Notes on calendar, reigns, years and dates: Note on dates: prior to 1873.1.1, months of Japanese events are on lunar calendar (with year only converted to Western), Western dates are on Western calendar. A 'b' next to the month refers to a leap-month according to lunar calendar.

1800-1850 Late Tokugawa Social, Economic, and Political Turmoil
1831 Ch™shž peasant uprising: 60,000 oppose bureaucracy, argue for market and political reforms.
1833-36 Great Temp™ Era Famine
1837.02-1837.03 Oshio Heihachir™ leads Osaka revolt over policies that had caused famine: ends in suicide.
1838-43 Temp™ Era Reforms: ineffective measures against a rapidly destabilizing economy
1843 Formation of H™tokusha (farmer support organization) at Odawara

1840-1865 World colonization by Western Powers continues
1800-1850s advances in technology enable inland conquests in Africa and Asia.
steamships / machine guns / quinine / railways / telegraphs /
1820s-1870s Inland conquests of Africa and Asia yield products for Western market
cotton / copper / palm oil / tin / rubber / sugar / tea / coffee / cocoa / ...
1830 France occupies Algeria (Napolean had originally invaded in 1798)
1839-1842 (China) Opium War: Britain attacks Ch. to bolster opium commerce;
1842 Nanking Treaties of '42 and '43: open 5 ports, reparations, extraterritoriality...
1845-46 Irish potato blight incurs mass starvation, emigration; while England yawns.
1853 Karl Marx predicts that India will undergo vast and rich industrialization.
1853-56 Crimean War
1857-58 Indian Rebellion
1858 China Treaty of Tientsin: 1857-60 West attacks China repeatedly to receive damage awards
1859 France occupies Saigon

1800-1850 Social and Industrial Transformations in West
19th C: shift in population to cities;
1798 Eli Whitney proposes using interchangeable parts in flintlock production
1811-1816 English Luddite weavers protest against textile loom technology
1850-1900 Basic literacy rates jump from 65% to 95% in England and France

1850-1864 Taiping Rebellion weakens Chinese dynastic power:
??? Feng Yun-shan founds God Worshippers Society among poor peasants of Kwangsi.
1847 Hung Hsiu-ch'uan (saw himself as brother of Christ) joins Feng's Society.
1851.01.01 Hung proclaims himself emperor of new dynasty T'ai-ping T'ien-kuo;
      = advocates Old Testament-style wrathful God; language simplification; prohibition of vices;
      = gender equality; commonly held property;
1851-1853 Hung ccrues army of 1 million; sweeping north to Nanking.
1853.3.10 Hung's army captures Nanking, renames it T'ien-ching.
??? Splinter factions suppressed: Yang Hsiu-ch'ing and followers killed; Wei Ch'ang-hui killed;
1860 Frederick Townsend Ward (US) repels army from taking Shanghai.
??? Gentry class disturbed by anti-Confucianism; organized under Tseng Kuo-fan.
1862-1864 Tseng surrounds, then captures Nanking; Hung and 100,000 followers commit suicide.

1800-1860 Increasing Exposure to Western ships, writings, etc.:
1806 Russian raids on settlements in Hokkaido: Aizu-han delegated to patrol coast for 3 months
1808.10 British ship Phaetonlands at Nagasaki using Dutch flag, but departs immediately
1811 Bureau for Translation of Barbarian Writings (Bansho wa-kai goyoogakari) established
1811 Russian ship Diana crew arrested (by Japan) during survey of Kuriles
1813 British take Java, try unsuccessfully to open trade with Japan
1829 Takayashi Kageyasu posthumously beheaded for translating Siebold's maps
1837.06 American ship Morrison unsuccessfully tries to return stranded Japanese fishermen
     = enters Uraga, then goes to Satsuma
1846 US ships Vincesses and Columbus try unsuccessfully to open diplomatic relations
1849 British ship Mariner tries unsuccessfully to open diplomatic relations
1853-1854 Est. one million kawaraban (broadsides) published about Perry's arrival.
1855? Newspaper Society (Shimbun kai) created to inform han about Dutch news articles
1855 Bureau of Translation (1811~) renamed Institute for Western Studies (Yoogakujo)
    1856 renamed Institute for Barbarian Writings (Bansho shirabesho): later become Tokyo U.
    1863 renamed Institute for Internationalization (Kaiseijo)
     = publishes translations of Western news reportage of Japan and Asia
1861 ..., Waran bisei dan, translation by Kanda K™hei

