion and with a tremendous thirst, he decided to invade and conquer Korea.

This fact surprised China and Korea, and the latter cannot believe, since he had raised Japan when he was very young. But Japan had been corrupted and with a smile full of ambition invaded Korea. The first time that the Nation of the Sun attacked his brothers directly and with the intention of conquering. At first Japan won victories and he could get to conquer Seoul, but soon began to have a resounding defeats. Finally, in the Battle of Hansand, Korea and his admiral, Yi-Sun-Sin, definitely defeated Japan. Korea beat him up so he will not forget it. And Japan felt really bad. In addition, China, annoyed by the attitude of his brother, had sent troops to help Korea, in reprimand to Japan. When Japan lost he was scolded by his brothers. Korea was angered by all the deaths and all the ravages that the war had caused, but even so China decided to forgive Japan for considering all this a passing whim. Japan really regretted, living in the flesh the cruelty of that, but soon felt a deep shame to be forgiven. It was something that didn't fit with his moral code, and soon, he decided to invade Korea once more, in 1596 and began his expedition in 1597, but Korea would not let him and again Japan was defeated, who returned and didn't do it again. But that desire born of shame lasted in him. This is how the Japanese troops withdrew from Korea, thus putting an end to the suffering and great hardships that these wars brought to the three countries involved.

In 1598 Toyotomi Hideyoshi died, leaving the power to his son Hideyori, a young child, whose tutoring was entrusted to Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was in charge of the Council of the Five Elders. This circumstance didn't prevent the unleashing of a bitter struggle for power that pitted the eastern side of Tokugawa against the western side, supporter of Toyotomi. The civil war was settled on October 21, 1600 at the Battle of Sekigahara, one of the most devastating battles of the century. The result of the battle, which began at dawn the day wrapped in a thick fog that prevented the use of the Tokugawa artillery, was not clear until the daimyô Kobayakawa Hideaki was transferred to the side of Ieyasu. With this decisive victory, Tokugawa didn't have great problems to force his appointment like new Shogun by the emperor Goyôzei in 1603 and to crush to the rest of opponents. Nothing managed the rebellion of Toyotomi Hideyori in 1614, stationed in the castle of Osaka. The revolt would end a year later, after the Battle of Tennoji, and would be the true beginning of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Finally, Japan rose up powerful and asserted, at the cost of thousands of innocent lives and bloodshed. The nations are raised by massacres and exterminations, by domination and blood, once it was said. And it was true.

-Edo period and Sakoku, the isolation of Japan:

This period covered the year 1603 to 1868, having as its axis the shogunate of Tokugawa, the third and last shogunate in the history of Japan.

Ieyasu was appointed by the Emperor Go-Yozei shogun, and then abdicated to benefit his son. Soon the problem of Toyotomi Hideyori, son of Hideyoshi arose, since some supporters assured that he was the legitimate successor of the government and many samurais and rōnin (samurais deserters) allied themselves with him with the purpose of fighting the shogunato. This is why the Siege of Osaka took place. There was a second siege to Osaka in winter, and a third in summer, since Hideyori's forces refused to leave. But all this has no real importance in the history that was about to unfold.

The unification that occurred during the Azuchi-Monoyama period, made Japan had become more peaceful and new social structures developed: the samurai ruling class, farmers and citizens (artisans, merchants, merchants), and soon the production of gold and silver made life in urban social classes more "stable" and each population developed their own vocational skills. The samurai class was organized and developed an efficient administrative and legal system, and progress was made in the fields of erudition. In the seventeenth century, rice production had doubled and crop cultivation spread to the market. Industrial development rose to a prosperous level in the cities and soon the purchasing power of the merchants surpassed that of the samurai.

-Of Sakoku: on the other hand, Japan started a strict isolation because of his aversion to Westerners and because he didn't want to respond to anyone's interests that weren't his own. Christianity ended up disappearing in Japan and the entry of foreigners was punishable by death. Only with his brother China and Holland did he maintain contact. Japan asked his brother to tell him things about Westerners, and China told him that they were gross, barbarous and uneducated, and that only one came to love, the Da Quin (Roman Empire). Japan believed in his words, but one night, when resting next to his brother, the moonlight made a Chinese hair shine. Carefully, Japan took the hair and with horror, saw that it was blond hair. And he knew it. His brother had had intimate contact with some of the Westerners and now a part of him had something Western. Soon, Japan began silently to untangle his brother's clothes, and with regret confirmed his obvious suspicions. His brother was a man. Japan felt betrayed by his brother and reprimanded him for his golden hair. China didn't understand the attitude of Japan, and didn't give importance. But Japan, along with all his accumulated grudges, ended up hating him brother forever. Love finally transformed into suspicion. And he was never the same again. Suddenly, Japan swore some day to subjugate his brother, only for a pain of his own.

