1991 in Japan
Encyclopedia
Events in the year 1991 in Japan
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Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
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Incumbents
- EmperorEmperor of JapanThe Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
: AkihitoAkihitois the current , the 125th emperor of his line according to Japan's traditional order of succession. He acceded to the throne in 1989.-Name:In Japan, the emperor is never referred to by his given name, but rather is referred to as "His Imperial Majesty the Emperor" which may be shortened to . In... - Prime MinisterPrime Minister of JapanThe is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
: Toshiki KaifuToshiki Kaifuis a Japanese politician who was the 76th and 77th Prime Minister of Japan from 1989 to 1991.- Career :He was born in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, and was educated at Chuo University and Waseda University. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party , Kaifu ran successfully for the Diet in 1960 and...
, Kiichi MiyazawaKiichi Miyazawawas a Japanese politician and the 78th Prime Minister from November 5, 1991 to August 9, 1993.-Early life and career:Miyazawa was born in Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, and graduated from Tokyo Imperial University with a degree in law. In 1942 he joined the Ministry of Finance...
Events
- April 1: TokyoTokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
Metropolitan Government moved its offices from MarunouchiMarunouchiMarunouchi is a commercial district of Tokyo located in Chiyoda between Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace. The name, meaning "inside the circle", derives from its location within the palace's outer moat...
to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government BuildingTokyo Metropolitan Government BuildingThe , also referred to as Tokyo City Hall or Tochō for short, houses the headquarters of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which governs not only the 23 wards, but also the cities, towns and villages that make up Tokyo as a whole....
in Shinjuku. - April 26: Self-Defense Forces dispatched to assist in the Gulf WarGulf WarThe Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. - June 20: Tohoku ShinkansenTohoku ShinkansenThe is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen rail line, connecting Tokyo with Aomori in Aomori Prefecture for a total length of 674 km, Japan's longest Shinkansen line. It runs through the more sparsely populated Tōhoku region of Japan's main island Honshu. It has two spur lines, Yamagata...
line is extended from Ueno StationUeno Stationis a major railway station inTokyo's Taitō ward. It is the station used to reach the Ueno district and Ueno Park -- which contains Tokyo National Museum, The National Museum of Western Art, Ueno Zoo, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and other famous cultural facilities...
to Tokyo StationTokyo Stationis a train station located in the Marunouchi business district of Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan, near the Imperial Palace grounds and the Ginza commercial district....
. - July 31: Lotte Orions baseball team announces it will move to ChibaChiba, Chibais the capital city of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located approximately 40 km east of the center of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay. Chiba City became a government designated city in 1992. Its population as of 2008 is approximately 960,000....
and become the Chiba Lotte MarinesChiba Lotte MarinesThe are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by the Lotte conglomerate.-History:...
. - September 11: USS IndependenceUSS Independence (CV-62)The fifth USS Independence is a of the United States Navy. It was the fourth and final member of the Forrestal-class conventional-powered Supercarrier...
is based at Yokosuka, becoming the United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
's only forward-deployed aircraft carrierAircraft carrierAn aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
. - September 27: Typhoon MireilleTyphoon MireilleSuper Typhoon Mireille was one of the deadliest typhoons of the 1991 Pacific typhoon season as it crossed Japan in September.-Meteorological history:A poorly organized area of convection was first noted in the monsoon trough...
kills 45 people in Japan. - October 3: Kaifu resigns as prime minister.
- November 5: Miyazawa announces his first cabinet.
Births
- January 8: Asuka HinoiAsuka Hinoiis a Japanese singer and leader of the J-pop group Hinoi Team.- Biography :Asuka's musical career began in 2002 when she was chosen with two other girls, Hikaru Koyama and Miho Hiroshige to form the group LOVE & PEACE. Their song, Drifter became the theme for the movie Dodge Go! Go! and the three...
