1999 in Japan
Encyclopedia
Events in the year 1999 in Japan
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Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
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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...
: AkihitoAkihitois the current , the 125th emperor of his line according to Japan's traditional order of succession. He acceded to the throne in 1989.-Name:In Japan, the emperor is never referred to by his given name, but rather is referred to as "His Imperial Majesty the Emperor" which may be shortened to . In... - 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...
: Keizo ObuchiKeizo Obuchiwas a Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives for twelve terms, and ultimately as the 84th Prime Minister of Japan from July 30, 1998 to April 5, 2000. His political career ended when he suffered a serious and ultimately fatal stroke.... - Chief Cabinet SecretaryChief Cabinet Secretary__notoc__The of Japan is a Minister of State who is responsible for directing the Cabinet Secretariat. The main function of Chief Cabinet Secretary is to coordinate the policies of ministries and agencies in the executive branch...
: Hiromu NonakaHiromu Nonakais a Japanese LDP politician and former member of the House of Representatives. He is currently a lecturer at Heian Jogakuin University.He has held the following posts:...
, Mikio Aoki - Governor of Tokyo: Yukio AoshimaYukio Aoshimawas a Japanese politician who served as a Governor of Tokyo Metropolitan Government from 1995 to 1999. He is also well known as a novelist, a film director and a TV-actor.- Early life :...
, Shintaro IshiharaShintaro Ishiharais a Japanese author, actor, politician and the governor of Tokyo since 1999.- Early life and artistic career :Shintarō was born in Suma-ku, Kobe. His father Kiyoshi was an employee, later a general manager, of a shipping company. Shintarō grew up in Zushi...
Events
- January 1: Telephone numbers in OsakaOsakais a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
are extended to ten digits, and mobile phone numbers throughout Japan are extended to eleven. - March 3: The Bank of JapanBank of Japanis the central bank of Japan. The Bank is often called for short. It has its headquarters in Chuo, Tokyo.-History:Like most modern Japanese institutions, the Bank of Japan was founded after the Meiji Restoration...
announces its zero interest rate policyZero interest rate policyThe zero interest rate policy is a macroeconomic concept describing conditions with a very low interest rate, such as contemporary Japan and, since December 16, 2008, the United States. It can be associated with slow economic growth....
. - April 11: Shintaro IshiharaShintaro Ishiharais a Japanese author, actor, politician and the governor of Tokyo since 1999.- Early life and artistic career :Shintarō was born in Suma-ku, Kobe. His father Kiyoshi was an employee, later a general manager, of a shipping company. Shintarō grew up in Zushi...
is elected governor of Tokyo. - June 29: A heavy massibie rain, following devasting flood hit underground shopping mall in FukuokaFukuokaFukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.It can also refer to:-Locations:* Fukuoka, Gifu, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan* Fukuoka, Toyama, a town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan...
, and landslide hit KureKureKure can refer to:*KURE, a radio station in Ames, Iowa*Kure Software Koubou, Japanese video game development company*Kure, Hiroshima , a city in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan**Kure Line, a rail line in the city...
and HiroshimaHiroshimais the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
, according to Japanese official report, at least 32 people lives. - July 23: ANA Flight 61 survives a hijacking attempt and lands safely.
- July 31: Rock band GlayGlay (band)Glay is a rock/pop band from Hakodate, Hokkaidō, Japan formed by guitarist Takuro and vocalist Teru in high school in 1988. Glay primarily composes songs in the rock and pop genres, but they have also composed songs using elements of different styles such as reggae and gospel...
gathers about the audiences of 200,000 people at a specially installed pay parking lot of Makuhari MesseMakuhari Messeis a Japanese convention center outside Tokyo, located in the Mihama-ku ward of Chiba city, in the northwest corner of Chiba prefecture. Designed by Fumihiko Maki, it is easily accessible by Tokyo's commuter rail system. Makuhari is the name of the area, and Messe is a German word meaning "trade...
in ChibaChiba, Chibais the capital city of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located approximately 40 km east of the center of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay. Chiba City became a government designated city in 1992. Its population as of 2008 is approximately 960,000....
and hold a Japanese historical concert. - August 9: National Flag and Anthem Act is passed.
- November 10: Diet of JapanDiet of JapanThe is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councillors. Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally...
holds its first Question TimeQuestion TimeQuestion time in a parliament occurs when members of the parliament ask questions of government ministers , which they are obliged to answer. It usually occurs daily while parliament is sitting, though it can be cancelled in exceptional circumstances...
. - December 4: Yamagata ShinkansenYamagata ShinkansenThe is a Mini-shinkansen route in Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It provides service between Tokyo and Shinjō in Yamagata Prefecture over the tracks of the Tōhoku Shinkansen and the Ōu Main Line....
extension to Shinjō StationShinjo Stationis a JR East railway station located in Shinjō, Yamagata, Japan.-History:*1903-06-11: Station begins operation.*1913-12-07: Ōu Line service towards Ōmagari is started.*1915-11-01: Ōu Line service towards Fukushima is started....
opens.
Births
- February 7: Tamaki MatsumotoTamaki Matsumotois a Japanese seiyū and child actress.-Anime:*Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 as Tianzi*Les Misérables - Shoujo Cosette as Cosette -Live action:*Kamen Rider Den-O as Kohana *Kamen Rider Decade as Kohana...
, child actress. - May 9: Nozomi ŌhashiNozomi Ōhashiis a Japanese child actress and singer attached to the Central Kodomo Gekidan talent agency.-Career:She made her drama debut at the age of three. On December 5, 2007, she debuted as a singer with the theme song for the animated film Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea.-Personal Life:Nozomi Ōhashi is the...