1850-1860 Japan Ascertains its Place in the (Western) World Order
1852.03 Millard Fillmore commands Perry to establish diplomatic-economic relations with Japan.
1853? Vice-Admiral E. V. Putiatin enters Nagasaki on Palladaand four warships;
     = mission is to establish boundary between Russia and Japan; returns 1854 on Diana.
1853.07.08 Matthew Calbraith Perry enters Uraga with two frigates, two sailboats;
     = Japanese try to refuse, but accept letter; Perry thought he dealt with emperor, not Shogun; Perry vows to return
1854.02 Perry returns to Tokyo Bay with nine ships:
1854.03.31 Concludes treaty to open Hakodate and Shimoda ports;
     = provides supplies; assures better treatment of shipwrecked seamen;
     = Demonstrates J. gov't inability to maintain isolationism.
1854 Japan-Russia Treaty: establishes boundary line between Etorofu and Uruppu
1855.02 Treaty of Shimoda opens Nagasaki, Shimoda, and Hakodate to Russian traders.
1855 Tanaka Hisashige in Saga displays working miniature steam-train built on Russian design.
1856 Townsend Harris arrives at Shimoda
1858.07 Japan-US Treaty of Amity and Commerce (first of the Ansei Treaties):
     = prohibits opium traffic
1858.09 Russian Consul, I.A.Goshkevich arrives in Hakodate.
1859 Port of Yokohama is opened.
1860 First embassy sent to US to ratify Harris Treaty: Muragaki is horrified by screaming senators.
     = Oguri Tadamasa returns, determined to establish newpaper industry {Huffman 1997:25}
1862 Study group sent to US, includes Fukuzawa, Fukuchi; closely observes both wealth and poverty.
1862-1870 Numerous student-scholars smuggled to West to observe politics, technology, culture...
1863 Itoo Hirobumi, Inoue Kaoru visit England.
1867 Ernest Satow (Br. Embassy interpreter) calls for shogun to resign {Huffman 1997:29}

