Events in the year 1939 in

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

. It corresponds to Shōwa 15 (昭和15年) in the Japanese calendar.

Incumbents

* Emperor:

Hirohito Emperor , commonly known in English-speaking countries by his personal name , was the 124th emperor of Japan, ruling from 25 December 1926 until his death in 1989. Hirohito and his wife, Empress Kōjun, had two sons and five daughters; he was ...

* Prime Minister:

Fumimaro Konoe Prince was a Japanese politician and prime minister. During his tenure, he presided over the Japanese invasion of China in 1937 and the breakdown in relations with the United States, which ultimately culminated in Japan's entry into World W ...

until January 5, then Nobuyuki Abe

Governors

Aichi Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,552,873 () and a geographic area of with a population density of . Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the west, Gifu Prefectur ...

: Kotaro Tanaka *Akita Prefecture:

Kaoru Sasaki Kaoru is a Japanese given name for males or females. Name Meanings The name's meaning varies depending on its written form: *薫/郁/芳 — "fragrance", common for both males and females *馨/香 — "fragrance", more common for females ...

(until 11 January);

Yukio Tomeoka Yukio is a masculine Japanese given name. Possible writings Yukio can be written using different combinations of kanji characters. Here are some examples: *幸夫, "happiness, man" *幸生, "happiness, live" *幸男, "happiness, man" *幸雄 ...

(starting 11 January) *Aomori Prefecture:

Masanori Ogawa Masanori is a masculine Japanese name, Japanese given name. Kanji and meaning The name Masanori is generally written with two kanji, the first read and the second read , for example: *Starting with ("correct"): **: second kanji means "rule" o ...

(until 1 March); Noburo Suzuki (starting 1 March) *Ehime Prefecture:

Shizuo Furukawa Shizuo (written: , , , or ) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese immunologist *, Japanese sumo wrestler *, Japanese writer *, Japanese printmaker *, Japanese aikidoka *, Japanese-born American math ...

(until 15 July);

Yoshio Mochinaga Yoshio is both a masculine Japanese given name and a Japanese surname. Possible writings Yoshio can be written using many different combinations of kanji characters. Here are some examples: *義雄, "justice, masculine" *義男, "justice, man" ...

(starting 15 July) *Fukui Prefecture:

Nakano Yoshiro Nakano may refer to: * Nakano, Tokyo * Nakano, Nagano * Nakano (surname) * Nakano Corporation , is a Japanese multinational general construction contractor engaging in design, construction, civil engineering, technical assistance, and real estate ...

(until 14 April);

Kiyoshi Kimura Kiyoshi Kimura's life-sized statue in front of his restaurant Sushi Zanmai, this one in Osaka's Dotonbori">Osaka.html" ;"title="Sushi Zanmai, this one in Osaka">Sushi Zanmai, this one in Osaka's Dotonbori is known as the "Tuna King" of Japan. K ...

(starting 14 April) *Fukuoka Prefecture: Kyuichi Kodama (starting 1940) *Fukushima Prefecture: Seikichi Kimishima (until 5 September);

Seikichi Hashimoto 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 a ...

(starting 5 September) *Gifu Prefecture:

Miyano Shozo was Governor of Gifu Prefecture (1937–1941) and Saitama Prefecture (1941–1942). {{DEFAULTSORT:Miyano, Shozo 1896 births 1972 deaths Governors of Gifu Prefecture Governors of Saitama Prefecture Japanese Police Bureau government ...

*Gunma Prefecture: Shozo Tsuchiya (until 17 April);

Kumano Ei literally means 'Bear Field'. It is a name adopted by various places in Japan. * Kumano Shrine * Kumano Shrines Grand Shrines * Kumano Kodō, ancient pilgrimage routes * Kumano Region * Kumano River * Kumano, Mie, a city in Mie Prefecture * Ja ...

(starting 17 April) *

Hiroshima Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Hiroshima Prefecture has a population of 2,811,410 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 8,479 km² (3,274 sq mi). Hiroshima Prefecture borders Okayama ...

: Ichisho Inuma (until 5 September); Katsuroku Aikawa (starting 5 September) * Ibaraki Prefecture:

Shigeru Hamaza Shigeru (written: , , , in hiragana or in katakana) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, a Japanese architect *, a Japanese voice actor *, Japanese karateka *, Japanese sport wrestler *, Japanese socialist ...

