These STEM star projectors make learning about constellations, planets and astronomy fun and easy for kids, plus they're ideal gifts for the little (and big) space fans.

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The Sengoku and Heian periods are two much discussed eras in Japanese history. On whether the Sengoku period came before the Heian Period, the answer is no. The Heian period preceded the Sengoku era by centuries. Understanding the timeline of the eras is important for anyone studying the history of the nation, as they represent a shift in the cultural dynamics of the country from a society of literature and art enthusiasts to a nation of warriors. It is worth noting that the Heian period spanned from 794 AD to 1185 AD while the Sengoku period lasted from approximately 1467 to 1615.How the Heian Period BeganThe domain of notable clans in Japan (1183).At the beginning of the era, Emperor Kanmu sought to escape the influence of powerful Buddhist monasteries in Nara and so he moved the capital to Heian-kyo. The move led to the creation of a city modeled after the Tang dynasty capital in China. Within its walls, the aristocratic class spent much of its time engaged in literature, art, and complicated dating rituals. One version of the story suggests that the nobility focused so much on art that they ignored the governing of the other 68 provinces. Nevertheless, the era is credited with coming up with some notable literary works such as The Tale of Genji written in 1008 by Lady Murasaki Shikibu. The text is considered today to be the first novel in the world.While the court flourished, the Fujiwara family held the actual power through a series of regencies that lasted for generations. It achieved this by marrying its daughters to emperors and controlling the throne through a system known as Sekkan politics.The Fujiwara Family Maintained LeadershipThree Samurai pose for photograph, colorized, by Felice Beato, 1860s. Source: Wikimedia CommonsAt the height of their influence, the Fujiwara family ensured that the central government remained stable, despite the lack of a standing national army, by relying on local warriors to quell small rebellions. Gradually, the local guards evolved into the samurai class that would eventually take over the country. Overwhelmed by the growing violence in the 12th century, the era finally fell when the Taira and Minamoto warrior clans fought in the Genpei War that occurred from 1180 to 1185. However, it was in 1192, after the Battle of Dan-no-ura, that the Minamoto established the first shogunate in Kamakura, marking the official end of the Heian way of life.How the Sengoku Period Came to BeShogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa. Source: War History OnlineA transitional period followed the fall of the Heian era as the Kamakura and Muromachi shogunates struggled to maintain order. However, long before the Sengoku period started, the central authority of the Ashikaga shogunate began to crumble due to financial problems and internal disputes. In 1467, a succession crisis involving Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa triggered the Onin War, a conflict that lasted for ten years and burned much of Kyoto to the ground. When the fighting officially stopped in 1477, the central government had become a mere shadow of its former self.Known to history as the Sengoku Jidai, the resulting century of chaos saw hundreds of local lords fighting for territory. While domestic and international trade continued, the lack of a central law meant that power belonged to whoever had the largest army.The Three Unifiers of the 16th and 17th Centuries in JapanOda Nobunaga. Source: japantravel.comApproximately 250 different lords called daimyo fought for territory across the various provinces of Japan in the 16th century. Oda Nobunaga, a low-level lord from Owari, quickly rose to power by winning the Battle of Okehazama in 1560. He is said to have utilized thousands of arquebusiers (soldiers with handguns) to crush the Takeda cavalry at the Battle of Nagashino in 1575. After his assassination in 1582 by his own general, Akechi Mitsuhide, at the Honno-ji temple, his general Toyotomi Hideyoshi took control of the unification project. By 1590, Hideyoshi had subdued the Hojo clan at the Siege of Odawara, effectively bringing the entire archipelago under one leader for the first time in over a century.Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, by Utagawa Yoshitora, 1873. Source: Japanese Art Open Database Ukiyo-e.orgHowever, the peace remained fragile because Hideyoshi died in 1598 while his heir was still a child. Tokugawa Ieyasu, a former ally, eventually challenged the loyalists at the Battle of Sekigahara on October 21, 1600. Over 160,000 men reportedly participated in the massive clash. Soon after his victory, Ieyasu was named Shogun in 1603. Some believe that the Sengoku period truly ended after the Siege of Osaka in 1615. The battle resulted in the deaths of thousands and the total destruction of the Toyotomi line. The Tokugawa shogunate would go on to rule for over 250 years in an era of strict isolation and peace.

Visual Concepts has done an excellent job with the WWE 2K series as of late.

Say his name, and he appears. I believe in Joe Hendry.

To call WWE 2K25's The Island divisive is putting it mildly.

The Nintendo Wii did an excellent job of making any couch co-op game feel like a major event.

The Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise is returning, only this time, there's a new creator in town, as Yoko Taro of Nier fame is penning the new project, rather than Hideaki Anno.