1853-1868 ÒRevere Emperor and Expel BarbariansÓ Movement to oppose West and Tokugawa.
1853 J™i (expel the barbarian) movement coalesces after PerryÕs first visit.
1858~ Ansei Purge (Ii Naosuke, from Aizu, has Yoshida Shoin killed).
1858 J™i faction opposes Ii Naosuke for signing J-US treaty without Emperor approval
1859 Rai Mikisaburo executed: advocated return to Imperial rule.
1860.03 Ii Naosuke assassinated at Sakuradamon, for signing J-US treaty without emperor's OK.
?1860-1863 K™bu gattai (linkage of Imperial Court with Tokugawa) argument flourishes:
      = pro: Hitotubashi Yoshinobu, Matudaira K., Yamauchi T., Date M., Tsushima H.,
1862.03 Marriage of Iemochi (Sh™gun) to Kazunomiya (EmpÕs sister)
1862.01.15 Sakashita-mongai Incident: Mito son-joo group attack Andoo Nobumasa outside Edo Castle.
      = Andoo was pro-koobu-gattai, had engineered Kazunomiya marriage;
      = Incident fans Sonnoo-jooi movement, in opposition to Koobu-gattai movement.
1862.04.23 Teradaya Incident: Satsuma samurai fight each other (k™bu-gattai vs sonj™) in Kyoto.
1862.07-1863.11 Namamugi Incident leads to Satsuma-England War:
     1862.07? Namamugi Incident: Englishman killed for blocking procession near Yokohama.
     1863.07? British bomb Kagoshima from ships to avenge Namamugi Incident, begins Satsu-Ei War.
      = Bakufu plans to pay £100,000 to Britain; Satsuma protests.
     1863.07-11 Satsuma fights Britain off Kagoshima: heavy losses, but British favorably impressed
     1863.11 Treaty signed in Yokohama, agreeing to Namamugi indemnity payment, etc.
      = Results in J-Brit mutual reassessment of military potential (both previously underestimated).
1863 fires destroy Nishinomaru, Honmaru, and Ninomaru castle parts
1863.05.10 Shimonoseki Incident: Chooshuu forces fire upon foreign ships at Shimonoseki
     1864.08 Eng., Fr., US, Dutch ships destroy Chooshuu cannons at Shimonoseki to avenge 1863 attack.
1863 Shinsen-gumi: private army assembled by Kondoo Isami, Hijikata Saizoo et al to support bakufu.
1863? Echizen Political Change (seihen)??? fails
1863 Kiheitai egalitarian private army assembled by Takasugi Shinsaku, opposes bakufu.
1863.08.13 Jooi faction proposes Emp. Koomei tour of Yamato (Nara):
      = supporters Nakayama Chuukoo, Fujimoto Tesseki, Yoshimura Torataroo (all killed).
1863.08.17 Tenchž Rebellion: first coordinated attack against Tokugawa property.
     1863.08.18 Satsuma, Aizu (k™bu gattai) forces expel Ch™shž (sonn™ j™i, anti-Bakufu) guard from Kyoto.
     1863.08.19 Shichiky™-ochi: Seven pro-emperor (anti-gattai) counsellors flee Kyoto toward Chooshuu:
         = Sanjoo Sanemi, Sanjoo Seiki,chi, Toohisa?, ??, Shijoo ??, Nishikikoji ??, Sawa???
1863.10.12 Ikuno Incident: Hirano Kuniomi (killed) leads 2,000 including peasants against Tokugawa
1864.03.27-1864.08 Tengu Insurrection (Mito): Protesting slowness of expelling foreigners
      = Takeda Koounsai leads 800 soldiers towards Kyoto; held off by Kanazawa forces; Takeda killed??.
1864.06 Ikedaya soodoo: Kondoo Isami leads Shinsengumi in bloodfest against a sonjoo group:
      = plot to assassinate Matsudaira Katamori (koobu gattai advocate), at the Ikedaya in Kyoto.
1864.07.19 Kinmon no hen: Chooshuu leaders Fukuhara et al. try to capture Kyoto Palace
     1864.07 Chooshuu seibatsu: Emperor (under control of bakufu) orders bakufu to punish Chooshuu.
      = Choshuu forces lose to Aizu forces in Kyoto.
     1864.12 Saigoo prefers to conquer by division: has Fukuhara et al killed, soldiers withdrawn.
     1866 Choosuu, using superior weapons, successfully defends against a second bakufu expedition
      = expeditions seen as personal vendetta by Matsudaira Katamori (Aizu) {T. Craig, Shiba, 152}
1866~ J™i movement recognizes impossibility of expelling foreigners; focusses on deposing Tokugawa
1867.08-1868.04 Eejanaika movement: Massive religious pilgrimage marking political-economic collapse
1867.10 Sakamoto Ryooma assassinated (w/ Nakaoka Shintaroo) in Kyoto.
1867.12 (= Western 1868.01) Boshin War/Imperial Restoration: (see below)
      = Satsuma, Chooshuu (et al) forces seize Kyoto Palace, claim restoration of imperial rule