, singer - February 4: Aya ŌmasaAya Omasais a Japanese fashion model and actress. She currently plays the main character of the sixth season of Keitai deka series...
, fashion model and actress - March 14: Michiko KashiwabaraMichiko Kashiwabarais a Japanese cross country skier who has competed since 2008. At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, she finished ninth in the 4 x 5 km relay and 61st in the 10 km event....
, cross country skier - March 14: Miu NakamuraMiu Nakamurais a Japanese tarento and gravure idol. She was born in Aomori prefecture, and now resides in Iwate prefecture.-Biography:After leaving middle school, she decided not to take the high school entrance exam, and instead chose to focus on her modelling career. At the age of 14, her first gravure DVD,...
, tarento and gravure idol - March 15: Kii KitanoKii Kitanois a singer, gravure idol and an actress in Japan. She is signed with the Foster agency. Kitano is a former member of the celebrity girls futsal team Miss Magazine. In 2005, Kitano won a Miss Magazine Award, becoming the youngest to receive that award. In 2007, Kitano was chosen for the first time...
, gravure idol and actress - April 4: Yui KoikeYui Koikeis a Japanese gravure idol and actress known for her role as Ahim de Famille/Gokai Pink in the 2011 Super Sentai series Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger. She is also a member of a idol group named "Tomato n'pine"...
, gravure idol and actress - April 11: Erina ManoErina Mano, born April 11, 1991 in Kanagawa, Japan is a Japanese pop singer associated with Hello! Project. She joined in 2006 as a member of Hello Pro Egg, as a trainee. In 2007, she became a member of the Hello! Project futsal team Gatas Brilhantes H.P. and its musical group Ongaku Gatas...
, J-pop singer - April 11: Kenta MatsudairaKenta Matsudairais a Japanese table tennis player. Winner of 2006 World Junior Championships in boys' singles. He was ranked as the number one junior player in the world. Kenta has supposedly one of the world's best serves...
, table tennis player - April 12: Daisuke Kikuchi, footballer
- April 15: Daiki AriokaDaiki Ariokais a Japanese actor, tarento and singer as well as member of Hey! Say! JUMP. He is under the management of Johnny & Associates. He was born in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture.- Career:...
, singer - April 17: Shinsaku UesugiShinsaku Uesugiis a FIDE Master of Japan and played for Japan at the 38th Chess Olympic in Dresden, Germany in November 2008. He won the 40th Japan National Chess Championship in May 2007 and became youngest ever National Champion . He also became Co-Champion of the U.S...
, FIDE master - April 29: Misaki DoiMisaki Doiis a professional Japanese tennis player. Her highest WTA singles ranking is 116, which she reached on March 21, 2011 Her career high in doubles is 222, which she reached...
, tennis player - May 3: Narita BrianNarita BrianNarita Brian was a Japanese racehorse, sired by Brian's Time, dammed by Pacificus, who in turn was the daughter of Northern Dancer....
, racehorse (d. 19981998 in Japan-Incumbents:* Emperor: Akihito* Prime Minister: Ryutaro Hashimoto, Keizo Obuchi* Chief Cabinet Secretary: Kanezo Muraoka, Hiromu Nonaka-Events:* February 7–February 22 - The 1998 Winter Olympics are held in Nagano....
) - May 29: Saori HayamiSaori Hayamiis a female seiyū and singer.-Anime:2007* Touka Gettan, Momoka Kawakabe, Sei* Clannad, Female student * Ghost Hound, Female elementary school student A 2008* Shigofumi: Letters from the Departed, Sweetheart...
, voice actress and singer - June 18: Rei OkamotoRei Okamotois Japanese model and actress who stars as Mia Amagishi in Akai Ito.-References:...
, model and actress - June 30: KahoKaho (actress)is a Japanese actress and fashion model. Her real name is not disclosed.From 2004 to 2007, Kaho was the 11th Mitsui ReHouse Girl. She was given a Best New Talent award at the 2008 Yokohama Film Festival for her performance in the film A Gentle Breeze in the Village.- Filmography :* Joō no Kyōshitsu...
