List of wars involving Japan explained

This is a list of wars involving Japan recorded in history.

List

This page lists battles between Japanese central or local forces and foreign forces, as well as battles between Japanese central and local forces. Battles that resulted in de facto regime change are also listed. Many battles between local daimyō (feudal lords) and clans that did not result in a de facto change of government are not included in the following list.

Conflict	Combatant 1	Combatant 2	Results
Jōmon period
East Expedition of Emperor Jimmu (c. 7th century BCE)	Kamu-yamato Iware-biko no mikoto's loyal warriors	Troops led by local chiefdoms	Kamu-yamato Iware-biko no mikoto victory Kamu-yamato Iware-biko no-mikoto became first Emperor (Emperor Jimmu). Mythical foundation of Japan
Yayoi period
Civil War of Wa (2nd century CE)	Unknown Yayoi chiefdoms	Unknown Yayoi chiefdoms	Establishment of Yamatai state Consolidation of chiefdoms Himiko made queen
Yamato period
Goguryeo–Wa conflicts (391–404)	Wa Baekje Gaya Ara Gaya	Goguryeo Silla	Defeat The Wa troops withdrew from the capital of Silla, but Ara Gaya captured the capital of Silla again. The Wa troops lost the battle against Goguryeo in Pyongyang (Gwanggaeto Stele).
Mishihase War (658–660)	Yamato State Emishi	Mishihase	Victory Mishihase were possible recent settlers from Siberia. Yamato and Emishi force defeated Mishihase. (Nihon Shoki) Place uncertain, possibly Hokkaido
Baekje-Tang War (660–663)	Yamato (Wa) Baekje Goguryeo	Tang Silla	Defeat Wa troops withdrew from Baekje. Conquest of Baekje by the Tang dynasty and Silla
Jinshin War (672)	Prince Ōama	Prince Ōtomo	Prince Ōama victory Death of Prince Ōtomo Emperor Tenmu (Prince Ōama) acceded to the throne.
Nara period
Thirty-Eight Years' War (770–811)	Imperial Court	Emishi	Imperial victory Sakanoue no Tamuramaro became shōgun. Death of Aterui. Most of Emishi entered under the rule of Imperial Court.
Heian period
Tengyō no Ran (935–940)	Imperial Court	Provincial landowners	Imperial victory Rebellion quelled
Former Nine Years' War (1051–1063)	Imperial Court	Abe clan	Imperial victory Rise of the Minamoto clan The Kiyohara clan ruled Mutsu Province and Dewa Province.
Later Three Year's War (c. 1083–1089)	Minamoto clan Northern Fujiwara clan	Kiyohara clan	Minamoto and Fujiwara victory The Northern Fujiwara clan ruled the former territory of the Kiyohara clan.
Hōgen rebellion (July 28 – August 16, 1156)	Forces loyal to Emperor Go-Shirakawa	Forces loyal to Emperor Sutoku	Victory for Emperor Go-Shirakawa establishment of Minamoto-Taira rivalry
Heiji rebellion (January 19 – February 5, 1160)	Taira forces loyal to Emperor Go-Shirakawa	Minamoto clan	Taira victory Minamoto leaders banished
Genpei War (1180–1185)	Minamoto clan	Taira clan	Minamoto victory Death of Emperor Antoku Establishment of the Kamakura shogunate
Kamakura period
Jōkyū War (1221)	Kamakura shogunate	Retired Emperor Go-Toba's loyal warriors	Kamakura victory Retired emperors exiled
Mongol invasions of Japan (1274 and 1281)	Japan Imperial Court Kamakura shogunate Hōjō clan Sō clan Shōni clan Sashi clan Taira clan Kikuchi clan Ōtomo clan Shimazu clan Matsura clan	Yuan dynasty Goryeo	Victory Japan defeats the Mongol invasions.
Genkō War (1331–1333)	Emperor Go-Daigo's loyal forces	Kamakura shogunate	Imperial victory Rise of the Ashikaga shogunate
Muromachi period
Ōei Invasion (1419)	Sō clan	Joseon	Victory^[1] ^[2] Withdrawal of Korean armies from Tsushima^[3] ^[4] After 24 years, the Treaty of Gyehae was concluded and the number of wokou gradually decreased.^[5]
Ōnin War (1467–1477)	Hosokawa clan	Yamana clan	Hosokawa clan victory Hosokawa clan gains control of the shogunate Ashikaga Yoshihisa assumed the post of shōgun Most of Kyoto destroyed Disintegration of the power of the Shogunate, beginning of the Sengoku period^[6]
Battle of Fukuda Bay (1565)	Matsura clan	Kingdom of Portugal	Defeat
Azuchi–Momoyama period
1582 Cagayan battles (1582)	Wokou (Japanese, Chinese, and Korean pirates)	Spain New Spain Spanish Philippines Indian auxiliaries from Mexico (mostly Tlaxcalans)^[7]	Defeat
Bunroku-Keicho War/Imjin War (1592 - 1598)	Japan Toyotomi clan	Joseon Korea Ming China	Defeat Withdrawal of Japanese armies from Korean peninsula following military stalemate
Battle of Sekigahara (1600)	Eastern Army Forces loyal to Tokugawa Ieyasu, clans of Eastern Japan	Western Army Forces loyal to Ishida Mitsunari, many clans from Western Japan	Eastern Army victory Tokugawa clan gains nominal control of all Japan
Edo period
Invasion of Ryukyu (1609)	Satsuma Domain		Satsuma victory The Ryukyu Kingdom becomes a Japanese vassal state.
Nossa Senhora da Graça incident (1610)	Tokugawa shogunate Hizen-Arima clan	Kingdom of Portugal	Victory The expulsion of João Rodrigues Tçuzu and the loss of confidence in the Jesuits and Portugal by the Tokugawa shogunate.
Shimabara Rebellion (1637–1638)	Tokugawa shogunate	Roman Catholics and rōnin rebels	Victory National seclusion policy imposed Christianity driven underground
Bombardment of Kagoshima (1863)	Satsuma Domain		Defeat Kagoshima is bombarded by British Ships Satsuma makes payment of £25,000 to the British^[8]
Shimonoseki Campaign (1863–1864)	Chōshū Domain		Defeat Chōshū pays an indemnity of $3,000,000.
Summer War (1866)	Chōshū Domain	Tokugawa shogunate Aizu Domain	Tokugawa defeat Choshu Victory Weakening of the Tokugawa shogunate
Meiji period
Boshin War (1868–1869)	Imperial CourtTozama Other Tozama daimyō: Tosa Domain Hiroshima Domain Tsu Domain Saga Domain Ogaki Domain Hirosaki Domain Kuroishi Domain Yodo Domain --------	Tokugawa shogunate Aizu Domain Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei Jozai Domain Nagaoka Domain Sendai Domain and others...Takamatsu Domain Tsuruoka Domain Kuwana Domain Matsuyama Domain Ogaki Domain---- Republic of Ezo----	Imperial victory End of the Tokugawa shogunate Meiji Restoration
Japanese invasion of Taiwan (1874) (1874)		Paiwan	Victory Occupation of Taiwan by Japan
Battle of Ganghwa (1875)		Korea	Victory Severe damage inflicted on Korean defenses
