1948 in Japan
Encyclopedia
Incumbents
- EmperorEmperor of JapanThe Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
: HirohitoHirohito, posthumously in Japan officially called Emperor Shōwa or , was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order, reigning from December 25, 1926, until his death in 1989. Although better known outside of Japan by his personal name Hirohito, in Japan he is now referred to... - Prime MinisterPrime Minister of JapanThe is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
: Tetsu KatayamaTetsu Katayamawas a Japanese politician and the 46th Prime Minister from May 24, 1947 to March 10, 1948.- Early life :He was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, and attended Tokyo Imperial University. Raised in the Christian faith, he was strongly influenced by the Christian Socialism of Abe Isō...
, Hitoshi AshidaHitoshi Ashidawas a Japanese politician who served as the 47th Prime Minister of Japan from March 10 to October 15, 1948. He was a prominent figure in the immediate postwar political landscape, but was forced to resign his leadership responsibilities after a corruption scandal targeting two of his cabinet...
, Shigeru YoshidaShigeru Yoshida, KCVO was a Japanese diplomat and politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 1946 to 1947 and from 1948 to 1954.-Early life:... - Supreme Commander Allied Powers: Douglas MacArthurDouglas MacArthurGeneral of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
Events
- March 10: Hitoshi AshidaHitoshi Ashidawas a Japanese politician who served as the 47th Prime Minister of Japan from March 10 to October 15, 1948. He was a prominent figure in the immediate postwar political landscape, but was forced to resign his leadership responsibilities after a corruption scandal targeting two of his cabinet...
becomes prime minister - May 1: Japan Coast GuardJapan Coast GuardThe , formerly the Maritime Safety Agency, is the Japanese coast guard. Comprising about 12,000 personnel, it is under the oversight of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and is responsible for the protection the coast-lines of Japan...
founded. - September 24: Honda Motor Company founded.
- October 5: Ashida cabinet resigns.
- October 15: Shigeru YoshidaShigeru Yoshida, KCVO was a Japanese diplomat and politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 1946 to 1947 and from 1948 to 1954.-Early life:...
becomes prime minister for a second term. - November 12: International Military Tribunal for the Far EastInternational Military Tribunal for the Far EastThe International Military Tribunal for the Far East , also known as the Tokyo Trials, the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal, or simply the Tribunal, was convened on April 29, 1946, to try the leaders of the Empire of Japan for three types of crimes: "Class A" crimes were reserved for those who...
hands down death sentences for 7 war criminals and imprisonment for 18 others. - December 7: Ashida arrested in connection with the Showa Electric scandal.
Births
- January 13: Shinji SōmaiShinji Sōmaiwas a Japanese film director. He directed 13 films between 1980 and 2000. His film Ohikkoshi was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival.-Filmography:* Tonda kappuru * Sērā-fuku to kikanjū...
, film director (d. 20012001 in Japan-Incumbents:* Emperor: Akihito* Prime Minister: Yoshiro Mori, Junichiro Koizumi* Chief Cabinet Secretary: Yasuo Fukuda* Governor of Tokyo: Shintaro Ishihara-Events:*January 6: Nurse Daisuke Mori was arrested for an attempted murder of 11-year-old girl....
) - January 29: Mamoru Mori, astronaut
- January 31: Muneo SuzukiMuneo SuzukiMuneo Suzuki is a Japanese politician from Ashoro, Hokkaidō. He is typically referred to as "Muneo", because his last name, "Suzuki", is one of the most common names in Japan.- Early career :...
, politician - February 13: Eizo KenmotsuEizo Kenmotsuis a Japanese gymnast, seven times world champion and three times Olympic champion.-Olympics:Kenmotsu competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City where he received a gold medal in team combined exercises, and a bronze medal in horizontal bar....
, gymnast - February 15: Seiji OkoSeiji OkoSeiji Oko is a former volleyball player from Japan, who was a member of the Japan Men's National Team that won the gold medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics and the silver medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics....