The Tokugawa shogunate established a strict class system, while it ruled directly from the city of Edo (present-day Tokyo) being a military and political ceded, while the daimyo ruled their fiefs. At the end of the war periods, many samurai had to become peasants or vassals of the daimyo. The peasants were forced to live in the fields or near the daimios while the samurai, the merchants, craftsmen, and merchants in the cities. The imperial court lived privileged and the daimios had to pay double tax for their two residences, in the fiefs and in the cities.

Soon Japan began to take timidly the Western techniques that Holland brought him. And soon medicine, geography, astronomy, art, natural sciences, language, physics, and western mechanics came to Japan. In 1720, Japan allowed the entry of Western books and allowed their translation, after much insistence of Holland. Dr. Philip Franz von Siebold, with the permission of the shogunate, taught medicine in Japan, being the first.

Holland had become a great adviser and even a friend to Japan, who was advised and told what was happening in the outside world. However, Japan didn't always want to listen to Holland, who always insisted him to openness to the world.

Japan always saw him as a friend but Holland could, at some point, come to feel something else for him, and that's why he liked the idea of mixed marriages, although this was forbidden by Japan. Even so, Japan appreciated the Dutch company, with whom he talked about many things. Even Holland once asked him if he had ever fallen in love with anyone, to whom Japan, without looking at him, said: "Watashi wa tada ichido koi ni ochimashita. Ichidodake Kamisama, sore wa iyana kotodeshita. "*

Holland didn't respond.

Ideologically, there was the popularization of neo-Confucianism, and rationalist and humanist thoughts appeared. These expressions made the samurai will show interest in Japanese history, the cultivation of the arts, and bushido was born, the way of the warrior. As a consequence of these new expressions, the Genroku culture flourished. Culture of the entertainment of the middle classes, where Japanese theater and female geishas flourished. Originally, the geishas had emerged in the thirteenth century, and they were all men. It was common and more common homosexuality, which was considered an act of virility. More than once Japan disguised as Geisha to kill some other man that was entrusted to him. But at this time, geishas became women.

-Breakdown of Japan Isolation:

Soon intellectual groups began to emerge and to protest about the policies of the shogunate on the isolation since they knew their consequences. In addition numerous famines began to arise, added to the eruption of Mount Fuji, among other road issues, and made the stability of Japan begin to break.

Oshio Hechachiro, a samurai, begged the shogunate to feed the hungry. After the denial, he organized an uprising of intellectuals, commoners and peasants against the indifferent shogunate, known as the Revolt of 1837. Government troops stifled the rebellion, and Japan began to glimpse his cruel fate.

At the same time, Western nations began to press him even more. In 1804, Japan met the imposing Russian Empire with his insane look, and, ignoring the dangerous Russian, refused to negotiate with him his opening. Japan resisted, in spite of Holland.

In 1808, he met England, of whom he had heard enough, he was the one who bothered his brother China. England tried to open him, but the result was the same. Soon, the more they pressed him the more he refused.

In 1837, American ships approached his coasts, and panicked, Japan ordered to sink the ships with cannon fire.

He continued to be pressured by British and American whaling ships, but he still refused to even think about it.

And finally he knew that his fate was sealed when he learned of his brother's defeat in the Opium Wars. He knew that he was condemned. When Holland left, Japan didn't know that from that moment his life would change for posterity. And finally it happened.

On a morning in 1853, Japan visualized what it called the Black Ships. And finally he met the United States. When he disembarked, he wore a stupid and forced smile that worried him. Without telling him anything, he handed him a letter, and when he read it, Japan felt that every bone in his body were breaking. If he didn't open, Edo would be besieged, and he would suffer an imminent invasion and a first-base killing. When Japan looked up, that young nation with a childish face was still smiling like nothing. "Was it clear to you?" He finally told him, and Japan felt cornered, with no way out, and defeated. How easy it had been for that nation. That one, especially him, would change everything. Japan hated him greatly from that moment. And without more, with all the resignation of the world, Japan had to give in. And that's how Japan was launched against the world.

From that moment on, there was instability in the shogunate and in Japan himself. Soon uprisings against the foreign invasion arose. And strong was the impact that Japan had, when modernization ran up against the old. So strong was the change, how big were the conflicts he suffered after that.

As soon as he was opened, that young nation called the United States took him to England, which apparently was the great head of everything at that time. England approached Japan pleased, and told him not to hold a grudge, he just wanted to be friends from that moment. But Japan listened to those warm words, and knew that if he didn't, he would suffer the consequences. And he suffered them. Japan questioned England, and said he would surrender if he told him what had happened to his brother. Since China had lost the Opium Wars he had not seen or heard anything again, and he knew that England had him. The question bothered England, as Japan supposed.

