East Asia in the twentieth century (1914 – 2000). Two world wars, decolonisation and the technologies that made the present. These articles cover the century within living memory.
On March 1, 1919, 33 Korean leaders read a declaration of independence at the Taehwagwan and surrendered; students marched from Tapgol Park and Korea rose.
· 1919The Enola Gay released Little Boy at 8:15:15 on August 6, 1945. The US Strategic Bombing Survey counted 70,000 dead; the City of Hiroshima counts 237,000.
· 1945The armistice text says no nation is a signatory. Lt. Gen. William K. Harrison Jr. and Gen. Nam Il signed it at Panmunjom at 10 a.m. on July 27, 1953.
· 1953A Chisso doctor reported an unknown nervous disease on May 1, 1956. Japan named methylmercury from the plant in 1968; a mercury treaty followed in 2013.
· 1956The World Bank lent Japanese National Railways $80 million on May 2, 1961 for the New Tokaido Line. It opened October 1, 1964 at nearly double the budget.
· 1964An earthquake under northern Awaji Island at 5:46 a.m. on January 17, 1995, was rated M7.2, then M7.3 in 2001. Japan's final count is 6,434 dead.
· 1995
