2021 in Japan explained

Events in the year 2021 in Japan.

The second year was largely defined by COVID-19 pandemic that caused the national economy to go into recession, and would continue until October 1, 2021 (when the fourth state of emergency ends).

Politically, Liberal Democratic Party leader Fumio Kishida was officially elected as 100th Prime Minister of Japan on October 4, 2021 after winning a majority of votes in both houses of parliament. The new cabinet members under Kishida, who succeeds Yoshihide Suga than one year of Shinzo Abe, are likely due to be announced later in the day.

Incumbents

• Emperor

Naruhito^[1]

• Prime Minister
  • Yoshihide Suga (Liberal Democratic) (until October 4)
  • Fumio Kishida (Liberal Democratic) (starting October 4)^[2]
• Chief Cabinet Secretary
  • Katsunobu Katō (Liberal Democratic) (until October 4)
  • Hirokazu Matsuno (Liberal Democratic) (starting October 4)
• Chief Justice of Japan

Naoto Ōtani

• Speaker of the House of Representatives
  • Tadamori Ōshima (Liberal Democratic) (until October 14)
  • Hiroyuki Hosoda (Liberal Democratic) (starting November 10)
• President of the House of Councillors

Akiko Santō (Liberal Democratic)

Governors

• Aichi Prefecture

Hideaki Omura

• Akita Prefecture: Norihisa Satake
• Aomori Prefecture: Shingo Mimura
• Chiba Prefecture: Toshihito Kumagai
• Ehime Prefecture: Tokihiro Nakamura
• Fukui Prefecture: Tatsuji Sugimoto
• Fukuoka Prefecture: Seitaro Hattori
• Fukushima Prefecture: Masao Uchibori
• Gifu Prefecture: Hajime Furuta
• Gunma Prefecture: Ichita Yamamoto
• Hiroshima Prefecture

Hidehiko Yuzaki

• Hokkaido

Naomichi Suzuki

• Hyogo Prefecture: Motohiko Saitō
• Ibaraki Prefecture

Kazuhiko Ōigawa

• Ishikawa

Masanori Tanimoto

• Iwate Prefecture: Takuya Tasso
• Kagawa Prefecture: Keizō Hamada
• Kagoshima Prefecture: Kōichi Shiota
• Kanagawa Prefecture

Yuji Kuroiwa

• Kumamoto Prefecture

Ikuo Kabashima

• Kochi Prefecture: Seiji Hamada
• Kyoto Prefecture

Takatoshi Nishiwaki

• Mie Prefecture: Eikei Suzuki
• Miyagi Prefecture

Yoshihiro Murai

• Miyazaki Prefecture: Shunji Kōno
• Nagano Prefecture

Shuichi Abe

• • Nagasaki Prefecture: Hōdō Nakamura Nara Prefecture: Shōgo Arai
• Niigata Prefecture

Hideyo Hanazumi

• Oita Prefecture: Katsusada Hirose
• Okayama Prefecture

Ryuta Ibaragi

• Okinawa Prefecture

Denny Tamaki

• Osaka Prefecture

Ichirō Matsui

• Saga Prefecture

Yoshinori Yamaguchi

• Saitama Prefecture

Motohiro Ōno

• Shiga Prefecture

Taizō Mikazuki

• Shiname Prefecture: Tatsuya Maruyama
• Shizuoka Prefecture: Heita Kawakatsu
• Tochigi Prefecture: Tomikazu Fukuda
• Tokushima Prefecture: Kamon Iizumi
• Tokyo Prefecture: Yuriko Koike
• Tottori Prefecture: Shinji Hirai
• Toyama Prefecture: Hachiro Nitta
• Wakayama Prefecture: Yoshinobu Nisaka
• Yamagata Prefecture: Mieko Yoshimura
• Yamaguchi Prefecture: Tsugumasa Muraoka
• Yamanashi Prefecture: Kotaro Nagasaki