Southwestern War (1877)		Shizoku clans from Satsuma Domain	Imperial victory Shizoku rebellions were suppressed. The conscription system was established in Japan.
First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895)			Victory Korea removed from Chinese suzerainty Treaty of Shimonoseki
Japanese invasion of Taiwan (1895)		Formosa	Victory Annexation of Formosa
Boxer Rebellion (1899 - 1901)		Boxers	Victory The rebellion was suppressed. Signing of the Boxer Protocol Provisions for foreign troops to be stationed in Beijing
Russo-Japanese War (1904 - 1905)			Victory Treaty of Portsmouth Russia cedes Guandong Leased Territory and South Sakhalin to Japan
Battle of Namdaemun (1907)			Victory Imperial Korean Armed Forces was disbanded.
Beipu uprising (1907)		Hakka Saisiyat	Victory Marked a new phase in armed Taiwanese resistance.
Taishō period
Truku War (1914)		Truku Tribe	Victory Truku Tribe were scattered into many different locations.
Tapani incident (1915)		Tai Republic Han Taiwanese Taiwanese aborigines	Victory The colonial government subsequently took steps to improve colonial administration in southern Taiwan.
World War I (1914 - 1918)	United Kingdom Canada Australia Hejaz China		Victory End of the German Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ottoman Empire, and Russian Empire Formation of new countries in Europe and the Middle East Transfer of German colonies and regions of the former Ottoman Empire to other powers Creation of the League of Nations
Occupation of Constantinople (1918 - 1923)	^[9]		Temporary occupation Temporary military occupation of Constantinople after World War I by the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Greece.
Japanese intervention in Siberia (1918 - 1922)	White movement China Mongolia	Russia Mongolian People's Party	Victory
Shōwa period
Jinan incident (1928)		Kuomintang government	Victory Occupation of Jinan by Japanese Army
Musha Incident (1930)	Toda Truku (Taroko)	Tkdaya	Victory Seediq land was given to the Truku (Taroko) and Toda by the Japanese after the incident.
Japanese invasion of Manchuria (1931 - 1932)			Victory Tanggu Truce Establishment of the Japanese puppet state Manchukuo
Pacification of Manchukuo (1931 - 1942)			Victory Chinese fighting against the Japanese invaders were mostly defeated.
January 28 incident (1932)			Stalemate China and Japan signed the Shanghai Ceasefire Agreement Shanghai demilitarized
Soviet–Japanese border conflicts (1932 - 1939)	Manchukuo Korea		Defeat Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact
Second Sino-Japanese War (1937 - 1945)	---- Reorganized National Government Provisional Government Reformed Government East Hebei	----	Defeat Merged into World War II Chinese victory as part of the Allied victory in the Pacific War Surrender of all Japanese forces in mainland China (excluding Manchuria), Formosa and French Indochina north of 16° north to China China becomes a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Resumption of the Chinese Civil War
Invasion of French Indochina (1940)		French Indochina	Victory Japanese occupation of Northern French Indochina
World War II (1941 - 1945)	Slovakia Finland Thailand	United States United Kingdom Poland Netherlands Belgium Luxembourg Denmark Norway Canada Australia Mexico	Defeat Fall of the Empire of Japan, Greater German Realm, and Kingdom of Italy Allied occupation of Japan and Germany Continuation of the Chinese Civil War Substantial weakening of European colonial powers, gradual decolonization of Asia (including the Indonesian National Revolution and the First Indochina War) Creation of the United Nations Emergence of the United States and the Soviet Union as superpowers Beginning of the Cold War
Pacific War (1941–1945)		United States	DefeatAllied victory End of World War II Fall of the Empire of Japan Continuation of the Chinese Civil War Substantial weakening of European colonial powers and the gradual decolonization of Asia First Indochina War Indonesian National Revolution Korean War 1951 Treaty of San Francisco 1956 Soviet–Japanese Joint Declaration Allied occupation of Japan (1945–1952) Removal of Japanese troops occupying parts of China and the retrocession of Taiwan to China Liberation of Korea and Manchuria from Japanese rule, followed by the division of Korea Cession of Japanese-held islands in the Central Pacific Ocean to the United Nations Seizure and annexation of South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands by the Soviet Union The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands is created by the United Nations and placed under the authority of the United States. The UN Security Council ended the vast trusteeship in stages, from 1986 to 1994, with the US gaining the territory of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Indonesian National Revolution (1945–1949)	(volunteers) Indonesia (defectors)	(until 1946)	Indonesian Victory Netherlands accepts the Independence of Indonesia Restoration of the reputation of the remnants of the Japanese army
Operation Masterdom (1945 - 1946)	France	Viet Minh	Victory Restoration of French rule in Indochina Start of the First Indochina War, lasting until the Geneva Conference of 1954
Heisei period
Battle of Amami-Ōshima (2001)			Victory North Korean naval trawler sunk
Iraq War (2003 - 2011)	Peshmerga---- New Iraqi government	------------	Victory Invasion and occupation of Iraq Defeat of Ba'ath Party-led regime and execution of Saddam Hussein Iraqi insurgency, emergence of al-Qaeda in Iraq, and civil war Subsequent depletion of Iraqi insurgency, improvements in public security Establishment of democratic elections and formation of new Shia led government U.S.–Iraq Status of Forces Agreement Withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq Rise of Iraqi insurgency after U.S. withdrawal and spillover with the Syrian Civil War Resurgence of al-Qaeda in Iraq and Syria
Operation Ocean Shield (2009 - 2016)		Somali pirates	Victory Number of Somali pirate attacks have been reduced dramatically.

