# List of wars involving Japan

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) | Tsushima Province Sō clan | Joseon | Victory Withdrawal of Korean armies from Tsushima After 24 years, the Treaty of Gyehae was concluded and the number of wokou gradually decreased. |
| 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 |
| 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) | 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 | Ryūkyū Kingdom | 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 Dutch Empire | Roman Catholics and rōnin rebels | Victory National seclusion policy imposed Christianity driven underground |
| Bombardment of Kagoshima (1863) | Satsuma Domain | Britain | Defeat Kagoshima is bombarded by British Ships Satsuma makes payment of £25,000 to the British |
| Shimonoseki Campaign (1863–1864) | Chōshū Domain | Britain Dutch Empire France United States | 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 Court Tozama: Satchō Alliance Satsuma Domain Chōshū Domain Other Tozama daimyō: Tosa Domain Hiroshima Domain Tsu Domain Saga Domain Ogaki Domain Hirosaki Domain Kuroishi Domain Yodo Domain  Japan  United States  United Kingdom | 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  France | Imperial victory End of the Tokugawa shogunate Meiji Restoration |
| Japanese invasion of Taiwan (1874) (1874) | Japan | Paiwan China | Victory Occupation of Taiwan by Japan |
| Battle of Ganghwa (1875) | Japan | Korea | Victory Severe damage inflicted on Korean defenses |
| Southwestern War (1877) | Japan | Shizoku clans from Satsuma Domain | Imperial victory Shizoku rebellions were suppressed. The conscription system was established in Japan. |
| First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895) | Japan | China | Victory Korea removed from Chinese suzerainty Treaty of Shimonoseki |
| Japanese invasion of Taiwan (1895) | Japan | Formosa | Victory Annexation of Formosa |
| Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901) | Japan Russia United Kingdom France United States Germany Austria-Hungary Italy | Boxers China | Victory The rebellion was suppressed. Signing of the Boxer Protocol Provisions for foreign troops to be stationed in Beijing |
| Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) | Japan | Russia | Victory Treaty of Portsmouth Russia cedes Guandong Leased Territory and South Sakhalin to Japan |
| Battle of Namdaemun (1907) | Japan | Korea | Victory Imperial Korean Armed Forces was disbanded. |
| Beipu uprising (1907) | Japan | Hakka Saisiyat | Victory Marked a new phase in armed Taiwanese resistance. |
| Taishō period ||||
| Truku War (1914) | Japan | Truku Tribe | Victory Truku Tribe were scattered into many different locations. |
| Tapani incident (1915) | Japan | 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) | Japan France United Kingdom  India  Canada  Australia  New Zealand  South Africa  Russia Italy United States Serbia Montenegro Belgium Romania Portugal Hejaz China Greece Brazil | Germany Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire Bulgaria | 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) | Japan United Kingdom France Italy Greece United States | Ottoman Empire | 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) | Japan White movement United States United Kingdom France Italy Poland China Czechoslovakia Mongolia | Russia Far Eastern Republic Mongolian People's Party | Victory |
| Shōwa period ||||
| Jinan incident (1928) | Japan | Kuomintang government | Victory Occupation of Jinan by Japanese Army |
| Musha Incident (1930) | Japan 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) | Japan | China | Victory Tanggu Truce Establishment of the Japanese puppet state Manchukuo |
| Pacification of Manchukuo (1931–1942) | Japan Manchukuo | China | Victory Chinese fighting against the Japanese invaders were mostly defeated. |
| January 28 incident (1932) | Japan | China | Stalemate China and Japan signed the Shanghai Ceasefire Agreement Shanghai demilitarized |
| Soviet–Japanese border conflicts (1932–1939) | Japan Manchukuo Korea | Soviet Union Mongolia | Defeat Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact |
| Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) | Japan Reorganized National Government Manchukuo Mengjiang Provisional Government Reformed Government East Hebei | China  United States Soviet Union Britain | 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) | Japan | Vichy France French Indochina | Victory Japanese occupation of Northern French Indochina |
| World War II (1941–1945) | Japan Germany Italy Romania Hungary Bulgaria Slovakia Croatia Finland Thailand Iraq | United States Soviet Union United Kingdom China France Poland Yugoslavia Greece Netherlands Belgium Luxembourg Denmark Norway Czechoslovakia India Canada Australia New Zealand South Africa Philippines Ethiopia Brazil Mexico Mongolia Tuva | 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) | Japan | United States | Defeat Allied 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) | Japan (volunteers) Indonesia India (defectors) | Japan (until 1946)  Netherlands  Dutch East Indies  Dutch Caribbean  United Kingdom  India  Australia | Indonesian Victory Netherlands accepts the Independence of Indonesia Restoration of the reputation of the remnants of the Japanese army |
| Operation Masterdom (1945–1946) | Japan United Kingdom 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) | Japan | North Korea | Victory North Korean naval trawler sunk |
| Iraq War (2003–2011) | Coalition forces  Japan  South Korea  Spain  Denmark  Romania  El Salvador  Estonia  Bulgaria  Moldova  Albania  Ukraine  Czech Republic  Tonga  Azerbaijan  Singapore  Bosnia and Herzegovina  Macedonia  Latvia  Kazakhstan  Armenia  Mongolia  Georgia  Slovakia  Lithuania  Italy  Norway  Hungary  Netherlands  Portugal  New Zealand  Thailand  Philippines  Honduras  Dominican Republic  Nicaragua  Iceland  United States  United Kingdom  Australia  Poland Peshmerga New Iraqi government | Iraqi Regional Branch Supreme Command for Jihad and Liberation Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order Sunni insurgents Islamic State of Iraq Islamic Army of Iraq Ansar al-Sunnah Shia insurgents Mahdi Army Special Groups Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq Others  Iraq | 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) | Japan Somalia NATO Australia China Colombia India Indonesia Malaysia New Zealand Oman Pakistan Puntland Russia Saudi Arabia Seychelles Singapore South Korea Ukraine | Somali pirates | Victory Number of Somali pirate attacks have been reduced dramatically. |