Ongoing events

• COVID-19 pandemic (Until 1 October 2021)
• Japan–South Korea trade dispute

Events by month

January

• January 1 – Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga delivered 2021 New Year's message to bring the COVID-19 under control and pledged to host the postponed 2020 Summer Olympics.^{[3] [4] [5] [6]}
• January 2
  • The governors of Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures considered to declare another state of emergency over COVID-19 resurgence, Economic Revitalization Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura who in charge of COVID-19 response.^{[7] [8]}
  • The world's oldest person, Kane Tanaka celebrated her 118th birthday in southwestern Japan on Saturday.^{[9] [10]}
• January 4
  • The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo was off 0.4% at 27,344.87 after Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced the government is considering declaring a state of emergency for Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures due to surging virus caseloads.^{[11] [12]}
  • The government considered declaring a nationwide state of emergency over COVID-19 resurgence, the countdown clock for the postponed Tokyo Olympics hit 200 days to go.^{[13] [14]}
• January 5
  • Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to declare another state of emergency in Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures as the COVID-19 resurgence on Thursday, while the government reported more than 4,900 cases.^{[15] [16] [17]}
  • New car sales in Japan slumped 11.5% in 2020 from a year earlier amid the pandemic, marking the largest fall in nine years, data from industry bodies showed Tuesday. While tuna gone cut price ¥20 million at Tokyo's Toyosu Market during New Year auction.^{[18] [19] [20] [21]}
  • The Constitutional Democrats, Social Democrats, and the Communists prepared to form a pacifist coalition, despite to the anti-Suga Cabinet protests and riots. After the Japanese government warned about a new national lockdown in the European Union and the United Kingdom.^{[22] [23] [24]}

February

• February 13 – 2021 Fukushima earthquake

March

• March 11 – The 10th anniversary of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
• March 20 - March 2021 Miyagi earthquake
• March 25 – The 2020 Summer Olympics torch relay restarted in Fukushima Prefecture.

April

• April 13 – The decision to dump radioactive water of the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean over the course of 30 years finally obtains the approval of the Japanese cabinet.^[25]
• April 19 – Rockfish in Fukushima is banned from export after detecting caesium over legal limit, likely caused by the discharge of radioactive water of the Fukushima Nuclear Plant. This is the first ban since the lifting of ban on all Fukushima fish in February 2020.^[26]

May

• May 1  - A F2 scale tornado hit houses, building, utility polls and tea plantations in Makinohara, Shizuoka Prefecture. According to a local government official confirmed report, three persons were lightly injured and 102 houses and buildings were damaged.
• May 27  - According to a Japan Coast Guard official confirmed report, a chemical tanker Ulsan Pioneer and cargo ship Byakko (白虎) collided in Kurushima strait, Seto Island Sea, Ehime Prefecture. Nine persons were rescued, and there were three fatalities.

July

• July 3  - 2021 Atami landslide
• July 23
  • 2020 Summer Olympics: The 2020 Summer Olympics opening ceremony takes place at the Japan National Stadium.
  • Nobel Prize-winning Japanese theoretical physicist Toshihide Maskawa died of oral cancer at aged 81.

August

• August 6  - According to a Japan National Police Agency report, a thirty-six years old suspect attacked passengers with a knife on a commuter train on Odakyu Line, Setagaya, Tokyo. He was detained by local police on the same day and 10 passengers were wounded. It is considered a terrorist attack.
• August 11 to 19  - 2021 August Japan flood, a torrential massive rain and flash flood hit Saga, Kyushu Island, and caused a landslide to hit around Kyushu, Honshu, resulting in 13 deaths and 17 injuries, according to a Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency official confirmed report.^[27]
• August 12  - The 2020 Summer Paralympics torch relay started nationwide.
• August 13  - According to Japan Meteorological Agency official confirmed report, a largest volcano eruption hit in Fukutoku-Okanoba, Bonin Islands. According to Japan National Institute of Advanced Industrial and Science general manager Kazuhiro Ishimura said on 23 October, the volcano ash height estimate on 16,000 to 19,000 meters (52,493 to 62,335 foot) and 100 million cubic square meters ash volume, second largest volume ash eruption in territory of Japan's history.
• August 24
  • Senior member of the Yakuza, Satoru Nomura, is sentenced to death in Fukuoka, for ordering four assaults, one of which was deadly. Nomura has denied participating in the crimes. It is the first time that a senior member of Japan's Yakuza has been sentenced to death. (BBC)
  • The 2020 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony takes place at the Japan National Stadium.

