The periods in Japan’s history are denominated in different ways, depending variously on their cultural characteristics, the location of the capital city, the names of ruling dynasties, certain concepts of auspicious naming, and currently regnal periods of successive emperors. Here is a brief outline that may help readers not yet familiar with the flow of Japan’s history.

Prehistoric Japan is defined in three time divisions, which are called jidai in Japanese, and variously known as “periods” or “eras” in English. First, and longest, was the Jomon period from about 13,000 to 300 BCE, the name having been taken from the characteristic winding cord shapes on much pottery from the time. Hunting and gathering were standard. During the second period, the Yayoi period, c. 300 BCE – 250 CE, rice cultivation was introduced from China, and iron and related techniques came from Korea. The third was the Kofun period (250–538), named after the large, often keyhole-shaped burial mounds for deceased leaders, many of which are still preserved. An emperor system developed; the nation covered an area from the Kansai to Kyushu, with its center in the area called Yamato, now part of Nara Prefecture, inside which the capital was moved at frequent intervals to locations judged to be the most auspicious.

The Asuka period (538–710) was the first of a long series leading up to the 1860s to be named after the location of the capital city. (Asuka lies about 25 km south of the city of Nara.) Written records using the Chinese writing system appeared. Chinese-style government was organized by major figures such as Shotoku Taishi; land reforms were imposed; the Fujiwara clan of samurai began its ascent. The name “Nippon” came into use.

The Nara period (710–784) saw the establishment of a capital planned to be more permanent, with grand Buddhist architecture that remains to this day. Cultural exchanges with China continued.

Nevertheless, the capital did move, in 784, briefly to nearby Nagaoka; the Heian period (794–1185) began when it moved again. Heian is the old name for Kyoto, where both the imperial and the administrative capital remained for four centuries.