Editing Japan

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{{Update|''[[Assassin's Creed: Blade of Shao Jun]]'', ''[[Assassin's Creed: Bloodstone]]'',  ''[[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty]]'' and ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood of Venice]]''}}
{{WP-REAL}}
{{Country Infobox
|title1= Japan
|image1=Example
|caption1=Example
|ethnic_groups= {{wiki|Yamato people|Yamato}}<br>{{wiki|Ryukyuan people|Ryukyuans}}<br>{{wiki|Ainu people|Ainu}}
|languages= {{wiki|Japanese language|Japanese}}
|religion= {{wiki|Shinto}}<br>{{wiki|Buddhism}}<br>{{wiki|Confucianism}}
|demonym= {{wiki|Japanese people|Japanese}}
|current_state= {{wiki|Japan}}
|capital= [[Tokyo]]
|assassin_branch= [[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Osaka Brotherhood]]
|templar_branch= [[Japanese Rite of the Templar Order|Japanese Rite]]
|past_states= Japan:
*Pre-shogunate {{c|660 BCE–1185}}
*{{wiki|Kamakura shogunate}} {{c|1185–1333}}
*{{wiki|Ashikaga shogunate}} {{c|1336–1573}}
*[[Tokugawa shogunate]] {{c|1600–1868}}<ref name="Memories">''[[Assassin's Creed: Memories]]''</ref>
*{{wiki|Empire of Japan}} {{c|1868–1947}}
|historical_capitals={{wiki|Kyoto}}
|periods=
|major_conflicts=*[[Sengoku period]]<ref name="Memories" />
*[[Boshin War]]
*[[World War II]]
|region= [[Asia|East Asia]]
|features=
|major_cities= *[[Osaka]]
*[[Yokohama]]
|major_landmarks=
|isu_vault(s)=
}}
'''Japan''', also known as '''Cipango''', is a civilization and island country situated in [[Asia|East Asia]] with the world's oldest monarchy.

A relatively younger nation in comparison to its neighbours, [[China]] and {{wiki|Korea}}, Japan experienced an initial period of {{wiki|Nara period|imperial centralization}} and tremendous {{wiki|Heian period|cultural flowering}} through its import of Chinese societal and political customs. Over time, the aristocratic preoccupation with their insular artistic lifestyle gave rise to feudal states ruled by an elite military class known as the {{wiki|samurai}}. The emperor henceforth became a figurehead for the head of the samurai, the {{wiki|shōgun}}.

As centuries passed, this decentralization culminated in the [[Sengoku period]] in the 16th century, wherein hundreds of states vied for dominion over all of Japan and hoped to establish a new {{wiki|shōgunate}}. It was in this pivotal era that the contest between the [[Assassins]] and the [[Templars]] in Japan reached new heights, for they integrated themselves heavily in the turmoil through their training as [[ninja]], allying themselves with ''[[daimyō]]'', or—in the case of those such as [[Oda Nobunaga]]—serving as warlords themselves. In this chaotic contest, the Assassins emerged the victor in 1603 through their chosen ally, [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], inaugurating almost two centuries of peace and stability coupled with social stagnation and isolationism.

Japan was eventually pressured to {{wiki|Meiji Restoration|rapidly modernize}} by the threat of Western imperialism, and this culminated in the [[Boshin War]] between the Tokugawa shogunate, supported by the Assassins, and the Imperial Court, supported by the Templars. The latter's victory led to the dissolution of the shōgunate in 1868, returning full prestige, if not power, to the emperor. With the establishment of the {{wiki|Empire of Japan}}, the increasingly nationalistic state unleashed brutal invasions on its Asian neighbours over the first half of the 20th century. Its onslaught and militaristic regime only ended when it was defeated in [[World War II]] by the [[United States]].

In the present day, the {{wiki|Japan|State of Japan}} is a sovereign state with its capital at [[Tokyo]]. An [[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Assassin presence]] in [[Osaka]], one of its largest cities, survived both the [[Great Purge]] of 2000 and a Templar assault in 2012. It became integrated with the [[Onmoraki-Gumi]], a [[yakuza]] crime syndicate, in late 2013.

==History==
===Nara period===
In 717, the Japanese scholar and {{Wiki|Waka (poetry)|''waka''}} poet [[Abe no Nakamaro]] traveled to the [[Tang dynasty|Tang Empire]] as part of a {{Wiki|Japanese mission to Tang China|mission}}, the other members of this mission returned to Japan but Nakamaro elected to stay. After passing the {{Wiki|Imperial examination|civil-service examination}}, Nakamaro held many administrative positions in the country.<ref>{{WP|Abe no Nakamaro}}</ref> In 753, he attempted to sail back to Japan but was shipwrecked off at Ryukyu, and went ashore at the coast of [[Vietnam]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty]]'' - [[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty Chapter 1|Chapter 1]]</ref>

=== Kamakura period ===
By 1257, knowledge of the country had reached the Western world. [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] suggested spreading rumours that his [[Apple of Eden 2|Apple of Eden]] had been transported to Japan or [[Cyprus]] to draw away the [[Templars]] from looking for it beneath [[Masyaf]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref>

=== Sengoku period ===
After several defeats by the Assassins in [[Europe]] during the early 16th century, the Templars led by [[Francis Xavier]] sought to spread their influence in Japan. Despite the difficulties posed by the the island's warring states, they recruited a few Japanese sympathizers like [[Mochizuki Chiyome]]. The Assassins responded by recruiting rival ninjas like [[Hattori Hanzō]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Memories]]''</ref>

=== Bakumatsu era ===
By 1868, the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] was on it's last legs. With the rapid modernization of Japan through Western influence since the arrival of Matthew Perry and the Black Fleet in the mid-1850s, the Templars were able to infiltrate the Imperial Court in Kyoto and convince [[Emperor Meiji]] to take action against the shogunate in Edo led by [[Tokugawa Yoshinobu]], a powerful ally of the Assassins.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Fragments – Aizu's Blade]]''</ref>

=== Modern times ===
[[Abstergo Industries]] gave [[J. Robert Oppenheimer]] authorization to test the atomic bomb, making them directly responsible for the {{Wiki|atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki}} that ended [[World War II]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' - [[Glyphs]]</ref>

{{Wiki|Whaling in Japan}} is a controversial issue; [[Susan Drayton]], an Assassin and environmentalist, originally intended to use the ''[[Altaïr II]]'' to fight Japanese whalers.<ref name=":0">''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]''</ref>

In 2013, the Assassin headquarters in [[Osaka]] was attacked by the yakuza faction known as [[Onmoraki-Gumi]], resulting in the death of [[Mentor]] [[Kenichi Mochizuki]]. As retaliation, his wife [[Saeko Mochizuki]] led an attack on the yakuza faction, taking over the organization and using it as a front for the Assassin activities and leading as the [[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Japanese Brotherhood]]'s new Mentor.<ref name=":0">''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]''</ref>

==Trivia==
*In his [[Cryptic Messages|cryptic messages]], [[Clay Kaczmarek]] made references to the {{Wiki|Yonaguni Monument}}, and drew imagery of {{Wiki|Mount Fuji}}, {{Wiki|Japanese architecture#Asuka and Nara architecture|Nara-style pagodas}}, and a {{Wiki|torii}}.

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' {{c|Gylphs only}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Memories]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Blade of Shao Jun]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood of Venice]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Fragments – Aizu's Blade]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{ACM}}
{{Initiates}}
{{ACBs}}
{{ACF}}
[[zh:日本]]
[[Category:Civilizations]]
[[Category:Island countries]]
[[Category:Countries in Asia]]
[[Category:Japan| ]]