2022 in Japan

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Last updated September 22, 2024

Events in the year 2022 in Japan.

Incumbents

Governors

Aichi Prefecture: Hideaki Omura
Akita Prefecture: Norihisa Satake
Aomori Prefecture: Shingo Mimura
Chiba Prefecture: Toshihito Kumagai
Ehime Prefecture: Tokihiro Nakamura
Fukui Prefecture: Tatsuji Sugimoto
Fukuoka Prefecture: Seitaro Hattori
Fukushima Prefecture: Masao Uchibori
Gifu Prefecture: Hajime Furuta
Gunma Prefecture: Ichita Yamamoto
Hiroshima Prefecture: Hidehiko Yuzaki
Hokkaido: Naomichi Suzuki
Hyogo Prefecture: Motohiko Saitō
Ibaraki Prefecture: Kazuhiko Ōigawa
Ishikawa: Masanori Tanimoto
Iwate Prefecture: Takuya Tasso
Kagawa Prefecture: Keizō Hamada
Kagoshima Prefecture: Kōichi Shiota
Kanagawa Prefecture: Yuji Kuroiwa
Kumamoto Prefecture: Ikuo Kabashima
Kochi Prefecture: Seiji Hamada
Kyoto Prefecture: Takatoshi Nishiwaki
Mie Prefecture: Eikei Suzuki
Miyagi Prefecture: Yoshihiro Murai
Miyazaki Prefecture: Shunji Kōno
Nagano Prefecture: Shuichi Abe
Nagasaki Prefecture: Hōdō Nakamura
Nara Prefecture: Shōgo Arai
Niigata Prefecture: Hideyo Hanazumi
Oita Prefecture: Katsusada Hirose
Okayama Prefecture: Ryuta Ibaragi
Okinawa Prefecture: Denny Tamaki
Osaka Prefecture: Ichirō Matsui
Saga Prefecture: Yoshinori Yamaguchi
Saitama Prefecture: Motohiro Ōno
Shiga Prefecture: Taizō Mikazuki
Shimame Prefecture: Tatsuya Maruyama
Shizuoka Prefecture: Heita Kawakatsu
Tochigi Prefecture: Tomikazu Fukuda
Tokushima Prefecture: Kamon Iizumi
Tokyo Prefecture: Yuriko Koike
Tottori Prefecture: Shinji Hirai
Toyama Prefecture: Hachiro Nitta
Wakayama Prefecture: Yoshinobu Nisaka
Yamagata Prefecture: Mieko Yoshimura
Yamaguchi Prefecture: Tsugumasa Muraoka
Yamanashi Prefecture: Kotaro Nagasaki

Predicted and scheduled events

January

January and February – Winter thunderstorm and heavy snow. There were at least 93 human fatalities and 1,580 injuries, according to Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency.^{[ citation needed ]}
January 15 – According to a Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department report, a 1.7-decade-old student attacked 3 people with a knife outside of University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo ^[2]
January 22 – According to USGS report, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit near costal Saiki, Oita, southeastern Kyushu Island, followed by aftershocks. 13 people were wounded according to the Japan Fire and Disasters Management Agency.^[3]

February

February 4 to 20 – Japanese athletes compete in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
February 11 – A rice cracker confectionery manufacturing factory caught fire in Murakami, Niigata Prefecture, and six factory workers died.^[4]
February 27 – Former prime minister Shinzo Abe proposed that Japan should consider a nuclear sharing arrangement with the US similar to NATO.^[5] This includes housing American nuclear weapons on Japanese soil for deterrence.^[5] This plan comes in the wake of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.^[5]^[6]

March

March 16 – 2022 Fukushima earthquake.
March 27 – A submarine volcano erupted on Funka-asane, North Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands, where ash rose up to 23,000 feet (7,000 meters), according to a Japan Meteorological Agency official confirmed report.^[7]

April

April 10 – In Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), Chiba Lotte Marines pitcher Rōki Sasaki throws a perfect game, the first in 28 years and the 16th in NPB history. Sasaki tied an existing NPB record by striking out 19 batters, and set a new record by striking out 13 consecutive batters.^[8]
April 23 – According to a Japan Coast Guard official confirmed report, a sightseeing ferry, Kazu I, sank nearby Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido. In total, 26 people died.^[9]