As soon as he was opened, the instability broke out. Japan from the beginning resisted enough to consent to foreigners, and only agreed to have a business relationship, but refused to let them enter in his land, thing they disliked, but then they would. In 1859, the ports of Japan opened. Increasingly, anti-foreign sentiment was professed in Japan, and the situation became more destabilizing. As Japan was still reluctant to those three nations that had settled in his house, he soon received the message. France bombed Shimonoseki with its ships, England bombed Kagoshima. The medium was the message. And Japan was filled with despair and fear. Soon the Rebellion of Myth occurred, using the anti-foreigner slogan "Reverence to the Emperor, expel the barbarians". And more internal conflicts occurred. Japan was in a critical situation, which didn't know how he would unravel, but wanted the foreigners to leave him alone. It would never happen. Soon, Japan saw France, England and the United States armed walking towards him, and the United States, now without his smile, told him that they would calm things internally, and without permission, they entered in Japan. France, England and the United States repressed and massacred the dissidents. Japan saw the blood of his people spilled, and he felt full of anger, anguish, and sadness. Finally he gave up, it was inevitable. It was inevitable for that process, and finally he lowered his head to the Westerners, he had lost. They had won him. But he was a warrior, he should not forget, and he would fight.

-Boshin War: this was a civil war caused by many issues. The terrible cult shock that had occurred kept the samurai restless; the new confrontation between an imperial restoration and the decadent shogunate for the control of Japan was present, and the third, everything was armed by the Westerners. France and England used as an excuse their typical rivalries and began to finance the different sides, all with the real objective of weakening Japan, and that this one needed them. Finally Japan cried with indignation. Cruel and evil was the war, which left Japan tired and emotionally broken. Obliged to see, forced to accept it. And it was particular, because a part of him was killed in that war. With the outcome of the war, the shogunate fell silent and the imperial restoration arose, conveniently for the Westerners, and a part of him died forever. A part that he would miss, but could never bring back.

-Meiji Period:

Now Japan was more than demoralized. Suddenly he saw Holland, who gave him a sad and reproachful look. He had warned him. And the situation was not the same with Holland either. With whom Japan spent a lot of time was with England, who was enthusiastic about explaining what he should, making treaties with him, and throwing him into the game. Soon, Japan began an accelerated period of modernization: telegraph cables were laid in the main cities and railway tracks, shipyards, ammunition factories, as well as textile plants were built. All these modernizing measures eventually led the country to become the first Asian industrialized country. He had to become accustomed to Western customs and even adopt his calendar. The calendar that Japan used before the Western arrival was the Moon´s Calendar. For a long time he was silent, because the process still seemed painful to him in every way and a tearing sadness lashed him.

In this period, national identity was strengthened, swearing around the emperor, whom Japan saw almost as a stranger.

-Satsuma Rebellion: this was the last great rebellion in Japan. The last time a samurai brandished a katana, and the last time Japan shed a tear for them. Because he had stopped being one. The rebellion, headed by Saigô Takamori (considered the last authentic samurai), did not really want to be a war against the government, but to make the latter reflect on the policy that was being carried out. The forces of Saigô Takamori, consisting basically of samurai from the area of Kagoshima and Kumamoto, were crushed by the conscripted troops of the new Japanese army, largely because they were mistakenly considered as low quality and not very combative by the samurai forces. The war lasted about eight months and was very bloody, with thousands of deaths on each side, and it did not end until the total extinction of the rebel forces, which killed the last man (literally) in a final suicide charge, katana in hand, against the machine guns of the imperial army. Japan saw them die one by one, and he wanted to die too but he would not. Western culture had killed his old culture. He had killed something of him. Suddenly, hatred arose from him. He closed his eyes and told himself that if they wanted him so much, he would be. And he would rise bigger than them even. He would not forgive any life, and everyone would regret what they did to him. He was a prince, after all. And the nation of the rising sun opened his eyes. No, the Empire of the Sun

And they would always fear him.

-The Empire of Japan, Japanese Expansionism:

Now that he had finally agreed to modernize and adapt to the rules of the Western world, he had left out many things, and had begun to assimilate others. Soon he formed a representative government, establishing a constitutional system similar to the English system, as his personal adviser during his transition. England wished to have Japan close because he knew that he was strong and fast, soon he would become a power and would not let him not be of his allies, so England would enjoy taking advantage of having him as an ally, which was all about. Japan knew it.

Japan had allowed the little that was left of his soul to be consumed in order to do so, not to have anything that hindered him in his new plans. Still, Japan didn't let everything Westernize. When it was proposed to replace the Kanji alphabet with the Latin alphabet, Japan forbade it. He would not let everything that was him be erased by the disrespectful desires of Western culture. Japan was smart and clever, and knew that he would do well in the game, despite being new. And he would be noticed. The personality of Japan became darker and perverse than it had ever been, because in Occidentalism all this is aggravated. And soon, his old whims of conquest became real desires, and soon he looked at his brothers with dangerous eyes.

