Society in the Jomon period was largely hunter/gatherer-based, but they still created pottery, the style of which became the name of the period.

Japanese civilization developed into a more agrarian, farm-based society, and their pottery styles changed as well, similarly creating the name for the period

Haniwa figures developed as burial companions as Japanese culture progressed.

The Nara period showed major developments in traditional Japanese painting techniques as a result of a newfound interest in art forms.

Physical art did not develop noticeably during this time, but a court culture centered around elaborate poetry began to grow, leading to the creation of the first novel.

Art itself did not develop greatly during this period, but with samurai culture becoming increasingly prevalent, depictions of samurai became similarly prevalent.

The presence of Zen Buddhism greatly influenced Muromachi-era art, mainly through its peaceful and appreciative attitude that focuses on the harmony in life.

The Momoyama period, while politically eventful, led to no massive developments in art or literature. The main effects of this period come from the peace that followed the conflict within this time, which leads into the Edo period.

The Samurai were created as feudal warriors, which began the downfall of the Heian Court, which peaked in this time period.

Minamoto no Yoritomo wins the Genpei war against the Taira clan, which begins the shift of power towards the shogunate, as well as the creation of a much more feudal society. The Imperial Court is relegated to a much more symbolic role in government, allowing the Shogunate to thrive.

Emperor Go-Daigo tries in vain to restore the power of the Imperial Court and is overpowered by the new Shogun, Ashikaga Takauji. An internal conflict between the Shogun and the daimyo, who attempt to gain a greater role in political affairs. This period is known as the warring states period. On an entirely different note, the first Japanese interaction with Europe, through Portuguese missionaries, ended rather uneventfully.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the present Shogunate, attempted to retain order after the chaos of the Warring States Period which ended somewhat in vain. The increase of the merchant class became much more apparent, and tea became a rather prevalent commodity.

The Tokugawa (Edo) period is marked by a lasting era of peace and relative tranquility resulting from the military victory of Ieyasu's forces over Hideyoshi in Sekigehara, which transferred power fully to Ieyasu. This allowed the Shogun, through strict regulation, to maintain peace among the daimyo and therefore the nation. External trade relations were severed with all but the Chinese and Dutch, which led to great separation and isolation between Japan and its neighbors leading into the 1800's.

The Meiji Period is defined by the public relations between Japan and its neighbors, which had been harshly cut off up until this era. It was during this time period that the Japanese began cultural borrowing programs with much of the western world, which impacted art and culture immensely through external influences.

The Taisho Period was large for Japan politically but did not greatly change culturally due to the governmental emphasis on specific and selective borrowing. Art improved naturally, however, and the use of painting simply grew in prevalence, and a humanist movement began to develop.

The Showa Period is commonly divided into the early and late Showa periods, and is defined by the difference between the two. The early period describes the militarization of Japanese society, specifically leading up to World War II. After the Second World War, the late period is defined largely by Japan's return to its greatness through incredibly rapid economic expansion. It was in this second period that Japanese artists further explored western art styles, through architecture, painting, and film.

During the Heisei period, a great deal of exposure to the world allowed Japan to further its traditional art beyond simple paintings. This combined with the rapid increase in technology between 1989 and now caused Japanese culture to expand exponentially through a variety of different art forms, while still maintaining a unique and distinct style that permeates through the culture in its entirety.