| 1894 |
The first Sino-Japanese War begins. |
| 1895 |
Shimonoseki Treaty. After defeat in the Sino-Japanese War, China unwillingly cedes Taiwan to Japan and pays a financial indemnity. |
| 1902 |
The Anglo-Japanese Alliance is signed. Japan and Great Britain agree to assist one another in safeguarding their respective interests in Asia. The Alliance is renewed in 1905 and 1911. |
| 1905 |
Upon Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05, the US mediates the Treaty of Portsmouth. The treaty forces Russia to give up its concession in southern Manchuria to Japan and recognizes Japan as the dominant power in Korea.
China unwillingly signs another treaty with Japan, recognizing Japan's imperialistic rights in southern Manchuria.
After the Treaty of Portsmouth, the Taft-Katsura memorandum is signed between Japan and the US. This agreement recognizes Japan's rights in Korea, and in return, Japan recognizes US control of the Philippines. |
| 1907 |
Some major conventions on the laws of war are made in the Hague Conference of 1907, including the Hague IV - Laws and Customs of War on Land. |
| 1910 |
Japan's "official" annexation of Korea |
| 1914 |
World War I starts.
Japan as one of the Allied countries against Germany occupies Shantung Peninsula of China, and assumes the imperial rights of Germany in that region. |
| 1926 |
Hirohito becomes Emperor of Japan. |
| 1929 |
The Geneva Convention Relating to Prisoners of War is made. |
| 1931 |
The Japanese army launches a full-scale attack on Manchuria. |
| 1932 |
The Japanese army seizes Manchuria and establishes the puppet state of Manchukuo.
Japan establishes biological warfare units in Japan and China. |
| 1933 |
The League of Nations declares that Manchukuo is not a legitimate state and calls for the withdrawal of Japanese troops.
Japan withdraws from the League in protest.
Expanding from Manchuria , the Japanese army gains control of much of North China. |
| 1937 |
"Marco Polo Bridge Incident" Japan's full-scale invasion of China begins.
Peking (now Beijing) and Shanghai are captured.
When Nanking (now Nanking), the capital falls, the Japanese military commits the Nanking Massacre.
The military sexual slavery system for the Japanese military expands rapidly after the Nanking Massacre. |
| 1939 |
World War II starts in Europe |
| 1940 |
Japan moves into northern Indo-China (now Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia).
Japan joins the Axis Alliance with Germany and Italy. |
| 1941 |
Tojo Hideki becomes Prime Minister of Japan.
Japan raids Pearl Harbour on December 7. British Malaya and Hong Kong are simultaneously attacked. The Pacific phase of World War II begins
Hong Kong falls on December 25, 1941. Of the 1,975 Canadian soldiers sent to defend Hong Kong , 290 are killed in action and 1 ,685 are captured and interned by the Japanese military. 267 die in internment. |
| 1942 |
Forced relocation and internment of Japanese Americans in the United States and Japanese Canadians in Canada begin.
By May 1942, Japan has gained control over wide territories including Hong Kong, Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma (now Myanmar), Malaya (now Singapore and Malaysia), Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), and many other Pacific islands. |
| 1945 |
The first atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima on 6 August.
The Soviet Union declares war on Japan on 8 August.
The second atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki on 9 August.
Japan surrenders on 15 August. World War II ends. |
| 1946 |
The Charter of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East is formulated and the Tribunal is set up to prosecute instigators of the War. |
| 1951 |
The San Francisco Peace Treaty is signed between Japan and 48 other nations. Some states are not parties to the Treaty, including Burma, China, India, Korea and the Soviet Union . |