1968 in Japan

Incumbents

• Emperor: Hirohito
• Prime Minister: Eisaku Satō
• Chief Cabinet Secretary: Toshio Kimura until November 30, Shigeru Hori
• Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: Masatoshi Yokota
• President of the House of Representatives: Mitsujirō Ishii
• President of the House of Councillors: Yūzō Shigemune

  Events

• Japan at the 1968 Summer Olympics
• Japan at the 1968 Winter Olympics

  January

• January 23 - Mushi Production, as predecessor of Tezuka Production was founded.
• Unknown date: Komeda Coffeehouse, as known well coffeehouse chain in nationwide, founded in Nagoya.

  March

• March 2: Fuji-Q Highland officially open in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture.

  April

• April 1: 1968 Hyūga-nada earthquake
• April 1: Abukuma Express line opened
• April 12: Kasumigaseki Building opened, was the first modern office skyscraper and tallest building in Tokyo until 1970.

  May

• May 16: 1968 Tokachi earthquake

  June

• June 16: Terrorist incident on the Yokosuka Line kills 1.
• June 26: Bonin Islands returned to Japan by United States Navy after 23-year occupation.

  July

• July 1: Postal code system adopted in Japan.
• July 7: Shintaro Ishihara and others are elected to the House of Councillors.

  August

• August 18: 1968 Hida river bus accident, two charter buses occur debris flow, following push into Hida River, Gifu Prefecture, due after heavy torrential rain. According to local official confirmed report, 104 people lost to lives with one of worst road accident in Northeast Asia.

  October

• October 21: New Left forces occupy Shinjuku Station for :ja:国際反戦デー|International Anti-War Day. Arrests are made.

  November

• November 2: A resort hotel fire in Arima Spa, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, according to Fire and Disaster Management Agency official confirmed report, 30 person lost to lives, with 44 person wounded.

  December

• December 10: 300 million yen robbery
• December 27: Toei Mita Line opened.

  Births

• January 1: Miki Higashino, pianist and composer
• July 5: Ken Akamatsu
• November 12: Aya Hisakawa, voice actress

  Deaths

• January 9: Kōkichi Tsuburaya, athlete
• January 29: Tsuguharu Foujita, painter
• July 19: Kan Shimozawa, novelist
• September 23: Kogo Noda, screenwriter