September

• September 1  - The Digital Agency is launched to speed up digitalisation of governmental services.^[28]
• September 3  - Prime Minister Suga announced he will not stand in the 2021 Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) leadership election.
• September 26  - According to Japan Meteorological Agency official confirmed report, a height of 5,400 meters (17,700 foot) eruption records on Suwanosejima, Tokara Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture, where highest height of observation history.
• September 29  - Fumio Kishida, the foreign minister of outgoing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, is elected the Liberal Democratic Party's new president, paving the way for him to be Japan's next leader.^[29]
• September 30  - Despite COVID-19 Delta cases continued to fall, Japan lifted 4th and final state of emergency up as the country ahead of the endemic phase by one month and one day later.

October

• October 1  - Japan becoming the first country, who transition to the living with COVID-19 endemic phase in the future.
• October 3  - According to Wakayama mayor Masahiro Obana, a Musota Waterpipe Bridge suddenly severely deteriorated and damaged across Kino River, where 138,000 persons (60,000 households) suspend supply and not be possible to resume water supply function of the aqueduct and resident until December 2021.
• October 4  - Fumio Kishida becomes 100th Prime Minister of Japan, with a new Cabinet mostly made up of newcomers formed. General election for the House of Representatives will also be held on October 31.^{[30] [31]}

• October 7  - 2021 Chiba earthquake. According to USGS report, a Richer Scale 5.9 earthquake hit around Tokyo Metropolitan Area, according to Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency official confirmed report, 49 persons were wounded, due affective moderate quake.^[32]
• October 22  - Princess Mako of Akishino celebrates her last royal birthday, before turning bourgeois out of love.^[33]
• October 31
  • According to Japan National Police Agency official confirmed report, A twenty-four years old suspected to knife attack to passengers and arson, during run to Hachioji bound commuter train, Keio Line, Chofu, Tokyo, total 17 passengers injures.
  • 2021 Japanese general election was held.

November

• November 1  - A popular idol group, V6 disbands.^{[34] [35] [36]}
• November 30, 2021 to May 7, 2023  - Japan has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 Omicron variant, found from South Africa. As of May 7, 2023, Japan has reported 56,500 Omicron-related deaths, a lowest mortality toll, than compared to wealthy countries.

December

• December 1  - Aiko, Princess Toshi (only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako) comes of age at 20 and became adult. She receives Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown from her father.^{[37] [38]}
• December 17  - 2021 Osaka building fire
• December 21  - Three death-row inmates were hanged, first executions taken place in 2 years.^[39]
• December 25  - A first dual-mode vehicle service, Awa-Kainan Station to Cape Muroto, via Kannoura Station, Asatō Line, Shikoku Island, for regular operation start in the world during the Christmas period, according to Awa Searide Railway official confirmed report.
• December 31  - According to official confirmed report, Japanese New Year has first returned after the first 20 months of COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020 and September 2021. However, a many Japanese people should wear a face masks and remain celebrated new year's eve after midnight.

The Nobel Prize

• Syukuro Manabe: 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics winner.

Arts and entertainment

• 2021 in anime
• 2021 in Japanese music
• 2021 in Japanese television
• List of 2021 box office number-one films in Japan
• List of Japanese films of 2021

Sports

• 2020 Summer Olympics (Japan)
• 2021 F4 Japanese Championship
• 2021 Super Formula Championship
• 2021 Super Formula Lights
• 2021 Super GT Series
• 2021 in Japanese football
• 2021 J1 League
• 2021 J2 League
• 2021 J3 League
• 2021 Japan Football League
• 2021 Japanese Regional Leagues
• 2021 Japanese Super Cup
• 2021 Emperor's Cup
• 2021 J.League Cup

