Japan was ruled by various emperors and warlords before the 19th century. Things started to change in the 19th century as Japan aimed to expand its borders to become a powerful empire. It waged wars with China and Russia. Japan occupied many territories including Korea by the end of the 1900s.
The Great Wars of the world marked an important chapter in the history of Japan. In the First World War, Japan sided with the US and attacked German colonies; the country then had trade ties with the US. Things took a turn when Japan chose to side with the Axis powers in World War II; Japan, along with Italy and Germany stood against the Allies and gained control over most of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.
In 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbour. This angered the US and the very next day, it declared war against Japan. The US responded by bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki with the first ever atomic bombs, killing millions of people and permanently damaging their environment. Japan surrendered in 1945 after the bombing and was occupied by the US till 1952.
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