2022 in Japan explained
Events in the year 2022 in Japan.
Incumbents
Naruhito[1]
Fumio Kishida
Hirokazu Matsuno
Naoto Ōtani
Tadamori Ōshima
Akiko Santō
Governors
Hideaki Omura
Hidehiko Yuzaki
Naomichi Suzuki
Kazuhiko Ōigawa
Masanori Tanimoto
Yuji Kuroiwa
Ikuo Kabashima
Takatoshi Nishiwaki
Yoshihiro Murai
Shuichi Abe
Hideyo Hanazumi
Ryuta Ibaragi
Denny Tamaki
Ichirō Matsui
Yoshinori Yamaguchi
Motohiro Ōno
Taizō Mikazuki
Predicted and scheduled events
January
- January and February - Winter thunderstorm and heavy snow. There were at least 93 human fatalities and 1,580 injuries, according to Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
- January 15 - According to a Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department report, a 1.7-decade-old student attacked 3 people with a knife outside of University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo[2]
- January 22 - According to USGS report, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit near costal Saiki, Oita, southeastern Kyushu Island, followed by aftershocks. 13 people were wounded according to the Japan Fire and Disasters Management Agency.[3]
February
March
April
May
- May 3 - 5 - Many traditional Golden Week festivals are resumed including Hakata Dontaku, Hamamatsu Kite Festival, Hiroshima Flower Festival, and among others, and held across the nationwide for the first time (since 2019) after the first 20 months and one year of COVID-19 pandemic.
- May 9 - According to a Tokyo Firefighter Department official confirmed report, a house caught fire in Higashimurayama, Tokyo in an incident caused by suicide arson. Four people were killed in the fire.[10]
- May 11 - The Economic Security Promotion Law was enacted by the House of Councillors. This will be implemented in stages starting from April 2023.[11]
June
- June 2 - 3 - According to Japan Meteorological Agency and Japan Weather News Television official confirmed report, a massive hail fallen in Gunma, Saitama, Chiba Prefecture, according to Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency report, 91 persons were hurt.
- June 19 - According to USGS official confirmed report, a Richer scale 5.1 magnitude earthquake hit on Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture, total seven persons were wounded, according to JFDMA official confirmed report.
- June 25 - According to Japan Meteorological Agency official confirmed report, a Celsius 40.2 degrees (Fahrenheit 104.36 degrees) high temperature record hit in Isesaki, Gunma Prefecture, as highest temperature record on June in Japan, since first observation record of JMA, since 1872, as same place another Celsius 40.0 (Fahrenheit 104.0 degrees) recorded observed on June 29.
July
- July 8 - Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot dead in the western city Nara, Kansai region.[12] [13]
- July 8 to September 30 - Japan declared the national mourning day of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated while he giving a speech at the House of Councillors election campaign in Nara.
- July 11 - Following Shinzo Abe's assassination, Japanese government discussed that Unification Church leader Tomihiro Tanaka has confirmed Tetsuya Yamagami's mother was a member of the religious group (Also known as the Unification Church (Shukyo nisei)). Because Shinzo Abe had alleged ties to the Unification Church, which go back generations including his father, Shintaro Abe, his mother Yoko Abe, and his maternal grandparents, Nobusuke and Yoshiko Kishi. At the end of World War II, his maternal grandfather was jailed as a suspected war criminal.
- July 12 - Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was cremated at Kirigaya Funeral Hall in Tokyo.
- July 14 to August 16 - According to official confirmed report, a many summer traditional festival and event were resumed including Akita Kantō, Aomori Nebuta, Tokushima Awa Dance Festival, Gion Festival, and Gozan no Okuribi in both Kyoto, Gujo-Hachiman Bon Dance Festival, Hakata Gion Yamakasa, and among others after the first 20 months and 1 year of COVID-19 pandemic. However, Osaka Tenjin Festival, Niigata Festival were scale down held, but Sumida River Firework Festival, Hachiōji Festival, Tanba Dekansho Dance Festival and Kumamoto Hinokuni Festival were not held for three consecutive years.
- July 25 - According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare reports, Japan has confirmed the first case of monkeypox outbreak in Tokyo, but Japanese public health experts are said it is unlikely to cause a new surge.
August
September
- September 16 - November 13 According to official confirmed report, a many autumn traditional festival resume in nationwide, including Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri, Nada's Fighting Festival of Himeji, Saijō Festival of Ehime Prefecture, Aging Festival of Kyoto, Saga International Balloon Fiesta, Karatsu Kunchi, Chrysanthemum Doll event and Tochigi Autumn Festival, all of since 2019, however Kanuma Autumn Festival and Nagasaki Kunchi were cancelled for three consecutive years.
- September 17 - 20 - Typhoon Nanmadol, a heavy massive precipitation and landslide hit in southern Kyushu Island and other western Japan, total four persons were death and 147 persons injures, according to Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency official confirmed report.
- September 23 - 24 Typhoon Talas, a torrential massive heavy rain, landslide, flash flood hit, two transmission towers collapse hit in Shizuoka Prefecture, total three persons were human fatalities, six persons wounded, according to JFDMA official confirmed report.
- September 27 - Funeral service of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe begin at Nippon Budokan, Kitanomaru National Garden in Chiyoda, Tokyo.
- September 28 to December 31 - According to the Ministry of the Environment's official report, 143 cases of wild birds on nationwide, as crows, cranes, and swans were confirmed, and the Tobu Zoological Park in Saitama Prefecture, where many wild birds were confirmed, was closed from December 22, and the amusement area has resumed on December 29.