Deaths

In the third year of Reiwa Memoriam despite Japanese demographic and aging crisis, and with COVID-19 pandemic in the country, among top 20 famous Japanese people who passed away peacefully due to illness and old age, including Seizō Fukumoto, Tochinoumi Teruyoshi, Shūichirō Moriyama, Isamu Akasaki, Masakazu Tamura, Osamu Kobayashi, Shunsuke Kikuchi, Takashi Tachibana, Ei-ichi Negishi, Takeshi Terauchi, Toshihide Maskawa, Jerry Fujio, Shinichiro Sawai, Wataru Takeshita, Takao Saito, Koichi Sugiyama, Mayumi Moriyama, Toshihiro Iijima, and Princess Kiko's father Tatsuhiko Kawashima. While unfortunately, among other famous Japanese people who died of tragic events, including Toshiro Kandagawa, Kōbō Kenichi, and Sonny Chiba from COVID-19 infections, and Sayaka Kanda from suicide.

January

• January 1 – Seizō Fukumoto, actor (b. 1943)^{[40] [41]}
• January 29 – Tochinoumi Teruyoshi, sumo wrestler (b. 1938)

February

• February 8 – Shūichirō Moriyama, actor (b. 1934)
• February 17 – Tetsurō Sagawa, actor (b. 1937)
• February 25 – Masako Sugaya, voice actress (b. 1937)

March

• March 1 – Kirinji Kazuharu, sumo wrestler (b. 1953)
• March 15 – Yasuo Ōtsuka, animator (b. 1931)
• March 24
  • Toshihiko Koga, judoka (b. 1967)
  • Kunie Tanaka, actor (b. 1932)

April

• April 1 – Isamu Akasaki, engineer (b. 1929)
• April 3 – Masakazu Tamura, actor (b. 1943)
• April 4 – Sugako Hashida, screen writer (b. 1925)
• April 11 – Daisuke Ryu, actor (b. 1957)
• April 17 – Osamu Kobayashi, illustrator (b. 1964)
• April 24 – Shunsuke Kikuchi, composer (b. 1931)
• April 25 – Toshiro Kandagawa, chef (b. 1939)
• April 30 – Takashi Tachibana, journalist (b. 1940)

May

• May 6 – Kentaro Miura, manga artist (b. 1966)
• May 30 – Asei Kobayashi, composer (b. 1932)

June

• June 6 – Ei-ichi Negishi, chemist
• June 18 – Takeshi Terauchi, guitarist (b. 1939)
• June 21 – Nobuo Hara, jazz saxophonist (b. 1926)
• June 30 – Yasunori Oshima, baseball player (b. 1950)

July

• July 2 – Kōbō Kenichi, sumo wrestler (b. 1973)
• July 22 – Zentaro Watanabe, musician (b. 1963)
• July 23 – Toshihide Maskawa, theoretical physicist (b. 1940)
• July 28 – Satsuki Eda, politician (b. 1941)
• July 31 - Sanpei Satō, cartoonist (b. 1929)

August

• August 2 – Hideki Hosaka, professional wrestler (b. 1971)
• August 3 – Yūsuke Kinoshita, baseball player (b. 1993)
• August 14 – Jerry Fujio, singer (b. 1940)
• August 16 – Hiroshi Sakagami, author (b. 1936)
• August 19 – Sonny Chiba, actor (b. 1939)

September

• September 3 – Shinichiro Sawai, film director (b. 1938)
• September 17  - Wataru Takeshita, politician (b. 1946)
• September 24  - Takao Saito, manga artist (b. 1936)
• September 30  - Koichi Sugiyama, composer (b. 1931)

October

• October 12  - Chie Nakane, anthropologist (b. 1927)
• October 14  - Mayumi Moriyama, politician and former Chief Cabinet Secretary (b. 1927)
• October 17
  • Toshihiro Iijima, television producer (b. 1932)
  • Gorō Maeda, comedian(b. 1942)

