The Imperial Japanese Navy was established during the Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century, marking Japan's modernization and emergence as a naval power. It rapidly expanded its fleet and capabilities, adopting modern naval technology and tactics. The IJN played crucial roles in conflicts such as the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), and World War I (1914-1918). Its fleet included battleships, aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines. During World War II, the IJN initially achieved significant successes in the Pacific theater, including the attack on Pearl Harbor and the conquest of Southeast Asia. However, by the war's end in 1945, the IJN suffered heavy losses and was largely disbanded following Japan's surrender.