-First Sino-Japanese War:

Japan quickly industrialized and modernized like no other country in Asia, and soon, seeing that the Europeans had a network of colonies around the world and the main disputes were over them, (since the powerful countries generated their industries from the colonies), Japan knew that he should do the same to not be left behind.

His gaze didn't take a second to look at Korea. Korea had been a dream for him for a long time, and he had endless resources that made Japan blush at the mere thought of them. But he had his problems: he knew well that many other powers wanted Korea too, and besides, this was a vassal state of China. China was the main problem. And Japan saw his brother. Against him would be the main problem. Japan hoped to conquer Korea or to become independent under Japanese interests, but China, who in his precarious situation, guarded Korea suspiciously. And there settled the conflict. Soon, China also learned of the wishes of his beloved brother, and, although with regret, he was incited to train himself. China didn't like to do it but didn't know that Japan did. Japan had always wanted to measure himself against China all his life and now he could do it.

Provocations came and went from both countries, with endorsements from different third parties, such as the murder of a pro-Japanese Korean official in Shanghai, and so the thing was a sway of provocations that had only one objective, but China didn't know his brother really. He didn't know, and he did not believe that he would really do what he would do. In 1894, the Japanese Navy sank a Chinese ship, finally breaking the war, to China was sadness and Japan excitement. Japan was implacable. Violent and aggressive. China didn't see it coming, but despite being his brother he fought as best he could. But China was in a bad momment due to the deals and situations that he had lived in the century, and Japan, more new than ever. He was excited to face his brother for the first time, whom he had admired, loved, and finally heated.

Japan mercilessly bathed the Chinese and Korean earth with blood, and continued on the wheel of suffering.

China suffered an uninterrupted series of defeats: Pingrang and Yellow Sea (September 1894), Lushun (November 1894), Weihaiwei (February 1895). In March, 1895, Japanese forces were already threatening the Chinese capital, Beijing, and the following month the Chinese government had to request peace, which included humiliating terms for the empire.

China cried for the situation but Japan smiled on his own. He had done it, he had defeated the greatest of the easterns, and suddenly he didn't seem great to him. He was the empire, he was the most powerful. And the little admiration he had even for his brother vanished forever after the defeat.

China, humiliated and impotent, had to give up his brother Korea, who was influenced by Japan, and Taiwan, his little sister. In addition, he had to pay war compensation to Japan, who enjoyed the situation. Japan believed that China would hate him, because he would, but China believed that all this was forced and it was because of the influence of the Westerners, really believing Japan didn't want anything of what had happened. He was wrong. And China spared his brother. China still loved him.

China, finally, was forced to grant commercial privileges to the winner in his ports. But Russia that had his own designs on China, got a few months after France and then the young Germany press and protest for Japan, reluctantly, since nothing he could still do against the great European powers, leaving the Liaotung Manchuria peninsula and port-Arthur returned to China, because they could not let Japan become so powerful. By the additional compensation by China the spark of friction between Russians and Japanese around Korea and Manchuria was lit. And soon, Japan would show that he could even against the West.

-Russian-Japanese War:

The situation had not calmed down. The commercial interests of the Westerners continued to haunt the Far East and Japan didn't want to lose influence in those areas, striving to shape himself as the only great power in Asia. But Russia greatly desired all those areas and the fact that Japan had stayed with the influence over Korea and expanded his domains did not like anything. Secretly, Russia convinced China to let him own military bases in Manchuria and northern China, to impose his influence. China, who believed that if Japan lost a war against Russia would go to his arms for consolation, in addition to a small revenge, allowed Russia to do his job. This caused that the interests of Japan were endangered before the Russian interests and Japan worried enough. On the other hand, Japan treated Korea with cordiality and kindness, but Korea knew his true nature, and also made a deal with Russia believing to challenge Japan. That was a serious mistake. England, on the other hand, saw his interests, plans and possessions in danger in that place with the presence of Russia, and soon he became allied with Japan. Thus was born the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902. England could bother and get where he wanted, but this time Japan didn't bother about him. Finally, on a night in February 1904, without a declaration of war, Japan attacked by surprise the Russians in Manchuria, and the conflict began. Russia was feared by all, but Japan was not intimidated. And he fight against Russia, in the sea and in the snow. As always, innocent lives were lost without anyone cares. Without knowing it, Japan would influence Russia more than he imagined. And without anyone expecting it, in 1905, Japan defeated Russia. Neither Russia believed it, nobody believed it. Japan, the first eastern to defeat a Westerner, inspired and surprised everyone. And he rose up in glory. He was the power of Asia, nobody would pass over him. And his own brother China looked at him with admiration and fear. But Korea could not be more sadder. In 1905, Korea became to Japan, who soon showed his true self. After losing, Russia was outraged and hurt. He returned to his home, where he did not silence his voice, and the Revolution of 1905 occurred in Russia. Despite having won, Japan was completely exhausted by the expenses of war, and Japan didn't obtain compensation, so little was his happiness then.

