- Jomon (c. 10,000 - c. 300 B.C.)
- Yayoi (c. 300 B.C. - c. A.D. 250)
- Kofun (c. A.D. 250 - c. 600)
- Asuka (c. A.D. 600-710)
- Nara (A.D. 710-94)
- Heian (A.D. 794-1185)
- Kamakura (1185-1333)
- Kemmu Restoration (1333-36)
- Muromachi (Ashikaga) (1336-1573)
- Nambokucho (North and South schism) (1336-1393)
- Azuchi-Momoyama (1573-1614)
- Tokugawa (also called Edo) (1615-1867)
- Meiji (Mutsuhito) (1868-1912)
- Taisho (Yoshihito) (1912-26)
- Showa (Hirohito) (1926-89)
- Heisei (Akihito) 1989-
Some consider the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, other consider 1615 when the Toyotomi stronghold at Osaka in was destroyed by the Tokugawa army, as the start of the Edo periond.
The last four periods are identified by reign titles; the name of the emperor is given in parentheses. Reign titles are used only after the death of the emperor.