, actress - July 10: Atsuko Maeda, singer
- July 12: Tomoki KamedaTomoki KamedaTomoki Kameda is an undefeated Japanese boxer in the Super Bantamweight division. He's the current WBC FECARBOX, WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation Bantamweight and the WBC Youth World Super Bantamweight Champion....
, boxer - July 25: Miyu NagaokaMiyu NagaokaMiyu Nagaoka is a Japanese volleyball player who plays for Hisamitsu Springs.-External links:*...
, volleyball player - July 28: Rina AizawaRina Aizawais a Japanese actress & gravure idol signed under Box Corporation. Her debut role is Saki Rōyama/Go-on Yellow in the 2008 TV Asahi's tokusatsu series Engine Sentai Go-onger.She is ranked 249th out of 422001 people according to Oricon Style's page....
, actress - August 16: Yūki Tokiwa, voice actor
- October 15: Sayaka Nakaya, idol
- October 23: Princess Mako
- October 26: Riho IidaRiho IidaRiho Iida is a Japanese actress and child model, so-called U-15 junior idol.Riho Iida came into the spotlight when she was 11 years old, appearing in 2002 Tensai Terebi Kun MAX series on NHK educational TV. Since then she starred in many of movies and TV series...
, actress and child model - October 27: Sōta MurakamiSōta Murakamiis a Japanese actor and seiyū.-Television drama:*Ai no Inoie ~ Nakimushi Sato to Shichinin to Ko*Bengoshi Sako Mariko no Yuigon Sakusei File*Matamo ya Metaka Teishu-dono ~Bakumatsu no Meibugyū: Ogurikōzukenosuke~*Oyajii....
, actor and voice actor - December 3: Masahiro UsuiMasahiro Usui' is a Japanese actor and the second-youngest of the acting group D-BOYS, produced by .-Biography:Usui joined D-BOYS through the 4th D-BOYS open audition, held on May 28, 2007...
, actor - December 7: Dori SakuradaDori Sakurada, born December 7, 1991 is a Japanese actor and singer. He is known most notably for his role as Ryoma Echizen as part of the third generation Seigaku cast in The Prince of Tennis musicals, Tenimyu.- Stages and Musicals :*Bold denotes leading roles...
, actor and singer - December 24: Shion KokubunShion Kokubunis an Japanese figure skater. She won the 2009 Golden Spin of Zagreb.-Competitive highlights:* N = Novice-A level; J = Junior level-References:*** - External links :...
, figure skater - December 30: Kurumi NaraKurumi NaraKurumi Nara is a tennis player. She reached the third round of the 2008 US Open Girls singles tournament, where she lost to Kristina Mladenovic 2–6, 6–4, 7–6. She advanced to the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time at the 2010 French Open with a 4–6, 7–6, 10–8 win over Monica...
, tennis player
Deaths
- January 2: Hiroshi Noma, author
- January 29: Yasushi InoueYasushi InoueYasushi Inoue was a Japanese writer whose range of genres included poetry, essays, short fiction, and novels...
, author - February 24: Shingo KanemotoShingo Kanemotowas a Japanese voice actor originally from Fukuoka Prefecture. On February 24, 1991, he died of intra-axial hematoma at the age of 58. After his death, his ongoing roles went to Takeshi Watabe.-Notable voice work:*Space Battleship Yamato III...
, voice actor - March 24: Kazuyoshi OimatsuKazuyoshi Oimatsuwas a Japanese figure skater and a coach.He was born in Nagano and raised in Osaka, Japan.Oimatsu won the Japan Figure Skating Championships from 1931. He represented Japan at the 1932 Winter Olympics and 1936 Winter Olympics, World Figure Skating Championships from 1932 and 1936.After World War...
