Events in the year 1940 in Japan. It corresponds to Shōwa 15 (昭和15年) in the

Japanese calendar Japanese calendar types have included a range of official and unofficial systems. At present, Japan uses the Gregorian calendar together with year designations stating the year of the reign of the current Emperor. The written form starts with t ...

Incumbents

Founding Ceremony of the Hakko-Ichiu Monument

Emperor An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...

: Hirohito *

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister i ...

: **

Nobuyuki Abe was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army, Governor-General of Korea, and Prime Minister of Japan. Early life and military career Abe was born on November 24, 1875, in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, the son of former samurai Abe Nobumitsu. ...

, until January 16, **

Mitsumasa Yonai was a Japanese general and politician. He served as admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, Minister of the Navy, and Prime Minister of Japan in 1940. Early life and career Yonai was born on 2 March 1880, in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, the firs ...

, until July 22, ** Fumimaro Konoe, from July 22

Governors

* Aichi Prefecture: Kotaro Tanaka (until 9 April); Kodama Kyuichi (starting 9 April) *Akita Prefecture: Yukio Tomeoka (until 24 July); Fumi (starting 24 July) *Aomori Prefecture: Noburo Suzuki (until 24 July); Seiichi Ueda (starting 24 July) *Ehime Prefecture: Yoshio Mochinaga (until 24 July); Susumu Nakamura Noriyuki (starting 24 July) *Fukui Prefecture: Kiyoshi Kimura (until 14 April); Kubota (starting 14 April) *Fukuoka Prefecture: Kyuichi Kodama *Fukushima Prefecture: Seikichi Hashimoto (until 24 December); Sumio Hisakawa (starting 24 December) *Gifu Prefecture: Miyano Shozo *Gunma Prefecture: Kumano Ei (until 20 October); Susukida Yoshitomo (starting 20 October) * Hiroshima Prefecture: Katsuroku Aikawa *

Ibaraki Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Ibaraki Prefecture has a population of 2,871,199 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of . Ibaraki Prefecture borders Fukushima Prefecture to the north, Tochigi Prefecture ...

: Tokitsugi Yoshinaga * Ishikawa Prefecture: Narita Ichiro (until month unknown) *Iwate Prefecture: Chiyoji Yukizawa (until 10 April); Yoshifumi Yamauchi (starting 10 April) *Kagawa Prefecture: Nagatoshi Fujioka (until 9 April); Osamu Eianhyaku (starting 9 April) *

Kanagawa Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Kanagawa Prefecture is the second-most populous prefecture of Japan at 9,221,129 (1 April 2022) and third-densest at . Its geographic area of makes it fifth-smallest. Kanag ...

Ichisho Inuma Ichisho Inuma (February 15, 1892 – November 14, 1982) was a Japanese politician who served as governor of Hiroshima Prefecture from November 1938 to September 1939. He was a graduate of the University of Tokyo. He was also the governor of Sai ...

then

Mitsuma Matsumura Mitsuma Matsumura (January 8, 1894 – April 10, 1970) was a Japanese politician who served as governor of Hiroshima Prefecture from Aug. 1, 1944 to Apr. 21, 1945. He was also governor of Tochigi Prefecture (1936–1937) and Kanagawa Prefecture ...

Kumamoto Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. Kumamoto Prefecture has a population of 1,748,134 () and has a geographic area of . Kumamoto Prefecture borders Fukuoka Prefecture to the north, Ōita Prefecture to the northeast, M ...

: Tomoichi Koyama *Kochi Prefecture: Kondo Shunsuke (until 9 April); Chioji Yukisawa (starting 9 April) * Kyoto Prefecture: Tota Akamatsuko (until April); Jitsuzo Kawanishi (starting April) *Mie Prefecture: Masatoshi Sato (until 4 April); Yoshiro Nakano (starting 4 April) * Miyagi Prefecture: Ryosaku Shimizu (until 4 April); Nobuo Hayashin (starting 4 April) *Miyazaki Prefecture: Jitsuzo Kawanishi (until month unknown) * Nagano Prefecture: Tomita Kenji (until 22 July); Nagoya Osamu (starting 22 July) *Nagasaki Prefecture: Jitsuzo Kawanishi *

Niigata Prefecture is a prefecture in the Chūbu region of Honshu of Japan. Niigata Prefecture has a population of 2,227,496 (1 July 2019) and is the fifth-largest prefecture of Japan by geographic area at . Niigata Prefecture borders Toyama Prefecture and ...

Seikichi Kimishima Seikichi (written: 清吉 or 政吉) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: * Seikichi Odo (1926–2002), Japanese karateka * (1917–1998), Japanese karateka Fictional characters: * character in the stage play ...

