The two attempts by khubilai khan the mongol emperor of china to invade japan in 1274 and 1281 represent unique events in the history of both countries it pitted the samurai of japan against the fierce warriors of the steppes who had conquered half the known world. The mongol invasions of japan genko which took place in 1274 and 1281 were major military efforts undertaken by kublai khan of the yuan dynasty to conquer the japanese archipelago after the submission of the korean kingdom of goryeo to vassaldom ultimately a failure the invasion attempts are of macro historical importance because they set a limit on yuan expansion and rank as . The mongol invasions of japan took place in 1274 and 1281 ce when kublai khan r 1260 1294 ce sent two huge fleets from korea and china in both cases the japanese and especially the samurai warriors vigorously defended their shores but it would be typhoon storms and the so called kamikaze or divine winds which sank and drowned countless ships and men thus saving japan from foreign conquest . The two attempts by khubilai khan the mongol emperor of china to invade japan in 1274 and 1281 represent unique events in the history of both countries it pitted the samurai of japan against the fierce warriors of the steppes who had conquered half the known world