2002 in Japan
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (March 2019) |
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| See also: | Other events of 2002 History of Japan • Timeline • Years | ||||
Events in the year 2002 in Japan.
Incumbents[]
- Emperor: Akihito
- Prime Minister: Junichiro Koizumi (L–Kanagawa)
- Chief Cabinet Secretary: Yasuo Fukuda (L–Gunma)
- Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: until October 30, Akira Machida from November 6
- President of the House of Representatives: Tamisuke Watanuki (L–Toyama)
- President of the House of Councillors: (L–Chiba) until April 22, (L–Chiba)
- Diet sessions: 154th (regular, January 21 to July 31), 155th (extraordinary, October 18 to December 13)
Events[]
George W. Bush addressing a joint session of the Diet, February 19
January[]
- January 15: UFJ Bank founded via the merger of the Sanwa Bank, Ltd., the Tokai Bank, Ltd. and Toyo Trust and Banking Co., Ltd.
- January 29: Prime Minister Koizumi fires Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka.
February[]
- February 1: Yoriko Kawaguchi is appointed foreign minister; her previous portfolio of Environment Minister is assumed by .
- February 19: U.S. president George W. Bush addresses a joint session of the Diet.
March[]
- March 7: Futoshi Matsunaga and Junko Ogata are arrested for confinement of a 17-year-old girl. They are arrested for seven murders later.
April[]
- April 1: Mizuho Bank founded.
- April 1: Domestic Violence Prevention Act becomes effective.
- April 21
- E231 series trains are introduced on the Yamanote Line in Tokyo.
- Koizumi visits Yasukuni Shrine.
- April 22: The new official residence of the Prime Minister opens next to the old one in Nagatachō, Tokyo.
May[]
- May 31: The World Cup Korea/Japan 2002 begins.
June[]
- June 11: Solar eclipse visible throughout Japan.
- June 24: Chiyoda ward in Tokyo bans smoking while walking in public.
- June 30
- The World Cup ends.
- Izumi Garden Tower is completed.
August[]
- August 30: The last Mazda 626 rolls off the production line after 23 years. Its successor, the 6, enters production on October 1.
September[]
- September 17: Koizumi visits North Korea; Kim Jong-il admits to the North Korean abduction of Japanese citizens.
October[]
- October 15: Five Japanese abductees return from North Korea.
November[]
- November 1 – Renesas Technology, as predecessor of Renesas Electronics was founded.[citation needed]
December[]
- December 1
- Tōhoku Shinkansen extension to Hachinohe Station opens.
- Saikyo Line and Rinkai Line extensions to Osaki Station open, allowing through service.
- Iwate Ginga Line and Aoimori Railway begin operations.
Births[]
Sota Fujii, a current successful shogi player (right)
- March 25: Rio Sasaki, child actress
- July 19: Sōta Fujii, professional shōgi player
- September 7: Nao Kosaka, idol, model, actress and member of the Japanese girls idol group Hinatazaka46
- December 20: Yuuna Sugiyama, actress and singer
Deaths[]
- March 8: Sanji Hase, voice actor
- April 10: Yuji Hyakutake, amateur astronomer
- May 13: Morihiro Saito, aikidoka
- May 16: Shoichi Arai, professional wrestling promoter
- May 24: Toshihito Ito, actor
- May 25: Genichi Kawakami, president of Yamaha Corporation from 1950 to 1977
- June 13: Hideo Murata, rōkyoku and enka singer
- June 15: Hideo Murota, actor
- September 12: Mitsuo Ikeda, wrestler
- October 12: Nozomi Momoi, AV idol
- November 15: Sohn Kee-chung, marathon runner
- December 15: Mr. C.B., thoroughbred racehorse
- December 21: Prince Takamado
- December 28: Koreyoshi Kurahara, screenwriter and director
See also[]
References[]
| show 2002 in Asia |
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Categories:
- 2002 in Japan
- Years of the 21st century in Japan
- 2002 by country
- 2002 in Asia