(until 11 January); Tokitsugi Yoshinaga (starting 11 January) *

Ishikawa Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu island. Ishikawa Prefecture has a population of 1,140,573 (31 October 2019) and has a geographic area of 4,186 km2 (1,616 sq mi). Ishikawa Prefecture borders Toyama Prefecture to ...

: Masasuke Kodama then Narita Ichiro *Iwate Prefecture: Chiyoji Yukizawa *Kagawa Prefecture: Nagatoshi Fujioka * Kanagawa Prefecture: Seiichi Ōmura then Ichisho Inuma * Kumamoto Prefecture: Tomoichi Koyama *Kochi Prefecture:

Fujioka Nagawa Fujioka may refer to: *Fujioka, Aichi, a former town located in Nishikamo District, Aichi, Japan *Fujioka, Gunma, a city in Gunma, Japan *Fujioka, Tochigi was a town located in Shimotsuga District, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. As of 2003, the tow ...

(until 17 April); Shunsuke Kondo (starting 17 April) * Kyoto Prefecture: Tota Akamatsuko *Mie Prefecture:

Masatoshi Sato Masatoshi (written: , , , , , , , , , , , , or ) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese politician *, Japanese film director *, Japanese politician *, Japanese comedian *, Japanese samurai *, Japanes ...

(until 3 January); Masanari Ogawa (starting 1 March) *

Miyagi Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu. Miyagi Prefecture has a population of 2,305,596 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of . Miyagi Prefecture borders Iwate Prefecture to the north, Akita Prefecture to the nort ...

: Ryosaku Shimizu *Miyazaki Prefecture: ** until 12 April:

Jiro Ino Jiro is the registered name used by Sun Microsystems for an extension to Java and Jini. Jiro as an industry initiative, along with an EMC initiative called "Wide Sky" were catalysts in the late nineties for a common interface to storage devices ...

** 12 April-7 September: Kyuichiro Totsuka ** starting 7 September: Ryosaku Shimizu *

Nagano Prefecture is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Nagano Prefecture has a population of 2,052,493 () and has a geographic area of . Nagano Prefecture borders Niigata Prefecture to the north, Gunma Prefecture to the ...

: Tomita Kenji *Nagasaki Prefecture: Jitsuzo Kawanishi * Niigata Prefecture: Yasujiro Nakamura (until 5 September); Seikichi Kimishima (starting 5 September) *

Okinawa Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi). Naha is the capital and largest city o ...

: Fusataro Fuchigami * Saga Prefecture: Tomoichi Koyama (until 17 April); Kato (starting 17 April) *

Saitama Prefecture is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Saitama Prefecture has a population of 7,338,536 (1 January 2020) and has a geographic area of 3,797 km2 (1,466 sq mi). Saitama Prefecture borders Tochigi Prefecture ...

: Toki Ginjiro *Shiname Prefecture: Kyuichi Kodama (until 9 April); ... (starting 9 April) *Tochigi Prefecture:

Adachi Shuuritsu Adachi may refer to: People * Adachi (surname) * Adachi clan, a family of samurai * Adachi Ginkō, 19th-century Japanese artist * Tohru Adachi, a fictional character and one of the antagonists of ''Persona 4'' Places * Adachi, Tokyo, a specia ...

* Tokyo:

Okada Shuzo Okada (written: 岡田 literally "hill rice-paddy") is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the name include: * , Japanese painter * Doris Okada Matsui, American politician of the Democratic Party * , Japanese painter in the Edo period * , Japa ...

*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, " ...

*Yamagata Prefecture:

Takei Yoshitsugu Takei (written: ) is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Emi Takei (born 1993), Japanese actress, fashion model, and singer *Esther Takei Nishio (1925–2019), selected as a "test case" as the first World War II internee o ...

(until 17 April);

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

(starting 17 April)

Events

*February -

Hainan Island Operation The Hainan Island Operation (), or in Japanese, was part of a campaign by the Empire of Japan during the Second World War to blockade the Guangdong mainland and prevent it from communicating with the outside world and from receiving imports ...

*March - Battle of Xiushui River *March 1 – According to

Japanese government The Government of Japan consists of legislative, executive and judiciary branches and is based on popular sovereignty. The Government runs under the framework established by the Constitution of Japan, adopted in 1947. It is a unitary state, c ...

official confirmed report, Japanese Imperial Army ammunition dump explode in Hirakata,

Osaka Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Osaka Prefecture has a population of 8,778,035 () and has a geographic area of . Osaka Prefecture borders Hyōgo Prefecture to the northwest, Kyoto Prefecture ...