First World War:

For a while, Japan was quiet. A new beginning began, the Taisho period, with an impotent and inefficient emperor that made him annoy a lot. His desire for expansion was nowhere close to calming down, and he continued to look at China with a strong desire and resentment. Even so, he knew well that he would have time, since he had heard about the a contest that was about to take place. A contest that was the reason for all the other contests at the end of the 19th century. Japan knew he would get involved. He wanted territories that were in the possession of young Germany, he really wanted them.

When the conflict broke out in 1914, seeing that Germany was occupied in Europe, he quickly occupied the territories leased by Germany in Shandong Province in China, as well as the Mariana Islands, the Carolinas and the Marshall Islands in the Pacific. Japan entered the war despite the crying of young people who didn't want to die for the interests of others. But Japan, who only represented these interests, removed them from their homes and took them to war. That's how wars are.

Soon, he soon stalked China, where he tried to force him to sign the Twenty-one Demands, where China was reduced to a Japanese protectorate, but the his brother refused until the end, and soon a strong anti-Japanese sentiment began in China.

Japan had entered into the war without importing anything that Germany and the others really did, entered into his interests, like everyone else. Seeing that everyone was focused on Europe, he soon took possession of the unprotected colonies of young Germany, because his desire was still to expand. He reduced his brother to a condition like a whore, and not even care. He just wanted to defend his interests in East Asia. When he was asked to send troops to Europe, he was reluctant, and very little was sent. What happened in Europe didn't matter to him. No feeling or anything tied him to Westerners. As well as them with him. When Germany learned that Japan had stolen his possessions, he sent submarines to fight. And Japan ordered it too.

When in 1917 the United States entered in the war, in a certain way they became allies. But Japan hated him from the day he met him. From the day United States took him out of his world and forced him to live that reality. In addition, both wanted to have dominion over the Pacific, and would begin to have tensions in the future. All the satisfaction of Japan vanished after the war ended. Despite being on the winning side, everything went back to him. The Westerners were very displeased with everything that Japan had obtained, and out of jealousy, envy and fear of his power, they forced him to surrender them. Japan was becoming more and more fed up of them. In the Treaty of Versailles, despite having been granted a permanent position in the League of Nations, he became disgusted. He entered the war, not because he was worried about what was happening in Europe, but to favor his interests. However, it was precisely the return to normalcy, with the establishment of peace, that made him see that if he wanted to go ahead with his plans he could not rely on the countries that had previously been his allies, but to approach those who were annoyed, like him, by the new imposed conditions: Germany and Italy, and it was there, where he began to approach them in feeling. He even felt sorry for the young German, and knew that in the future their destinies would cross.

Soon, he saw England and the USA as he had seen them in the beginning: enemies.

Prelude to the Second World War:

After the Great War, Japan could not be more upset. His imperialist desires not only followed but he was frustrated. This, added to other questions, would make decisive the fate that Japan would face.

In the decade of the 20s there were strong political changes, which led to the masses and students becoming politically active. In 1925, universal suffrage for boys was established for the first time.

However, things would become complicated for Japan from those times. In 1923 the Kanto Earthquake occurred, the strongest in history to date. Japan was scared and hurt, in the earthquake 110000 deaths occurred. In the aftermath of the earthquake, acts of violence against political, Korean, and Chinese activists occurred, and soon Japan would begin to silence those voices that he didn't want to hear, in his mescal of fear and commotion. Dark times lurked Japan.

When in 1926 the emperor Hirohito became to the throne, and in contrast to his previous emperor, Japan could not avoid seeing him as a god. For a long time the kings and emperors were only national ornamental figures, but not Hirohito for him. His idolatry was such that in Japan he was worshiped as if he were a god on earth. And Japan loved him, venerated him, like no other.

Because Japan was a competition for them, the United States and England forced Japan to limit his naval forces in comparison with them, which bothered him a lot. Soon, Japan was offended when the United States and England began to occupy his area of influence, and Japan saw it as a total lack of respect, added to his old discontent when the United States didn't agree to cede anything as a reward after the Russian-Japanese war. Japan began to get upset and distance himself from them a lot. He seemed them intolerant, intrusive and false. Especially false, because they were not different. But his problem was above all with the United States, since soon began to have frictions and tensions for the dominion of the Pacific.

While Japan was so limited, he began to look for some area in which to extract the raw materials for his economy and he didn't take him long to know what he wanted. A frustrated dream, China. In 1931, Japan, satisfying his imperialist desires, his resentment towards his brother and his necessity, decided to invade him.

