History
Japan began with Emperor Jimmu in 600 B.C. In 400 B.C. the settlement of the Yayoi people introduced metal-working. The Yayoi people came from Korea. (according to legend).
Original People
The original people of Tokyo were the Yayoi people. the Yayoi people had spear heads like this which is what they fought primarily with.
Colonialism
Japan gained control of Taiwan Korea and the Southern half of Sakhalin during the Russo-Japanese War. Japanese control of the countries affects there culture now. Japan has apologized to South Korea for ruling them. Japan gained Korea from 1910-1945. Korea was the biggest colony for Japan not in size, but the geography of the land makes the colony's land very expensive.
Independence
Shoguns took control in 1185. From the 12th century to the 19th century feudal lords held political control. The shoguns lost control in the 1860s when Matthew Perry of the U.S. Navy sailed in into the harbor of Edo, to demand a treaty. In 1868 Edo was renamed to Tokyo. Japan really has never gotten independence because it's it own country. Just different people have occupied the country.
After Independence
After the shoguns left power Japan has gotten involved int he wrong sides of wars. Primarily the world wars. Japan took power by Military victors in the early 1900s, then moved on to become bigger threats and eventually attacked pearl harbor on december 7, 1941. Japan had a big influence in WW2. LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) controlled the politics after WW2. In the late 1900s a lot of resignation ways. In 1998 the LPD brought the country into a depression.
Modern Day
Today Japan has grown to be a very powerful country in a lot of different ways. While being very modern, they have kept there old sacred traditions. There have been a lot of natural disasters in Japan. Earthquakes, Tsunamis and nuclear reactor issues. There government has been very steady over the past years.