, 94 persons were human fatalities, 602 persons were hurt. *March 17-May 9 -

Battle of Nanchang The Battle of Nanchang () was a military campaign fought around Nanchang, Jiangxi between the Chinese National Revolutionary Army and the Japanese Imperial Japanese Army in the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was the first major conflict to occur ...

*April 20-May 24 -

Battle of Suixian–Zaoyang The Battle of Suixian–Zaoyang (), also known as the Battle of Suizao was one of the 22 major engagements between the National Revolutionary Army (NRA) and Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) during the Second Sino-Japanese War. The Japanese launched a ...

*May 11-September 16 - Battles of Khalkhin Gol *June -

Swatow Operation The Swatow Operation (June 21–27, 1939; ) was part of a campaign by Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War to blockade China in order to prevent it from communicating with the outside world and importing needed arms and materials. Control of ...

*June 1 –Nippon Electric Works and Showa Fertilizer were merger, becomes name was Showa Denko. *September 13-October 8 -

Battle of Changsha (1939) The First Battle of Changsha (17 September 1939 – 6 October 1939; ) was the first of four attempts by Japan to take the city of Changsha, Hunan, during the second Sino-Japanese War. It was the first major battle of the war to fall within the ti ...

*Unknown date – Mukogawa Higher Women's School was founded, as predecessor of Mukogawa Women's University.

Births

*February 9 –

Tadahiro Matsushita was a Japanese politician and five-time member of the House of Representatives of Japan. He served in government from 1962 when he joined the Ministry of Construction to 2012. At the time of his death, he was the Minister of State for Financial ...

, politician (d.

2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...

) *February 17 –

Toshihiro Nikai is a Japanese politician for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the leader of the LDP Shisuikai faction (informally called the Nikai faction), who served as the Secretary-General of the LDP from 2016 to 2021. He was previously the Minister ...

, politician *March 2 – Takako, Princess Suga, youngest child of Emperor Shōwa *April 9 – Ikuko Tani, actress, voice actress and narrator *August 13 – Shijaku Katsura, rakugo performer (d.

1999 File:1999 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The funeral procession of King Hussein of Jordan in Amman; the 1999 İzmit earthquake kills over 17,000 people in Turkey; the Columbine High School massacre, one of the first major school shootin ...

) *September 22 –

Junko Tabei was a Japanese mountaineer, author and a teacher. She was the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest and the first woman to ascend the Seven Summits, climbing the highest peak on every continent. Tabei wrote seven books, organized e ...

, mountaineer, first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest (d.

2016 File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses during the 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh ...

)

Deaths

*February 18 – Kanoko Okamoto, author, poet, and Buddhist scholar (b.

1889 Events January–March * January 1 ** The total solar eclipse of January 1, 1889 is seen over parts of California and Nevada. ** Paiute spiritual leader Wovoka experiences a vision, leading to the start of the Ghost Dance movement in the ...

) *March 29 –

Michizō Tachihara was a Japanese poet and architect. He died at age 24 from tuberculosis, before either career could seriously get under way. Michizō struggled to find a way for an urban poet to root himself in traditional customs and still be "modern." Though ...

, poet and architect (b.

1914 This year saw the beginning of what became known as World War I, after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the Austrian throne was Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip. It als ...

) *September 7 –

Kyōka Izumi , real name , was a Japanese people, Japanese author of novels, short stories, and kabuki plays who was active during the Empire of Japan, prewar period. Kyōka's writing differed greatly from that of the naturalist writers who dominated the li ...

, novelist and Kabuki playwright (b.

1873 Events January–March * January 1 ** Japan adopts the Gregorian calendar. ** The California Penal Code goes into effect. * January 17 – American Indian Wars: Modoc War: First Battle of the Stronghold – Modoc Indians defeat ...

) *November 11 –

Kagaku Murakami was a Japanese painter and illustrator, noted for his numerous Buddhist subjects and advancement in the techniques of ''nihonga'' (Japanese-style) painting in the early 20th century. Biography He was born in Osaka as Takeda Shinichi. His parents ...

, painter and illustrator (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 ...

) *December 25 –

Masao Nakamura was a major general in the Imperial Japanese Army in the Second Sino-Japanese War. A native of Ishikawa prefecture, Nakamura graduated from the 25th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1913 and from the 32nd class of the Army Staf ...

, major general (b.

1892 Events January–March * January 1 – Ellis Island begins accommodating immigrants to the United States. * February 1 - The historic Enterprise Bar and Grill was established in Rico, Colorado. * February 27 – Rudolf Diesel applies for ...

)

References