The Japanese History Quiz

How well do you know Japan's past? Ten questions on a thousand years of Japanese history, from the imperial court and the samurai to Perry's black ships and the years after 1945.

  • 10 questions
  • About 3 minutes
  • Medium
  • Includes 2 photos
A samurai on horseback in full armor and horned helmet, carrying a bow and arrows
Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

About this quiz

The quiz runs from Japan's medieval court to the country rebuilt after World War II. It covers the first European guns to reach Japan, the long peace of the shoguns, the American warships that forced the country open, the samurai rebellion behind a Hollywood film, and the war in Manchuria.

Most questions start from something you may have heard of, such as the samurai or a famous photograph, and ask about the part of the story that is less well known. Each answer comes with a short explanation.

Topics in this quiz

Matthew Perry and the Black ShipsSamuraiEmperor HirohitoDouglas MacArthur

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