, figure skater and coach - May 15: Shintaro AbeShintaro Abewas a Japanese politician from Yamaguchi Prefecture.He was the eldest son of member of Parliament Kan Abe and son-in-law of Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi. He was married to Yoko Kishi, daughter of Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi. His second son, Shinzō Abe, became Prime Minister of Japan on September...
, politician - May 26: Kisaburo OsawaKisaburo Osawa, was an influential aikido teacher who taught for many years at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo and was a close advisor to Kisshomaru Ueshiba....
, aikido teacher - June 3: Takeshi NagataTakeshi Nagatawas a Japanese geophysicist. He studied geomagnetism.He won the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1987....
, earth scientist - July 5: Nobuo NakamuraNobuo Nakamurawas a Japanese actor, who made notable appearances in the films of Akira Kurosawa and Yasujiro Ozu in the 1950s and 1960s. Perhaps his most famous roles were those of the callous deputy mayor in Kurosawa's Ikiru , and the hairdresser's henpecked husband in Ozu's Tokyo Story .Nakamura is famous for...
, actor - July 11: Hitoshi IgarashiHitoshi Igarashiwas a Japanese scholar of Arabic and Persian literature and history and the Japanese translator of Salman Rushdie's novel The Satanic Verses. He completed his doctoral programme in Islamic art at the University of Tokyo in 1976, and was research fellow at the Royal Academy of Iran until the Islamic...
, scholar - August 5: Soichiro HondaSoichiro Hondawas a Japanese engineer and industrialist, and founder of Honda Motor Co., Ltd..Honda was born in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan on November 17, 1906. He spent his early childhood helping his father, Gihei, a blacksmith, with his bicycle repair business. At the time his mother, Mika, was a weaver. At...
, founder of Honda Motor Company - August 8: Mitsuko YoshikawaMitsuko Yoshikawa- Filmography :She played in 261 films:* * Takekurabe , English titles include: Adolescence aka Growing Up Twice aka Growing Up aka Child's Play *...
, actress - September 3: Susumu IshiiSusumu IshiiSusumu Ishii a.k.a. 石井 隆匡 was the second kaicho of the Inagawa-kai yakuza gang in Japan. He was also 5th socho of the Yokosuka-ikka....
, second kaicho (Godfather) of Inagawa-kaiInagawa-kaiThe is the third largest of Japan's yakuza groups, with approximately 15,000 members. It is based in the Kanto region, and was one of the first yakuza organizations to begin operating overseas.-History:... - October 22: Hachiro KasugaHachiro Kasuga, born as Minoru Watabe, was a Japanese enka singer. He has been dubbed "the first enka singer".Having seen the stage of Ichiro Fujiyama, he attempted to become a popular singer. After he graduated from the Toyo Music School, he joined the Japanese army in 1944, but returned from Taiwan to Japan in...
, enkaEnkais a popular Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically. Modern enka, however, is a relatively recent musical form which arose in the context of such postwar expressions of modern Japanese nonmaterial nationalism as nihonjinron, while adopting a more...
singer - November 14: Yoshikata YodaYoshikata Yodawas a Japanese screenwriter. He wrote for over 130 films between 1931 and 1989. He is most famous for his work with Kenji Mizoguchi...
, screenwriter - November 23: Ken UeharaKen Ueharawas a Japanese film actor. He appeared in over 200 films between 1935 and 1990. He starred in Entotsu no mieru basho, which was entered into the 3rd Berlin International Film Festival.His son is the singer and actor Yūzō Kayama.-Selected filmography:...
, film actor - November 27: Yō YoshimuraYo Yoshimurawas a Japanese voice actor who was born in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. As a youth, he was a member of a performing arts troupe. Yoshimura died at age 37 from a subarachnoid hemorrhage in 1991.-TV:*Aoi Blink *F ...
, voice actor
Statistics
- YenJapanese yenThe is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling...
value: US$1 = ¥124.85 (Dec. 31)