China didn't expect it. When he saw Japan close to him, he thought he was coming to see him. To talk to Japan looked at him with his empty gaze, without soul. China lamented the fate of both, and didn't guess the intentions of his brother, who came too close to him. So much so, that Japan could smell his fragrance. China turned him back on his lament. And without ever expecting it, suddenly, a sharp pain made him scream. Japan had taken out his katana and cut off his brother. He had definitely betrayed him. China cried out in pain and looked at his brother, as cold as ever. An infinite pain ran through China and he wept, he had loved and forgiven his brother. But suddenly, he saw the truth. For the first time he knew it. And he never again loved his brother. Everything had been broken.

In 1937, without the authorization of his superiors, Japan invaded Manchuria.

Second Sino-Japanese War and Second World War:

China would defend himself, as he could, and after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, the war began. Japan soon attacked and conquered the coastal cities, implacably, and soon took Nanking. When the city surrendered, Japan performed acts of extreme evilness. Massacred citizens, kidnapping and rapeing women and giving them to soldiers, nothing new in reality, but was accompanied by something very personal. This was known as the Nanking Massacre. Japan did the same against Korea, whom he forced to see when he took the girls for his soldiers.

If anything is known about the war, it is that everyone dies, and women suffer even worse. But in the Sino-Japanese war this was exacerbated.

Japan established a puppet government in what it called Manchukuo (Manchuria), under the Chinese Emperor Pu-Yi, whom China didn't recognize as his leader.

Japan won many initial victories until 1938, when the war was almost dead, until Japan entered inot another war.

-The Pacific War:

His relations with the West deteriorated, cooled and broke with respect to his political position of totalitarianism and ultra-nationalism. Added to his desire to possess control of the Pacific, his actions in China, and his growing power that didn't suit the West, the Westerners soon distanced themselves from him.

The one that looked most suspiciously at Japan was the United States, because he also wanted to dominate the Pacific and Japan, together with Germany, were a threat to him, since he was and unstoppable power, and that didn't suit the United States.

When the war began in Europe, Japan felt admiration for Germany, who was no longer the young boy he remembered. When Germany proposed to ally with him and Italy, Japan accepted. Germany was like him at a certain point. Worker, direct, efficient, and both had very similar political positions. Japan considered him as a true companion. Not so for Italy, who mistrusted much, but the German seemed to appreciate him enough, so Japan said nothing about it.

When the Axis Powers showed themselves to the world, the others could not help but get angry. With this, the United States soon panicked as he wanted to enter the war at all costs, but didn't know how, until he got his response in Japan. Japan invaded Indochina, and this alerted France, England and Holland. Holland, the one who had been his friend and adviser, for Japan was just a memory.

Soon, the United States began his strategy. He issued a sanction to Japan and deprived him of oil, and of his foreign trade. Japan was offended. What right the american had in getting involved in his affairs. Japan would not do it if the situation were the other way around. And he saw the United States as a meddlesome hypocrite. He had always hated him, since he had arrived on his shores and taken him out of his world, but still there were no reasons for what he was doing. The United States continued to molest him, harass him and defame him for some time, until Japan got fed up.

In 1941, he attacked Pearl Harbor, without first warning publicly. He had tried to ignore the United States but in the end it was impossible. But before arriving at Pearl Harbor he was seen by Australia, who saw him flying in the distance. Australia warned his brother about the attack, but the United States didn't do anything on purpose. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the United States feigned indignation and declared war on him. He already had the excuse. Japan would face his enemy, and his perdition.

The United States soon attacked strategic places occupied by Japan, although Japan won the first victories.

During his many battles, Japan reproached him and demanded that the United States tell him why he didn't evacuate Perl Harbor if he knew (due to Australia and his own ad) that he was going to attack him. The United States, amused by having finally entered the war, confessed to him that it was convenient for him to have died in order to justify his entry into the war and a nationalist sentiment in his people. With this terrible confession, Japan didn't know what to think about the United States.

When Italy lost and passed to the Allies, Japan was not surprised, he expected it. And he told Germany that Italy betrayed them and that it had always been like that, but he saw there that the German denied it. He knew that Germany loved Italy, and decided to understand him.

During 1944, Japan suffered decisive defeats, and the United States also occupied the strategic islands of Japan. Soon, he suffered big naval defeats. But not in the air. He was the "Divine Wind" after all.

-Of the Kamikazes:

Japan, who had never left behind his old morality, when he saw his difficult situation and that of his colleagues in Europe, soon told his boys that dying for the nation, for the emperor, for the struggle was an act of honor. And there the Kamikazes were born, pilots who committed heroic suicidal acts in order to stop the americans, and in due course it worked. For them it was honorable and a pride. Therefore, Japan was so cruel to the americans that they surrendered. They gave their lives for their country and surrendered? Japan didn't understand this act that seemed immoral. And for that reason he didn't forgive.