1850-1868 Cultural Production
    = does the popularity of ghastly and grotesque signal a sensibility of social decline?
    = Rakugo, yoseba: 172 in Edo (1855).
1830 Izumiya Kichibei builds "haunted teahouse" in Omori (Figal 1999:25)
1837 Ninjoobon by Shunsui et al enter peak in popularity
    ?? note Shunsui imprisonment
1838.03~ haunted house boom in Ryoogoku (Edo).
1843 Kuniyoshi triptych depicts giant spider attacking bedridden Minamoto no Yorimitsu: end of era?
1850-1860 woodblock prints change from pretty to grotesque, using German aniline dyes?;
1855-1865 spread of 'ijin-goroshi' folk tales of appearance and murder of foreigners
1855 Great Ansei Earthquake: levels much of Edo
     = post-quake boom in namazu-e prints showing giant catfish: vengeful spirit to topple government?
1859 San'yuutei Enchoo, Kasane ga fuchi gojitsu-kaidan: rakugo ghost story
1861-1864 Suikyooren group popularizes "sandai-banashi":
      = Sansantei Arindo, Kanagaki Robun, Kawatake Shinshichi (Mokuami), Sanyuutei Enchoo,
Narushima Ryuuhoku: kanbun gesaku
1845-1871 Mantei Ooga, Shaka hassoo yamato bunko: Semi-comic narration of life of Buddha.
1862 Sanyžtei Enchoo, Botan d™r™ (Peony Lantern, pub. 1884):
      = Man killed by ghost of lover; wife plots murder
      = in 1870s, story was again popular; Enchoo had the story transcribed in short-hand.

Prostitution Industry gets Privatized=========
1850s Yanagibashi opened in Tokyo: 200 geisha employed c.1867
1868 Shinbashi and Yanagibashi are the representative geisha districts of Tokyo.

1868-1869 Boshin War: Demise of Tokugawa Shogunate Rule after 268 years of absolute power
      = Pro-Tokugawa (sabaku) regions: Aizu, Sendai,
      = Anti-Tokugawa regions: Satsuma, Choshu, Tosa,
1867.10.14?? Daj™kan govt structure [Tokugawa]: Two ministers, councillors, six ministries
1867.12.09 Anti-Bakufu forces submit ultimatum to Tok. Keiki (Yoshinobu) to yield title and land
1868.01.03 Battles of Toba, Fushimi: Pro-Tokugawa forces lose; undecided forces join Anti-Tokugawa
1868.01.17 Court orders Sendai to attack Aizu, kill Matsudaira Katamori: Sendai refuses:
     1868.03 Court sends 3,000 troops to Matsushima to 'convince' Sendai: intimidation backfires
     1863.04-05 Sendai, Yonezawa, Aizu (et al) form loose alliance of norther domains
     1863.07.29 Govt defeats Nagaoka, Nihonmatsu; 09.03 Yonezawa; 09.15 Sendai; 09.22 Aizu; 09.23 Shoonai
      = Govt forces led by Itagaki Taisuke; comprised of Satsuma, Chooshuu troops
     1863.08.22 attack begins on Wakamatsu (Aizu): many Aizu samurai-class people commit suicide
      = Byakkotai suicide survivors: Shiba Shiro, Yamakawa Kenjiro, Takamine Hideo, Akabane Yashiroo...
      = casualties: Govt = 1047; anti-govt = 2163 {T.Craig, Shiba, 152}
     1868.09.22 Matsudaira Katamori surrenders Aizu Castle
      = note that Aizu alone was defeated to abolishment, and samurai sent into exile
     1869.06 Aizu soldiers get marched to internment camp in Tokyo
1868.01.25 Western (6) nations declare neutrality under direction of British Consul Parks
1868.02.30 British Consul Parks attacked.
1868.04? (3.15?) Edo Castle sieged, opened.
1868.05 Sh™gitai battalion falls at Ueno; amid widespread peasant rebellions
1868.04 Battles in north at Sendai, Yonezawa; yields coalition between Mutsu, Dewa,
1868.10 Edo Castle declared to be the new imperial residence.
1868.12 Tsuima Domain sends ambassador for new government to Korea: he is turned away.
1868.12 Enomoto Takeaki leads old-guard attempt to cecede from Japan as ÒHokkaid™ RepublicÓ
1868.12 Western nations rescind neutrality proclamation, recognizing Meiji government.
1869.03 Meiji Emperor arrives to new residence at Edo Castle.
1869.05.18 Gory™kaku battle: Enomoto Takeaki surrenders to Meiji army, ending Hakodate War.
1868-70 Political upheavals incur mass exodus from Edo as Tokugawa economy fails