See also

• Japan during World War I
• Japan during World War II
• List of Japanese battles

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Veritable Records of King Sejong . 20 January 2021 . 左議政朴訔啓: "左軍節制使朴實 對馬島敗軍時所(護)〔獲〕 漢人 宋官童等十一名, 備知我師見敗之狀, 不可解送中國, 以見我國之弱。Left State Councilor Bak Eun advised, "Eleven Chinese people including Song Guantong, who were freed when Bak Sil, commander of the Left Army, was defeated in Tsushima Island, know much about the situation in which our troops were defeated. [They] should not be sent to China under escort, because that would reveal our country’s weakness [to China].".
2. Web site: The Veritable Records of King Sejong . esillok.history.go.kr . 18 July 2021 . 仇里安曰: "本島之屬於慶尙道, 己之所不知, 戒道豈能獨知乎? 必是妄言也。 … 對馬島, 日本邊境。攻對馬島, 是攻本國也 Kyūrian said, “I did not know about our island’s subordination to Gyeongsang Province. How could [Shin] Kaidō alone have known? This surely was reckless talk. … Tsushima is on the Japanese frontier, thus an attack on Tsushima is an attack on Japan..
3. https://megalodon.jp/2020-0722-1441-57/sillok.history.go.kr/id/kda_10107003_002 세종실록 4권, 세종 1년 7월 3일
4. https://web.archive.org/web/20181026104548/http://sillok.history.go.kr/id/kda_10107009_005 세종실록 4권, 세종 1년 7월 9일
5. Web site: Wakō. https://web.archive.org/web/20190724005153/https://www.britannica.com/topic/wako. Britannica. 24 July 2019. 18 November 2022.
6. Book: Sansom, George . A History of Japan, 1334–1615 . registration . Stanford University Press . 1961 . 0804705259 . 217.
7. Web site: Tampico . Vladimir Meza El Sol de . La batalla de Cagayán, tlaxcaltecas contra piratas y ¿samuráis? . 2023-06-20 . El Sol de Tampico Noticias Locales, Policiacas, sobre México, Tamaulipas y el Mundo . es.
8. Rowbotham . W. B. . 11 September 2009 . The Bombardment of Kagoshima, 15th August, 1863 . Royal United Services Institution. Journal . en . 108 . 631 . 273–278 . 10.1080/03071846309424838 . 0035-9289.
9. Web site: Occupation during and after the War (Ottoman Empire) | International Encyclopedia of the First World War (WW1). encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net.