The stratovolcano Mount Bandai erupts killing approximately 500 people, in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.

Meiji constitution of Japan is adopted; the first Diet of Japan convenes in 1890.

The Meiji Constitution goes into effect in Japan and the first Diet convenes.

The Ōtsu incident : Tsarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich of Imperial Russia (later Nicholas II) suffers a critical head injury during a sword attack by Japanese policeman Tsuda Sanzō. He is rescued by Prince George of Greece and Denmark.

The Mino-Owari Earthquake, the largest earthquake in Japan's history, strikes Gifu Prefecture.

The First Sino-Japanese War erupts between Japan and China over Korea.

First Sino-Japanese War: Japan defeats China in the Battle of Pyongyang.

The Treaty of Shimonoseki between China and Japan is signed. This marks the end of the First Sino-Japanese War, and the defeated Qing Empire is forced to renounce its claims on Korea and to concede the southern portion of the Fengtien province, Taiwan and the Pescadores Islands to Japan.

The Treaty of Shimonoseki between China and Japan is signed. This marks the end of the First Sino-Japanese War, and the defeated Qing Empire is forced to renounce its claims on Korea and to concede the southern portion of the Fengtien province, Taiwan and the Pescadores Islands to Japan.

The Republic of Formosa collapses as Japanese forces invade.

The most destructive tsunami in Japan's history kills more than 22,000 people.

NEC Corporation is organized as the first Japanese joint venture with foreign capital.

A joint European-Japanese-United States force (Eight-Nation Alliance) occupies Beijing, in a campaign to end the bloody Boxer Rebellion in China.

Battle of Port Arthur: A surprise torpedo attack by the Japanese at Port Arthur, China starts the Russo-Japanese War.

Russo-Japanese War: Russian troops in Korea retreat toward Manchuria followed by 100,000 Japanese troops.

The Eulsa Treaty is signed between Japan and Korea.

San Francisco public school board sparks United States diplomatic crisis with Japan by ordering Japanese students to be taught in racially segregated schools.

Korea becomes a protectorate of Japan.

Korea was annexed by Japan with the signing of the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty, beginning a period of Japanese rule of Korea that lasted until the end of World War II.

Japan changes Korea's name to ''Chōsen'' and appoints a governor-general to rule its new colony.

World War I: Japan declares war on Germany and bombs Qingdao, China.

A gas explosion at Mitsubishi Hojyo coal mine, Kyūshū, Japan, kills 687.

Japan issues the "Twenty-One Demands" to the Republic of China in a bid to increase its power in East Asia.

The Japanese Imperial Navy battleship ''Kawachi'' blows up at Shunan, western Honshu, Japan, killing at least 621.

Japan announces that it is deploying troops to Siberia in the aftermath of World War I.

May Fourth Movement: Student demonstrations take place in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, protesting the Treaty of Versailles, which transferred Chinese territory to Japan.

The Washington Naval Treaty is signed in Washington, D.C., limiting the naval armaments of United States, Britain, Japan, France, and Italy.

Namba Daisuke, a Japanese student, tries to assassinate the Prince Regent Hirohito.

Diplomatic relations between Japan and the Soviet Union are established.

Japan's public broadcasting company, Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (NHK) is established.

Japanese atrocities in Jinan, China.

The United Kingdom, Japan and the United States sign the London Naval Treaty regulating submarine warfare and limiting shipbuilding.

The Mukden Incident gives Japan the pretext to invade and occupy Manchuria.

Japanese forces attack Shanghai.

Japan occupies Harbin, China.

The May 15 Incident: in an attempted Coup d'état, the Prime Minister of Japan Inukai Tsuyoshi is killed.

"Fujifilm", the foundation of Fujifilm, the photographic and electronic industry in "Tokyo", "Japan".

A large typhoon hits western Honshū, Japan, killing 3,036 people.

Japan renounces the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 and the London Naval Treaty of 1930.

In the February 26 Incident, young Japanese military officers attempt to stage a coup against the government.