November

• November 3  - Yasuro Kikuchi, go player (b. 1929)
• November 4  - Tatsuhiko Kawashima, the father of princess Kawashima Kiko (b. 1940). ^{[42] [43] [44]}
• November 8  - Kazuko Hosoki, fortune teller (b. 1938)
• November 9  - Jakucho Setouchi, Buddhist nun (b. 1922)
• November 12  - Takeshi Koba, baseball player (b. 1936)
• November 13  - Emi Wada, costume designer (b. 1937)
• November 28  - Nakamura Kichiemon II, kabuki actor (b. 1944)

December

• December 3  - Jōji Yanami, voice actor (b. 1931)
• December 8  - Mitsutoshi Furuya, manga artist (b. 1936)
• December 18  - Sayaka Kanda, actress and singer (b. 1986)^[45]

See also

Country overviews

• Japan
• History of Japan
• Outline of Japan
• Government of Japan
• Politics of Japan
• Years in Japan
• Timeline of Japanese history

Related timelines for current period

• 2021
• 2020s
• 2020s in political history

Notes and References

1. Web site: Naruhito Reign, History, & Family Britannica . www.britannica.com . 8 July 2022 . en.
2. Web site: Fumio Kishida: Japan's new prime minister takes office . BBC News . 6 October 2021 . 4 October 2021.
3. Web site: 天皇陛下「希望を持って歩んでいく年に」…国民に新年のメッセージ. Japanese. Yomiuri Shimbun. January 1, 2021. January 5, 2021.
4. Web site: 「命と暮らし守り抜く」菅首相が年頭所感 オリンピック開催明言、憲法は触れず. Japanese. Mainichi Shimbun. January 5, 2021.
5. Web site: Japan's emperor acknowledges virus hardship in video message. Associated Press. January 1, 2021. January 5, 2021.
6. Web site: Japan PM Suga vows to contain virus, hold Olympics in New Year's address. Kyodo News. January 1, 2021. January 5, 2021.
7. Web site: 都知事、緊急事態宣言要請へ コロナ感染拡大で医療逼迫、西村担当相と面会. Jiji Press. January 2, 2021. January 5, 2021. January 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210112111531/https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2021010200096&g=soc. dead.
8. Web site: Japan looking at declaring another state of emergency over virus. Kyodo News. January 2, 2021. January 5, 2021.
9. Web site: 世界最高齢・田中カ子さん、１１８歳の誕生日…祝福に「みんな拍手してください」. Japanese. Yomiuri Shimbun. January 2, 2021. January 5, 2021.
10. Web site: World's oldest person in southwestern Japan turns 118. Kyodo News. January 2, 2021. January 5, 2021.
11. Web site: 新年の日経平均、一時400円下げ 緊急事態宣言報道で. Japanese. The Asahi Shimbun. January 4, 2021. January 5, 2021.
12. Web site: FOCUS: Japan economy to notch sharp recovery from pandemic toward end-2021. Kyodo News. January 4, 2021. January 5, 2021.
13. Web site: 政府に不満「小池氏の失政」 首相は「やんなきゃいけない」…宣言発令要請で急転. Japanese. Sankei Shimbun. January 4, 2021. January 5, 2021.
14. Web site: Tick-Tock: The Tokyo Olympics hit the 200-days-to-go mark. Associated Press. January 4, 2021. January 5, 2021.
15. Web site: 感染4914人、過去最多を更新 首都圏で全体の半数超. Japanese. The Asahi Shimbun. January 5, 2021. January 5, 2021.
16. Web site: Japan poised for state of emergency as Covid-19 cases soar. CNN. January 4, 2021. January 5, 2021.
17. Web site: Japan weighs state of emergency in Tokyo area as COVID cases surge. Reuters. January 4, 2021. January 5, 2021.
18. Web site: 昨年新車販売 ５００万台割れ…４年ぶり コロナで来客減響く. Japanese. Yomiuri Shimbun. January 6, 2021. January 6, 2021.
19. Web site: 大間産マグロ、２０００万円 東京・豊洲で初競り マスク姿で. Japanese. Sankei Shimbun. January 5, 2021. January 6, 2021.