The war destroyed everything. To the people, to Japan, and nothing was as before. Also, things were not good at home. The United States bombed the cities with incendiary bombs, which were banned in the war. But he also made others suffer, like Korea, like his brother, although he showed a big resistance. He would not forgive anything anymore. Nothing stopped him.

When 1945 arrived, Germany faced an imminent defeat, Japan was not good either. And great was his concern when the Soviet Union said he would declare war on him too.

When Germany lost, Japan was the last of the Axis Powers to follow. And he swore to win by any means, for Germany, even for Italy. And he continued in the fight.

He followed, through the air. He remained standing until the end. Although it was useless, because soon the USSR declared war soon after beating Germany. But soon there would be nothing. Everything would have ended for Japan. The cruelest of consequences he had, to keep going. The United States had always told him that he admired him greatly, and that's why he would enjoy finishing him. Japan didn't know until then how much he hated him.

On a morning in August 1945, Japan was at home, taking a short break. Everything was peaceful, quiet, as if there were no war outside. When suddenly, as if nothing happened, Japan knew that something was happening. From one moment to the next, everything burned red and black. He threw thousands of screams in a second, which were silenced to the other.

At first it was fast, he didn't understand it at all. Then an impact, a rumble. He spit blood through his mouth. His eyes burned when he saw it. His skin was mutilated by radiation. His voice faded before the massacre.

Germany lamented with horror.

Italy wept in a sepulchral silence at the horror and amazement.

China witnessed the light that disappeared in the eyes of his brother.

Even the Allies were horrified by this act.

The United States admired himself.

Japan was in a slow state where for a moment he forgot his own name.

On August 6 and 9, 1945, the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombs were launched over Japan.

Japan had fallen. The war was over. Japan was mutilated in a bed. Unable to speak or move. When he trampled his beloved emperor on the radio, saying surrender, Japan wept red tears of blood.

He could not go to the surrender meeting, and was filled with a bitter anger and impotence in his heart and mind that tortured him in a silence that all murdered.

His mind broken. He lamented at the beginning. He observed, what bad he would have done to deserve that. He must have done something very bad. But nobody, not even the most evil, deserved it, he told himself. Everything that was, what he believed had been burned and turned into dust.

He cried. But then he cannot anymore. His tears dried.

His eyes burned, and a color to death characterized them. He could barely hear. Soon, someone came to take care of him and heal him, tell him sweet words, cheer him up. His eyes exploded and his heart slowed, and he tore off again when he saw the very United States sitting next to his bed, taking care of him. He checked it. That country was mad. Completely deranged.

He could not move, he could not talk, he could only hear and see, he could hold the United States in his house, listen to his carefree and cheerful voice, feel him close, and look at him, for almost a decade. Japan was occupied at the end of the war, where practically the United States took charge of him as if he were his responsibility.

In his years of silence and immobility, keeping him close, he planned innumerable ways to kill him, while burning him with his eyes. If looks could kill, the United States had found the most atrocious of destinies. As a girlfriend caring for her beloved, or a mother of her son, the United States took personal charge of Japan. Who he hated him with all his being.

-Post-War and Contemporary Era:

But he could not do anything, he soon became aware of it, and he felt practically raped without being able to even ask for help or scream. Soon when his pain and anger had subsided, when the same company of his executioner had become habit, he knew that he could do nothing, that his time was over and that the only thing left was to listen to him and be on his side. His fear for the United States was proportional to the hatred he felt, and such a combination led to submission. When he could speak again, move again, when USA had taken his bandages off, so close they were, all he did was smile. To reiterate that he did not feel any resentment. A big lie. The United States smiled at him, and caressed his face sweetly. He almost seemed regretful. Almost.

Once the United States had let him walk back to his villages, he lowered his supervision, discovered to his horrible regret, the acculturation occurred in his home, thanks to a certain individual. Japan walked down a path in a garden, and being alone, cried as never before in his life, as he would have liked to do in his silence of years after "that event".

When he can write again, Japan wrote a letter to Germany, who was at a bad time apart from his brother. The letter explained his experiences and adventures in the war with them. He also confessed to Germany that he always wanted to play football with him and Italy, but that he was very embarrassed because if Germany was bad, he would be disastrous. He also confessed that he formed true ties with him and Italy; although he would never forgive the Italy's betrayal. Finally he confessed that it was a pleasure to work with them, but it would hardly be repeated. Germany confessed that he could never truly know Japan, and that he doubted whether the writing in the letter was true, or simply an automatic response to his harsh education. Outside of it, Germany confessed that he placed all his confidence in Japan when everything was lost.