(until 9 April); Yasui Seiichiro (starting 9 April) * Okinawa Prefecture: Fusataro Fuchigami *

Saga Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. Saga Prefecture has a population of 809,248 (1 August 2020) and has a geographic area of 2,440 km2 (942 sq mi). Saga Prefecture borders Fukuoka Prefecture to the northeast and Nagasa ...

: Kato (until 9 April); Masaki (starting 9 April) * Saitama Prefecture:

Toki Ginjiro Toki Ginjiro ( ja, 土岐銀次郎) (1894 – April 1, 1976) was Governor of Toyama Prefecture (1935–1938) and Saitama Prefecture (1938–1941). He was the deputy editor of the ''Tokyo Shimbun'', a newspaper published by the Chunichi Shimbun new ...

*Shiname Prefecture: Kiyoo Ebe (until 23 December); Yasuo Otsubo (starting 23 December) *Tochigi Prefecture: Adachi Shuuritsu (until 8 April); Saburo Yamagata (starting 8 April) *

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, ...

: Okada Shuzo *Toyama Prefecture:

Kenzo Yano is a common masculine Japanese given name. Possible writings Kenzō can be written using different kanji characters and can mean: *賢三, "wise, three" *健三, "healthy, three" *謙三, "humble, three" *健想, "healthy, concept" *建造, "bu ...

*Yamagata Prefecture:

Ishiguro Takeshige Ishiguro (written: lit. "black stone") is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Aya Ishiguro (:ja:石黒彩, 石黒彩) (born 1978), a.k.a. Ayappe, singer * Hidé Ishiguro, Philosopher * Hideo Ishiguro (:ja:石黒英雄, ...

(until 24 August); Hee Yamauchi (starting 24 August)

Films

* Kaze no Matasaburo * Totsugu hi made

Events

*Throughout the entire year - Celebration of year 2600 in

Japanese imperial year The , colloquially known as the or "national calendar year" is a unique calendar system in Japan. It is based on the legendary foundation of Japan by Emperor Jimmu in 660 BC. ''Kōki'' emphasizes the long history of Japan and the Imperial dyna ...

*January 15 – A large fire destroys much of

Shizuoka Shizuoka can refer to: * Shizuoka Prefecture, a Japanese prefecture * Shizuoka (city), the capital city of Shizuoka Prefecture * Shizuoka Airport * Shizuoka Domain, the name from 1868 to 1871 for Sunpu Domain, a predecessor of Shizuoka Prefecture ...

city center. *January 29 – According to Japanese government official confirmed report, a three passenger locomotive commuter train derail and caught fire nearby

Ajikawaguchi Station is a train station on the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) Sakurajima Line (JR Yumesaki Line) in Konohana-ku, Osaka, Konohana-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Layout The station has an island platform serving two tracks. 1940 fire O ...

Osaka is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of ...

, resulting to 189 person (181 were instantly, 8 were hospital) were death and 69 persons injures. *March 16–April 3 – Battle of Wuyuan *May 1-June 18 – Battle of Zaoyang-Yichang *September 22–26 –

Japanese invasion of French Indochina The was a short undeclared military confrontation between Japan and France in northern French Indochina. Fighting lasted from 22 to 26 September 1940; the same time as the Battle of South Guangxi in the Sino-Japanese War, which was the main ...

*November 25–30 –

Central Hubei Operation The Central Hubei Operation was one of the engagements between the National Revolutionary Army and Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) or War of Resistance (Chinese term) was ...

Births

*January 1 –

Ippei Kuri , real name , is a Japanese manga artist and the third president of animation production company Tatsunoko Pro. History Ippei Kuri was born Toyoharu Yoshida on January 1, 1940, in Kyoto. As a child, he read comics such as '' Superman'' that were ...

, manga artist and entrepreneur *January 2 –

Masahiko Tsugawa , born Masahiko Katō (加藤雅彦 ''Katō Masahiko''; January 2, 1940 – August 4, 2018) was a Japanese actor and director. Career Tsugawa was born January 2, 1940, in Kyoto, Japan. After acting as a child, he made his major debut at the age ...

, actor (d.

2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the Unit ...

) *February 11 – Kinryuu Arimoto, voice actor (d.

2019 File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...

) *May 13 –

Kōkichi Tsuburaya (born ; May 13, 1940 January 9, 1968) was a Japanese athlete who competed mainly as a marathoner. Kokichi was also a 1st lieutenant in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. Running career Tsuburaya competed at the 1964 Summer Olympics held in To ...

, marathoner (d.

1968 The year was highlighted by protests and other unrests that occurred worldwide. Events January–February * January 5 – " Prague Spring": Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. * Janu ...

) *May 25 –

Nobuyoshi Araki is a Japanese photographer and contemporary artist professionally known by the mononym . Known primarily for photography that blends eroticism and bondage in a fine art context, he has published over 500 books.The number depends on such things ...

, photographer and artist *June 3 – Koichi Kishi, politician (d.

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a s ...