October
November
December
- December 25 - According to Japan National Police Agency official confirmed report, a suspect has three murdered with hammer in Hannō, Saitama Prefecture, a suspicion has arrested on same day,
- December 27 - According to Tokyo Fire Department official confirmed report, a fire and explosion occurred at a chemical factory and warehouse in Sumida, Tokyo, destroying 10 facilities and buildings, an employee has injures.
- December 29 - Following China's recent decision to end its Zero-COVID strategy, Japanese Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Katsunobu Kato says the possibility of imposing travel restrictions on visitors from the Greater China is 'under the review'. The following day, Japanese Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has confirmed that passengers arriving in Japan from Greater China will have to provide a negative test before they board a flight.
- December 31 - Japanese New Year has second returned since December 2021 after the first 20 months of COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020 and September 2021. However, a many Japanese people remain celebrated new year's eve after midnight.
Arts and entertainment
Sports
Deaths
In the fourth year of Reiwa Memoriam despite Japanese demographic and aging crisis (and during the first 16-month-period of COVID-19 Omicron variant) in the country, among top 12 famous Japanese people who passed away peacefully due to illness and old age, including Toshiki Kaifu, Shintaro and Noriko Ishihara, Jun Kondō, Akira Takarada, Nobuyuki Idei, Yoko Shimada, Issey Miyake, Hanae Mori, Kazuo Inamori, Antonio Inoki, Ichiro Mizuki, and Chika Takami. While unfortunately, among top 5 famous Japanese people who died of tragic events, including Hiroyuki Watanabe and Ryuhei Ueshima both from suicides, Yu-Gi-Oh! creator Kazuki Takahashi from accidential drowning, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe from murder, and Kōji Nakamoto from traffic jam accident.
January
February
March
- March 3 - Kyotaro Nishimura, novelist (b. 1930)
- March 5 - Taro Shigaki, actor (b. 1951)
- March 8 - Noriko Ishihara, essay writer and the wife of Shintaro Ishihara (b. 1933 or 1938)
- March 11 - Jun Kondō, theoretical physicist (b. 1930)
- March 14 - Akira Takarada, actor (b. 1934)
- March 16 - Kunimitsu Takahashi, former professional motorcycle, racing driver and team manager (b. 1940)
- March 17 - Tadao Sato, film critic (b. 1930)
- March 21 - Shinji Aoyama, film director (b. 1964)
- March 31 - Kei Yamamoto, actor (b. 1940)
April
May
June
July
August
- August 1 - Hiroshi Ōtake, voice actor (b. 1932)
- August 5 - Issei Miyake, fashion designer (b. 1938)
- August 9 - Akiko Shimamura, actress (b. 1933)
- August 11 - Hanae Mori, fashion designer (b. 1926)
- August 17 - Motomu Kiyokawa, voice actor (b. 1935)
- August 20 - Tokihisa Morikawa, film director (b. 1929)
- August 23 - Ikko Furuya, actor (b. 1944)
- August 24 - Kazuo Inamori, businessman (b. 1932)
- August 27 - 2nd Kinō Sanyūtei (4th Sanyūtei Kinba, Tatsunori Matsumoto), rakugo storyteller, (b. 1929)
- August 28 - Masahiro Kobayashi, film director (b. 1954)
September
October
November
December
See also
Country overviews
Related timelines for current period
Notes and References
- Web site: Naruhito Reign, History, & Family Britannica . www.britannica.com . 8 July 2022 . en.
- [:ja:東京大学前刺傷事件]
- [:ja:日向灘地震 (2022年)]
- Web site: Death toll from fire at Niigata rice cracker plant rises to 6 The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis . 2022-04-19 . The Asahi Shimbun . en.
- Web site: A New Nuclear Debate in Japan . The Wall Street Journal . March 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220316104830/https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-new-nuclear-debate-in-japan-shinzo-abe-nato-us-russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-china-xi-jinping-11646147202 . March 16, 2022.
- Web site: Will Ukraine invasion push Japan to go nuclear? . BBC . March 27, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220326000643/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-60857346 . March 26, 2022.
- Web site: New eruption at underwater Funka Asane vent near Kita-Ioto volcano, Japan . The Watchers . March 28, 2022 . 13 December 2022.
- Web site: (Kyodo News) . April 11, 2022 . April 11, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220411130631/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/04/29ff7f87d204-urgent-lotte-pitcher-roki-sasaki-throws-japans-16th-perfect-game.html . live .
- Web site: Ten confirmed dead after tour boat with 26 goes missing off Hokkaido. April 24, 2022. The Japan Times. December 13, 2022. April 24, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220424182158/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/04/24/national/hokkaido-tourist-boat-accident/. dead.
- Web site: 4 residents die in early a.m. house fire in western Tokyo . The Asahi Shimbun . 13 December 2022.
- Web site: Diet approves legislation to promote economic security . The Japan News . May 12, 2022 . 13 December 2022.
- News: Rich . Motoko. Shinzo Abe, Japan's Longest-Serving Prime Minister, Dies at 67. The New York Times . 8 July 2022.
- News: McCurry. Justin. Shinzo Abe, Japan's former prime minister, dies after being shot . The Guardian. 8 July 2022.
- Web site: Abe Shinzo Biography & Facts Britannica . www.britannica.com . 8 July 2022 . en.
- Web site: Sugiyama . Satoshi . Kim . Chang-Ran . Shinzo Abe, Japan's former prime minister, assassinated at a campaign stop . Reuters . en . 8 July 2022.
