The History of Japan

            The origin of Japan was traced to a divine brother and sister who gave birth to Japanese islands and to Amaterasu, the sun goddess. But many of the origins of the Japanese still remain a mystery. Scientists know that people, who hunted, fished and gathered plant foods lived on the islands at least 6,500 years ago. These people farmed and lived in small villages, all helping one another to survive.

    Prince Shotoku, who ruled Japan from 593 until he died in 622, encouraged the Japanese to adopt Chinese ideas. Shotoku wanted to increase the power of the Japanese emperor by adopting the Chinese system of centralized imperial rule. In 645, Kotoku became emperor. The next year he and his advisers began the Taika Reform, a program that introduced more features of the Chinese model of government. Japan was divided into provinces, districts and villages. The provinces were controlled by governors, who reported to the emperor. The Taika Reform also introduced a central system of taxation and a land distribution program. 

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