) *July 2 –

Ruriko Asaoka , born 2 July 1940 in Xinjing, Manchukuo (now Changchun, Jilin, China), is a Japanese actress. She won the Medal with Purple Ribbon (2002) and Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette (2011). She married actor Koji Ishizaka in ...

, actress *July 19 –

Hanako, Princess Hitachi (born ; 19 July 1940), is a member of the Japanese Imperial Family as the wife of Masahito, Prince Hitachi, who is the younger son of Emperor Shōwa and the only brother of Emperor Emeritus Akihito. Early life and education She was born at Ts ...

, wife of

Masahito, Prince Hitachi is a member of the Imperial House of Japan and the younger brother of Emperor emeritus Akihito. He is the second son and sixth born child of Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun and is third in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne. Nobody follow ...

*August 20 –

Gisaburō Sugii is a Japanese anime director and Nihonga artist. He is best known for his work as director of the ''Touch'' series, the movie adaptation of the '' Arashi no Yoru ni'' children's book series, and the movie ''Night on the Galactic Railroad''. He i ...

, anime director and

Nihonga ''Nihonga'' (, "Japanese-style paintings") are Japanese paintings from about 1900 onwards that have been made in accordance with traditional Japanese artistic conventions, techniques and materials. While based on traditions over a thousand years ...

artist *September 20 –

Tarō Asō is a Japanese politician serving as the Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) since 2021. Asō previously served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2008 to 2009 and as Deputy Prime Minister of Japan and Minister of Finance from 2 ...

, 59th Prime Minister of Japan *October 30 – Hidetoshi Nagasawa, sculptor and architect (d.

) *December 4 – Fumio Kyūma, politician

Deaths

*January 1 – Fusajiro Yamauchi, entrepreneur (b.

1859 Events January–March * January 21 – José Mariano Salas (1797–1867) becomes Conservative interim President of Mexico. * January 24 ( O. S.) – Wallachia and Moldavia are united under Alexandru Ioan Cuza (Romania since 1866, final ...

) *March 8 – Princess Masako Takeda, sixth daughter of Emperor Meiji (b.

1888 In Germany, 1888 is known as the Year of the Three Emperors. Currently, it is the year that, when written in Roman numerals, has the most digits (13). The next year that also has 13 digits is the year 2388. The record will be surpassed as late ...

) *May 11 –

Chujiro Hayashi , a disciple of Mikao Usui, played a major role in the transmission of Reiki out of Japan. Hayashi was a naval physician and employed Reiki to treat his patients. He began studying with Usui in the early 1920s. He made his branch, Hayashi Reiki ...

, Reiki practitioner (b.

1880 Events January–March * January 22 – Toowong State School is founded in Queensland, Australia. * January – The international White slave trade affair scandal in Brussels is exposed and attracts international infamy. * February � ...

) *June 5 –

Tokugawa Iesato Prince was the first head of the Tokugawa clan after the overthrow of the Tokugawa bakufu, and a significant figure in Japanese politics and diplomacy during the Meiji, Taishō and early Shōwa period Japan. When Prince Tokugawa travelled t ...

, politician (b.

1863 Events January–March * January 1 – Abraham Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation during the third year of the American Civil War, making the abolition of slavery in the Confederate states an official war goal. It proclaim ...

) *September 4 –

Prince Nagahisa Kitashirakawa of Japan, was the 4th head of the Kitashirakawa-no-miya collateral branch of the Japanese imperial family and a career officer in the Imperial Japanese Army. Early years Prince Kitashirakawa Nagahisa was the only son of Prince Naruhisa Kita ...

, career army officer (b.

1910 Events January * January 13 – The first public radio broadcast takes place; live performances of the operas '' Cavalleria rusticana'' and ''Pagliacci'' are sent out over the airwaves, from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York C ...

) *October 6 –

Michitarō Komatsubara was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army, during the Nomonhan Incident. Biography A native of Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture, where his father was a naval engineer, Komatsubara graduated from the 18th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Acad ...

, general (b. 1885) *November 20 – Hideo Oguma, poet (b.

1901 Events January * January 1 – The British colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia federate as the Commonwealth of Australia; Edmund Barton becomes the first Prime Minist ...

) *November 24 –

Saionji Kinmochi Prince was a Japanese politician and statesman who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 1906 to 1908 and from 1911 to 1912. He was elevated from marquis to prince in 1920. As the last surviving member of Japan's ''genrō,'' he was the most i ...

, politician, statesman and Prime Minister of Japan (b.

1849 Events January–March * January 1 – France begins issue of the Ceres series, the nation's first postage stamps. * January 5 – Hungarian Revolution of 1848: The Austrian army, led by Alfred I, Prince of Windisch-Grätz, enters in th ...

)

Incumbents

Governors

Films

Events

Births

Deaths

See also

References

Further reading