May

May 3–5 – Many traditional Golden Week festivals are resumed including Hakata Dontaku, Hamamatsu Kite Festival, Hiroshima Flower Festival, and among others, and held across the nationwide for the first time (since 2019) after the first 20 months and one year of COVID-19 pandemic.^{[ citation needed ]}
May 9 – According to a Tokyo Firefighter Department official confirmed report, a house caught fire in Higashimurayama, Tokyo in an incident caused by suicide arson. Four people were killed in the fire.^[10]
May 11 – The Economic Security Promotion Law was enacted by the House of Councillors. This will be implemented in stages starting from April 2023.^[11]

June

June 2–3 – According to Japan Meteorological Agency and Japan Weather News Television official confirmed report, a massive hail fallen in Gunma, Saitama, Chiba Prefecture, according to Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency report, 91 persons were hurt.^{[ citation needed ]}
June 19 – According to USGS official confirmed report, a Richer scale 5.1 magnitude earthquake hit on Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture, total seven persons were wounded, according to JFDMA official confirmed report.^{[ citation needed ]}
June 25 – According to Japan Meteorological Agency official confirmed report, a Celsius 40.2 degrees (Fahrenheit 104.36 degrees) high temperature record hit in Isesaki, Gunma Prefecture, as highest temperature record on June in Japan, since first observation record of JMA, since 1872, as same place another Celsius 40.0 (Fahrenheit 104.0 degrees) recorded observed on June 29.^{[ citation needed ]}

July

July 8 – Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot dead in the western city Nara, Kansai region.^[12]^[13]
July 8 to September 30 – Japan declared the national mourning day of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated while he giving a speech at the House of Councillors election campaign in Nara.
July 11 – Following Shinzo Abe's assassination, Japanese government discussed that Unification Church leader Tomihiro Tanaka has confirmed Tetsuya Yamagami's mother was a member of the religious group (Also known as the Unification Church (Shukyo nisei)). Because Shinzo Abe had alleged ties to the Unification Church, which go back generations including his father, Shintaro Abe, his mother Yoko Abe, and his maternal grandparents, Nobusuke and Yoshiko Kishi. At the end of World War II, his maternal grandfather was jailed as a suspected war criminal.
July 12 – Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was cremated at Kirigaya Funeral Hall in Tokyo.
July 14 to August 16 – According to official confirmed report, a many summer traditional festival and event were resumed including Akita Kantō, Aomori Nebuta, Tokushima Awa Dance Festival, Gion Festival, and Gozan no Okuribi in both Kyoto, Gujo-Hachiman Bon Dance Festival, Hakata Gion Yamakasa, and among others after the first 20 months and 1 year of COVID-19 pandemic. However, Osaka Tenjin Festival, Niigata Festival were scale down held, but Sumida River Firework Festival, Hachiōji Festival, Tanba Dekansho Dance Festival and Kumamoto Hinokuni Festival were not held for three consecutive years.^{[ citation needed ]}
July 25 – According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare reports, Japan has confirmed the first case of monkeypox outbreak in Tokyo, but Japanese public health experts are said it is unlikely to cause a new surge.^{[ citation needed ]}

August

August 10 – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the reshuffled his second cabinet.
August 13 – Tropical Thunderstorm Meari hits Shizuoka.
August 22 – According to Japan National Police Agency official confirmed report, a regular route bus has overturned, following caught fire in Nagoya Expressway, Kita-ku, Nagoya, two persons were human fatalities and seven persons were wounded.^{[ citation needed ]}

September

September 16–November 13 According to official confirmed report, a many autumn traditional festival resume in nationwide, including Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri, Nada's Fighting Festival of Himeji, Saijō Festival of Ehime Prefecture, Aging Festival of Kyoto, Saga International Balloon Fiesta, Karatsu Kunchi, Chrysanthemum Doll event and Tochigi Autumn Festival, all of since 2019, however Kanuma Autumn Festival and Nagasaki Kunchi were cancelled for three consecutive years.^{[ citation needed ]}

