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When did the Empire of Japan begin and end?

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Map showing the territorial expansion of the Japanese Empire from 1870 to 1942 across East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The map uses color codes to indicate the original Japanese territory in 1870, subsequent acquisitions, and the farthest extent of Japanese occupation and conquest by 1942, including parts of China, Korea, Manchuria, Southeast Asia, and numerous Pacific islands. An inset map displays the broader reach of Japanese control at its peak.
Empire of Japan The Empire of Japan, 1870ā€“1942.

The Empire of Japan was a historical state that existed from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century.

  • Beginning: The empire was founded on January 3, 1868, following the overthrow of the last Tokugawa shogun by supporters of the Meiji emperor.1
  • End: While the Pacific War concluded with Japan's surrender on August 14, 1945, and the formal signing of the surrender agreement on September 2, 1945, the imperial house nominally held power until the enactment of Japanā€™s postwar constitution on May 3, 1947.12