20. Web site: マグロ初競り、安値スタート コロナ禍で静かな幕開け—豊洲市場. Jiji Press. January 5, 2021. January 5, 2021. January 5, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210105011729/https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2021010500383&g=eco. dead.
21. Web site: For the auto industry, 2020 was a horrible year — but it ended better than expected. NBC News. January 4, 2021. January 5, 2021.
22. Web site: 与野党、特措法改正案の罰則巡り協議 専門家は私権制限に冷静さ求める. Japanese. Mainichi Shimbun. January 5, 2021. January 5, 2021.
23. Web site: U.K. warns of more lockdown measures as country fights new strain of coronavirus. CBS News. January 4, 2021. January 5, 2021.
24. Web site: Europe starts 2021 by extending lockdowns as coronavirus cases spiral. CNN. January 5, 2021. January 5, 2021.
25. News: 2021-04-13. Fukushima: Japan approves releasing wastewater into ocean. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-11-24.
26. News: 福島県沖のクロソイ 国が出荷制限指示 基準超える放射性物質. NHK. 2021-04-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419120553/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/lnews/fukushima/20210419/6050014221.html. 2021-04-19.
27. 総務省消防庁『令和3年8月11日からの大雨による被害及び消防機関等の対応状況』
28. Web site: Japan launches agency to speed up digitalization . Kyodo News . 17 September 2021 . 1 September 2021.
29. Web site: Fumio Kishida set to become Japan's next prime minister after winning party vote . CNA . 5 October 2021 . 29 September 2021.
30. Web site: Nakamaru . Ryotaro . Kishida takes office as Japan PM, calls Oct. 31 general election . Kyodo News . 5 October 2021 . 5 October 2021.
31. Web site: Japan's new PM Fumio Kishida unveils Cabinet . CNA . 5 October 2021 . 4 October 2021 . October 5, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211005102805/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/fumio-kishida-japan-new-pm-cabinet-2219431 . dead .
32. Web site: 2022-11-18 . 千葉県北西部を震源とする地震による被害及び消防機関等の対応状況 . 2023-07-28 . 消防庁災害対策本部 .
33. Web site: Japan's Princess Mako celebrates final birthday as member of imperial family before wedding to commoner.
34. Web site: 2021-03-12. Japanese Boy Band V6 Will Disband This November. 2021-07-21. Siliconera. en-US.
35. Web site: 2021-03-13. Japanese all-male idol group V6 to disband on Nov. 1. 2021-07-21. The Japan Times. en-US.
36. Web site: NEWS. KYODO. Japanese all-male idol group V6 to disband on Nov. 1. 2021-07-21. Kyodo News+.
37. News: Japanese Princess Aiko comes of age at 20. The Japan News. 1 December 2021. 11 May 2024.
38. News: Japan's Princess Aiko attends coming-of-age ceremonies. The Japan News. 5 December 2021. 11 May 2024.
39. News: 21 December 2021. Japan hangs 3 death-row inmates in 1st executions in 2 yrs. Kyodo News. 21 December 2021.
40. Web site: January 4, 2021 . 時代劇の"斬られ役"で知られる福本清三、77歳で肺がんにより死去 . January 5, 2021 . . ja.
41. Web site: January 4, 2021 . 「５万回斬られた男」俳優の福本清三さん死去…「ラストサムライ」「水戸黄門」鮮やかな斬られ方で人気 : エンタメ・文化 : ニュース . January 5, 2021 . . ja.
42. Web site: 秋篠宮妃の紀子さまの父親 川嶋辰彦さん死去 . NHKニュース . 15 November 2021.
43. Web site: 川嶋辰彦さん死去、８１歳 紀子さま父、学習院大名誉教授：時事ドットコム . 時事ドットコム . 15 November 2021 . ja.
44. Web site: 秋篠宮妃紀子さまの父、川嶋辰彦氏が死去…８１歳 : 皇室 : ニュース . 読売新聞オンライン . 15 November 2021 . ja . 4 November 2021.
45. Web site: Voice Actress From Frozen Sayaka Kanda's Cause of Sudden Death . US day News . December 18, 2021 . December 19, 2021.