Mongol Invasion of Japan
1274 CE · Hakata Bay, Japan
The Mongol Invasion of Japan was fought in 1274 CE in Hakata Bay, Japan between Kamakura shogunate vs the Yuan dynasty and Goryeo; Japanese victory; the invasion fleet withdrew after a day of fighting and a storm.
Mongol Invasion of Japan: quick facts
- Date
- 1274 CE
- Location
- Hakata Bay, Japan
- Belligerents
- Kamakura shogunate vs the Yuan dynasty and Goryeo
- Commanders
- Hōjō Tokimune's samurai vs Kublai Khan's generals Hindu and Hong Dagu
- Result
- Japanese victory; the invasion fleet withdrew after a day of fighting and a storm.
- Era
- ⛩️ East Asia
- Quiz difficulty
- medium
What happened at the Mongol Invasion of Japan?
In 1274, Kublai Khan launched the first Mongol invasion of Japan with a fleet of approximately 900 ships carrying 40,000 Mongol, Chinese, and Korean soldiers. After initial fighting at Hakata Bay where samurai struggled against unfamiliar Mongol tactics, a massive typhoon struck and devastated the Mongol fleet. The Japanese called this storm 'kamikaze' or 'divine wind,' a term that would take on new meaning centuries later.
Did you know?
The word 'kamikaze,' meaning 'divine wind,' was coined for the typhoons that destroyed the Mongol fleets. Centuries later, Japanese suicide pilots adopted the same name during World War II.
Sources and further reading
- Mongol Invasion of Japan on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.