September 17–20 – Typhoon Nanmadol, a heavy massive precipitation and landslide hit in southern Kyushu Island and other western Japan, total four persons were death and 147 persons injures, according to Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency official confirmed report.^{[ citation needed ]}
September 23–24 Typhoon Talas, a torrential massive heavy rain, landslide, flash flood hit, two transmission towers collapse hit in Shizuoka Prefecture, total three persons were human fatalities, six persons wounded, according to JFDMA official confirmed report.^{[ citation needed ]}
September 27 – Funeral service of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe begin at Nippon Budokan, Kitanomaru National Garden in Chiyoda, Tokyo.
September 28 to December 31 – According to the Ministry of the Environment's official report, 143 cases of wild birds on nationwide, as crows, cranes, and swans were confirmed, and the Tobu Zoological Park in Saitama Prefecture, where many wild birds were confirmed, was closed from December 22, and the amusement area has resumed on December 29.^{[ citation needed ]}

October

October 9 – Racing driver Max Verstappen wins Japanese Grand Prix. Second title world champion 2022 Formula One World Championship.
October 28 to December 31 – According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 50 cases of bird flu have been reported in Japan in chickens and ducks raised on poultry farms in nationwide, total 7.63 millions sluggered by Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.^{[ citation needed ]}

November

November 1 – Ghibli Park, owned by Studio Ghibli, officially opens in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture.^{[ citation needed ]}
November 22 – Japan begins investigation into the Unification Church, just four months following the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who allegedly by Tetsuya Yamagami with a longstanding grudge against the religious group.^{[ citation needed ]}

December

December 25 – According to Japan National Police Agency official confirmed report, a suspect has three murdered with hammer in Hannō, Saitama Prefecture, a suspicion has arrested on same day,^{[ citation needed ]}
December 27 – According to Tokyo Fire Department official confirmed report, a fire and explosion occurred at a chemical factory and warehouse in Sumida, Tokyo, destroying 10 facilities and buildings, an employee has injures.^{[ citation needed ]}
December 29 – Following China's recent decision to end its Zero-COVID strategy, Japanese Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Katsunobu Kato says the possibility of imposing travel restrictions on visitors from the Greater China is 'under the review'. The following day, Japanese Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has confirmed that passengers arriving in Japan from Greater China will have to provide a negative test before they board a flight.^{[ citation needed ]}
December 31 – Japanese New Year has second returned since December 2021 after the first 20 months of COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020 and September 2021. However, a many Japanese people remain celebrated new year's eve after midnight.^{[ citation needed ]}

Arts and entertainment

Sports

September 25 – 2022 MotoGP World Championship is held at 2022 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix
October 9 – 2022 Formula One World Championship is held at 2022 Japanese Grand Prix

Deaths

In the fourth year of Reiwa Memoriam despite Japanese demographic and aging crisis (and during the first 16-month-period of COVID-19 Omicron variant) in the country, among top 12 famous Japanese people who passed away peacefully due to illness and old age, including Toshiki Kaifu, Shintaro and Noriko Ishihara, Jun Kondō, Akira Takarada, Nobuyuki Idei, Yoko Shimada, Issey Miyake, Hanae Mori, Kazuo Inamori, Antonio Inoki, Ichiro Mizuki, and Chika Takami. While unfortunately, among top 5 famous Japanese people who died of tragic events, including Hiroyuki Watanabe and Ryuhei Ueshima both from suicides, Yu-Gi-Oh! creator Kazuki Takahashi from accidential drowning, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe from murder, and Kōji Nakamoto from traffic jam accident.

March 3 – Kyotaro Nishimura, novelist (b. 1930)
March 5 – Taro Shigaki, actor (b. 1951)
March 8 – Noriko Ishihara, essay writer and the wife of Shintaro Ishihara (b. 1933 or 1938)
March 11 – Jun Kondō, theoretical physicist (b. 1930)
March 14 – Akira Takarada, actor (b. 1934)
March 16 – Kunimitsu Takahashi, former professional motorcycle, racing driver and team manager (b. 1940)
March 17 – Tadao Sato, film critic (b. 1930)
March 21 – Shinji Aoyama, film director (b. 1964)
March 31 – Kei Yamamoto, actor (b. 1940)