The political history of Japan is marked by a series of significant periods, starting with the ancient Yayoi and Jomon cultures. The establishment of the Yamato state in the 3rd century AD laid the foundation for a centralized government. Over the centuries, Japan experienced feudalism, with powerful samurai clans and the rise of the shogunate system, which dominated from the 12th to the 19th centuries. The Meiji Restoration in 1868 marked a turning point, leading to modernization and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy. After World War II, Japan adopted a pacifist constitution, transitioning to a democratic government. Today, Japan is a stable parliamentary democracy, with a rich political heritage.