, child actor and singer. - October 27: Haruka KudōHaruka Kudō (singer)is a Japanese pop singer. She is a tenth-generation member of the pop group Morning Musume. Prior to joining Morning Musume, Kudō was a Hello! Pro Egg member.-2010:...
, singer. - October 28: Riko YoshidaRiko Yoshidais a Japanese child actor. She is represented by Moon the Child Agency. Her representative works includes the dramas Oh! My Girl!!, Hanayome to Papa and Yamada Taro Monogatari.-Filmography:* Hanada Shonenshi - Yuurei to Himitsu no Tunnel * Sakuran...
, child actor.
Deaths
- January 31: Shohei BabaShohei Babawas a professional wrestler and co-founder of All Japan Pro Wrestling. He was also known as Giant Baba. Baba, along with Antonio Inoki, became one of the most famous Japanese wrestlers of his era, with a popularity in Japan comparable to Hulk Hogan's in the United States of America...
, professional wrestler - February 21: Hideo ItokawaHideo Itokawawas a pioneer of Japanese rocketry and of the Japanese space program. In Japan, he was popularly known as Dr. Rocket, and he has been described in the media as the father of Japanese space development....
, rocket scientist - March 11: Kaoru TadaKaoru Tada, was a Japanese manga artist.-Biography:Tada made her debut in 1977, when still a high school student, on Shueisha's "Deluxe Margaret" magazine. Tada's stories belong to the shōjo genre of manga and feature love stories centred around young female characters and their love interests...
, manga artist - March 23: Kazue TakahashiKazue Takahashiwas a female voice actress who was born in Tochigi, Japan. Kazue was best known as the voice of Shoutarou Kaneda in Tetsujin 28-go...
, voice actress - April 9: Emiko KadoEmiko Kadowas a Japanese female professional wrestler. She died after a wrestling injury, only months into her professional career....
, professional wrestler - April 13: Masaji KiyokawaMasaji Kiyokawawas a Japanese backstroke swimmer. He won the gold medal in the Men's 100 m Backstroke at the 1932 Summer Olympics, and the bronze medal in the Men's 100 m Backstroke at the 1936 Summer Olympics....
, backstroke swimmer - April 19: Shijaku KatsuraShijaku Katsura' was a Japanese rakugo performer of the late 20th century, who often performed in English. He was born ' in Kobe, the son of a brick-maker. In 1960 he entered the tutelage of the rakugo performer ', and upon completion of his study, was given the stage name '. He changed his stage name to Shijaku...
, rakugo performer - April 29: Denzo Ishizaki, supercentenarian
- June 24: Kōzō MurashitaKozo MurashitaKōzō Murashita was a singer-songwriter who was born in Minamata City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan...
, singer and songwriter - July 16: Hiromi YanagiharaHiromi Yanagiharawas a founding member of Hello! Project group Country Musume. She joined Country Musume in 1999 along with Rinne Toda and Azusa Kobayashi. On July 16, 1999, Yanagihara was killed in a car accident one week before the group's first release, Futari no Hokkaidou on July 23, 1999...
, J-pop singer - July 21: Jun EtōJun Etowas a Japanese literary critic, active in the Shōwa and early Heisei period Japan.- Early life :Etō was born in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo; his father was a banker, and his grandfather was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy. His mother died when he was four years old, and always sickly...
, literary critic - August 2: Meisei Goto, author
- August 9: Jackie SatoJackie Sato, better known as was a professional wrestler from Yokohama, Japan. In the 1970s, while wrestling for All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling , she formed the tag team, the Beauty Pair, with Maki Ueda. Following in the steps of Mach Fumiake, the Beauty Pair was part of an important shift in the culture...
, professional wrestler - September 16: Utaemon IchikawaUtaemon Ichikawawas a Japanese film actor famous for starring roles in jidaigeki from the 1920s to the 1960s. Trained in kabuki from childhood, he made his film debut in 1925 at Makino Film Productions under Shōzō Makino. Quickly gaining popularity, he followed the example of Makino stars such as Tsumasaburō Bandō...
, actor - September 22: Noriko AwayaNoriko Awayawas a Japanese female Soprano chanson and popular music singer. She has been dubbed the "Queen of Blues" in Japan.- Life and career :...
, Soprano chanson and ryūkōka singer - September 22: Tomoo Kudaka, football player
- October 3: Akio MoritaAkio MoritaAkio Morita KBE was a Japanese businessman and co-founder of Sony Corporation along with Masaru Ibuka.-Early life:...
, businessman and co-founder of Sony Corporation - October 26: Kazuhito Komatsu, murder victim
- November 1: Minoru ChiakiMinoru Chiakiwas a Japanese actor who appeared in such films as Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and The Hidden Fortress.In Seven Samurai, he was the good-natured samurai Heihachi, and he was the first of the samurai to be killed. Ironically, in real life, he turned out to be the last of the seven actors to...
, actor - November 3: Shingo TachiShingo Tachiwas a Japanese racing driver, the son of Nobuhide Tachi , founder and head of TOM's, the motorsport side of Toyota. Tachi raced in British Formula Vauxhall with Rowan Racing in 1994 and 1995 before switching to British Formula 3 in 1996 with a Dallara-Toyota prepared by Team Magic Racing. He had a...
, racing driver - November 29: Kaoru Iwamoto, go player
- November 29: Kazuo SakamakiKazuo Sakamakiwas a Japanese naval officer who became the first Japanese prisoner of war of World War II captured by American forces.-Biography:Sakamaki was born in what is now part of the city of Awa, Tokushima Prefecture...
, naval officer - December 4: Daishōhō MasamiDaishoho MasamiDaishōhō Masami was a sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi.-Career:Born in Sapporo, he took up skiing as a young boy, as he came from an area famous for its ski slopes. He also played basketball at school. However his father was an amateur sumo enthusiast and...
, sumo wrestler