, volleyball player - March 8: Kiyomi KatoKiyomi Kato (wrestler)is a Japanese wrestler and Olympic champion in freestyle wrestling.- Olympics :Kato competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich where he received a gold medal in freestyle wrestling, the flyweight class....
, wrestler - March 26: Ayumi Ishida, singer and actress
- April 16: Kazuyuki SogabeKazuyuki SogabeKazuyuki Sogabe was a Japanese voice actor born in Chiba Prefecture. Sogabe retired from voice acting on December 31, 2000 when he felt a weakness in his own voice. After his retirement, many of his current roles went to voice actors Tetsu Inada and Ryotaro Okiayu. Kazuyuki, however, was active in...
, voice actor (d. 20062006 in JapanEvents in the year 2006 in Japan.-Incumbents:* Prime Minister: Junichiro Koizumi* Chief Cabinet Secretary: Shinzo Abe* Governor of Tokyo: Shintaro Ishihara* Emperor: Akihito-Events:...
) - October 20: Jun MakiJun Makiwas a Japanese copywriter. A 1971 graduate of Keio University, he formerly worked for Hakuhodo, Japan's second largest advertising agency. He died on June 22, 2009 of myocardial infarction. He was 60 years old.-External links:...
, copywriter (d. 20092009 in Japan- Incumbents :* Emperor – Akihito* Prime Minister – Taro Aso until September 16, Yukio Hatoyama * Chief Cabinet Secretary: Takeo Kawamura until September 16, Hirofumi Hirano* Governor of Tokyo: Shintaro Ishihara-January:...
) - November 12: Banjō GingaBanjo Ginga, sometimes credited as his real name , is a Japanese voice actor who was born in Kofu, Yamanashi. Ginga is currently affiliated with Aoni Production...
, voice actor - November 15: Hiroe YukiHiroe Yukiwas a Japanese badminton player. She won numerous major international titles from the late 1960s to the late 1970s.- Persons :...
, badminton player
Deaths
- April 17: Kantarō SuzukiKantaro SuzukiBaron was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, member and final leader of the Taisei Yokusankai and 42nd Prime Minister of Japan from 7 April-17 August 1945.-Early life:...
, admiral and former prime minister - April 20: Mitsumasa YonaiMitsumasa Yonaiwas an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and politician. He was the 37th Prime Minister of Japan from 16 January to 22 July 1940.-Early life & Naval career:...
, admiral and former prime minister - June 13: Osamu DazaiOsamu Dazaiwas a Japanese author who is considered one of the foremost fiction writers of 20th-century Japan.-Biography:-Early life:Dazai was born , the eighth surviving child of a wealthy landowner in Kanagi, a remote corner of Japan at the northern tip of Tōhoku in Aomori Prefecture...
, novelist - December 23: Hideki TōjōHideki TōjōHideki Tōjō was a general of the Imperial Japanese Army , the leader of the Taisei Yokusankai, and the 40th Prime Minister of Japan during most of World War II, from 17 October 1941 to 22 July 1944...
, Seishirō Itagaki, Heitarō Kimura, Kenji DoiharaKenji Doiharawas a general in the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. He was instrumental in the Japanese invasion of Manchuria for which he earned fame taking the nickname 'Lawrence of Manchuria', a reference to the Lawrence of Arabia....
, Kōki HirotaKoki Hirotawas a Japanese diplomat, politician and the 32nd Prime Minister of Japan from March 9, 1936 to February 2, 1937.-Early life:Hirota was born in what is now part of Chūō-ku, Fukuoka city, Fukuoka Prefecture. His father was a stonemason, and he was adopted into the Hirota family. After attending...
, Iwane MatsuiIwane Matsuiwas a general in the Imperial Japanese Army and the commander of the expeditionary forces sent to China in World War II. He was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to death by hanging by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East for responsibility over the Nanking Massacre.-Early life...
and Akira MutōAkira Muto- Notes :...
executed.