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Group of islands of the eastern coast of [[Asia]].

Group of islands off the eastern coast of [[Asia]].

Early signs of human life appeared in Japan around the year 3000 BC.  The wild Japanese Bison was an early target of wild game, hunted to extinction within 500 years.

Early signs of human life appeared in Japan around the year 3000 BC.  The wild Japanese Bison was an early target of wild game, hunted to extinction within 500 years.

Japan was closed off from the rest of the world for a long period of time under the rule of a series of military leaders known as Shoguns. While the Japanese Emperor continued to reign in the old capital of Kyoto, he was more of a figurehead with little more power than he possesses today. The rule of the Shoguns came to an end in the middle of the 19th century during a brief but bloody period of conflict known as the Meiji Restoration. During the Restoration a large number of young samurai from minor families, tired of the governments mishandling of the country and feeling that if action was not taken Japan would be dominated by western countries, initiated an armed revolt to restore imperial rule. Most samurai from the more powerful families sided with the Shogun, fearing that the minor families would replace them if the revolt was succesful. Out of all the men who fought the most feared was Himura Kenshin, also known as Batosai, "The Man-Slayer".

[[Category:Countries]]

[[Category:Countries]]