1968 in Japan

← 1967 1966 1965 1968 in Japan → 1969 1970 1971
Decades:	1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s
See also:	Other events of 1968 History of Japan  • Timeline  • Years

Events in the year 1968 in Japan.

Incumbents

• Emperor: Hirohito[1]
• Prime Minister: Eisaku Satō (Liberal Democratic)
• Chief Cabinet Secretary: Toshio Kimura until November 30, Shigeru Hori
• Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: Masatoshi Yokota
• President of the House of Representatives: Mitsujirō Ishii
• President of the House of Councillors: Yūzō Shigemune

Events

• Japan at the 1968 Summer Olympics
• Japan at the 1968 Winter Olympics

January

• January 23 – Mushi (Osamu Tezuka) Production, as predecessor of Tezuka Production was founded.
• Unknown date: Komeda Coffeehouse, as known well coffeehouse chain in nationwide, founded in Nagoya.[2]

March

• March 2: Fuji-Q Highland officially open in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture.

April

• April 1: 1968 Hyūga-nada earthquake
• April 1: Abukuma Express line opened
• April 12: Kasumigaseki Building opened, was the first modern office skyscraper and tallest building in Tokyo until 1970.

May

• May 16: 1968 Tokachi earthquake

June

• June 16: Terrorist incident on the Yokosuka Line kills 1.
• June 26: Bonin Islands returned to Japan by United States Navy after 23-year occupation.

July

• July 1: Postal code system adopted in Japan.
• July 7: Shintaro Ishihara and others are elected to the House of Councillors.

August

• August 18: 1968 Hida river bus accident, two charter buses occur debris flow, following push into Hida River, Gifu Prefecture, due after heavy torrential rain. According to local official confirmed report, 104 people lost to lives with one of worst road accident in Northeast Asia.[3]

October

• October: Golgo 13, which becomes the longest-running ongoing manga, makes its debut on Big Comic.
• October 21: New Left forces occupy Shinjuku Station for International Anti-War Day. Arrests are made.

November

• November 2: A resort hotel fire in Arima Spa, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, according to Fire and Disaster Management Agency official confirmed report, 30 person lost to lives, with 44 person wounded.[4]

December

• December 10: 300 million yen robbery
• December 27: Toei Mita Line opened.

Births

• January 1: Miki Higashino, pianist and composer
• July 5: Ken Akamatsu
• November 12: Aya Hisakawa, voice actress

Deaths

• January 9: Kōkichi Tsuburaya, athlete (b. 1940)
• January 29: Tsuguharu Foujita, painter (b. 1886)
• July 19: Kan Shimozawa, novelist (b. 1892)
• September 23: Kogo Noda, screenwriter (b. 1893)

See also

• 1968 in Japanese television
• List of Japanese films of 1968

References

1. "Hirohito | Biography, Accomplishments, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
2. ja:コメダ#沿革 (Japanese language edition) Retriveted date on 9 May 2020.
3. ja:飛騨川バス転落事故 (Japanese language) Retrieved date on July 18, 2017.
4. ja:池之坊満月城火災 (Japanese language) Retrieved date on October 3, 2017.