Mongolian Invasions of Japan

(1274 and 1281) Japan, having refused to become a tribute state under the Mongolian Empire, was ordered to be invaded by Khubilai Khan. In 1274, the Mongolians quickly overran two lightly defended small islands, and landed on Kyushu. They held the upperhand for most of the day, but at night, retreated back to their ships, thinking that the Japanese would be reinforced and thus, have the advantage in night fighting. A typhoon hit and many of the invading ships sunk. In addition, the Japanese counter attacked with smaller ships, setting the larger Mongolian ships on fire and also invading other ships for close hand to hand combat, in which the Japanese had the advantage.
In 1281, the Mongolians invaded with a larger force with two waves. The first wave came from Korea, and found that the Japanese had worked on the fortifications. The first wave was boxed in at a small island. When the second wave arrived, they chose another landing point, and the Japanese fought them to a standstill for five weeks. At that point, a typhoon hit and sunk most of the Mongolian ships. Those Mongolians who didn’t drown reached land were eventually worn down by the Japanese in subsequent land battles.