The written history of Japan with brief appearences in Chinese history texts from first century. However, archeological research indicates the people were living on the island as early as the upper-paleolitic period. Following the last ice-age around 12 000 BC, the rich ecosystem of the Japanese arcilpelago fostered human development , yielding the earliest known pottery during the Jomon period. Japanese history has alternationg periods of long isolated punctuated by radicals, often revolutionary, influences from the outside world.
For 250 years, this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indegenous culture. Following the Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854, Japan opened its ports and began to intensively modernize and industrialize. During the late 19th an early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. It occupied Korea, Taiwan, and Southern Sakhalin Island. In 1933 Japan occupied Manchuria and in 1937 it lauched a full scale invasion of China. Japan attacked US forces in 1941-triggering America's entry into world war II- and soon occupied much of East and South East Asia. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recover to become an economic power and a staunch ally of the US. While the emperor retain his throne as a symbol of national unity, actual power rest in networks of powerful politicians, beureaucrats, and business executives. The economy experience a major slowdown starting in the 1990's following 3 decades of unprecedented growth, but Japan still remains a major economic power, both in Asia and globally. In 2005, Japan began a 2 year terms as a non -permanent member of the UN Security Council.
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