When the United States had influenced Japan enough, he decided it was time to leave. Japan could not be happier, although he pretended not to for his part, the United States had a hard time quitting, and apparently he had become fond of making his life impossible. As he left, the United States kissed Japan on the lips. Japan was left, but there was nothing worse for him. It was humiliating. Everyone hated Germany for his acts in the war, but nobody recriminated the USA for his tasks, or the English acts. He felt the worst. Soon, Japan had to apologize internationally for his cruelties committed towards China and Korea, who never forgave him. Deep down him didn't regret it. He blamed the USA for not repenting for such a killing towards him but he didn't either. Germany, on the other hand, had repented, he saw it in his eyes, when the Axis powers were judged.

Japan, after the occupation, had to renounce Korea, Taiwan, and other islands of his empire.

During the Cold War period, Japan quickly stabilized, his national industrial was boosted, and he improved a lot. When the conflict of the Korean War occurred, Japan received strict orders to suppress socialism, since the fear that Japan would return to the war was latent. But it didn't happen. In a new Japanese constitution Japan can no longer enter into armed conflicts, only national security.

-Japanese Miracle:

Throughout the postwar period the Japanese economy began with growth beyond any expectation, the so-called Japanese miracle. The country quickly caught up with the West in foreign trade, gross national product, and quality of life; achievements that were highlighted by the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964, the first Olympic Games in Asia.

In these times Japan tried to get ahead and overcome those traumas that would whip him until the end, but tried to rejoice in life despite it.

-Modernity and 21st Century:

During the 70s and 80s, Japan suffered a huge economic crisis with the rise of oil, courtesy of Alfred, which generated thousands of unemployed. It was common since Japan had adopted capitalism in all its expression, and at that time the financial capitalism prevailed, which caused recessions in the country. In these gray times, Japan tried to commit suicide a couple of times. Although he couldn't. When he heard the story of a Japanese soldier lost on an island that didn't surrender until 30 years after the war ended, Japan wanted to mourn, and he did.

At the end of the 20th century, a great expression of art was born: anime, and Japan love it. He changed it at a certain point, and it embedded itself in his heart. At the beginning, the anime was an artistic expression of protest, of depth, with themes that were even philosophical, but it soon became commercial.

When in 2003 Japan had to stave off the US invasion of Iraq by sending troops, it was really seen that Japan could get into war conflicts if they allowed him, and therefore he has no restraint in threatening North Korea.

Japan and the United States became very friendly and united; Japan turned to the ranks of his allies, and became one of his closest allies and advisers. The United States trusted him a lot and appreciated him very much. Over time, almost lovers came to be. Japan became his right hand in Asia.

Although it is far from really appreciating him. When he kisses and caresses him, he tells him that of all his lovers he likes him better, Japan knows that he sure says that to everyone, or maybe it is true, but he cannot love him. Japan is no longer a samurai warrior, he is no longer an honorable Kamikaze, he feels like a whore dressed as Maid. In the end, Japan does everything the United States does. He says what he says and obeys his orders. Deep down he hates having to maintain his military bases, but nothing he can do. Japan knows well that a part of him will never be able to get up, he will always consent to the USA. But another part of him can never forgive. Meanwhile, he will be one of his closest friends and companions.

.

Under the lights of Tokyo, through the stories told in his Yakuza tattoos, in the Buddhist and Shinto temples, under his commercial coldness, Kiku asks him an eternal question: even when humanity would reap in Samsara, the wheel of suffering.

---

Japanese phrases:

* I am the bright tear of the Sun.

* I have already accepted a foreign religion once. I will not do it again. I will not be the whore of religions.

* Only once did I fall in love. Just one. God, how disgusting it was.

.

I know, this is long ... again. But well, the history of Japan is quite long, and not only I had to study history, but its culture and its moral codes.

Making Japan was interesting because it is something different from what I already did. Making an eastern country was good. Hetalia is a bit Eurocentric, and although this is interesting, it is not the best. The world is not only Europe, so it was interesting.

Bibliographic Sources: Wikipedia attachments (mainly). Japanese literature (I tried), Documentaries.

Movies that I saw to put me in context: Zen (2009), The Last Samurai, Memories of a Geisha, The Empire of the Sun (the one I liked the most), The Tomb of the Fireflies, Hiroshima Mon Amour (beautiful film).

Music that inspired me: Ghost City (Ghost in the Shell soundtrack), Sayuris theme (Memories of a Geisha soundtrack), Mononoke hime (Princess Mononoke soundtrack), etc.

Animes that I saw (I cannot do Japan and not watch animes xd): Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Ghibli movies, etc.

.

Also keep in mind that English is not my first language, so if I have errors, I accept corrections.

Well, I really hope you enjoyed it. Soon I will upload another chapter of another country