2023 in Japan
{{short description|none}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Year in Japan|2023}}
{{Year nav topic5|2023|Japan}}
Events in the year 2023 in Japan.
{{horizontal TOC|nonum=yes|align=center}}
Incumbents
- Emperor: Naruhito{{cite web |title=Naruhito {{!}} Reign, History, & Family {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Naruhito |website=www.britannica.com |access-date=8 July 2022 |language=en}}
- Prime Minister: Fumio Kishida
- Chief Cabinet Secretary
- Hirokazu Matsuno (until December 14)
- Yoshimasa Hayashi (starting December 14)
- Chief Justice of Japan: Saburo Tokura
- Speaker of the House of Representatives
- Hiroyuki Hosoda (until October 20)
- Fukushiro Nukaga (starting October 20)
- President of the House of Councillors: Hidehisa Otsuji
=Governors=
- Aichi Prefecture: Hideaki Omura
- Akita Prefecture: Norihisa Satake
- Aomori Prefecture: Shingo Mimura (until June 28), Sōichirō Miyashita, (from June 29)
- 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 (until May 2), Makoto Yamashita (from May 3)
- Niigata Prefecture: Hideyo Hanazumi
- Oita Prefecture: Katsusada Hirose (until April 27), Kiichiro Satō (from April 28)
- Okayama Prefecture: Ryuta Ibaragi
- Okinawa Prefecture: Denny Tamaki
- Osaka Prefecture: Hirofumi Yoshimura
- 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 (until May 17), Masazumi Gotoda (from May 18)
- Tokyo Prefecture: Yuriko Koike
- Tottori Prefecture: Shinji Hirai
- Toyama Prefecture: Hachiro Nitta
- Wakayama Prefecture: Shūhei Kishimoto
- Yamagata Prefecture: Mieko Yoshimura
- Yamaguchi Prefecture: Tsugumasa Muraoka
- Yamanashi Prefecture: Kotaro Nagasaki
Events
=January=
- January 1–March 28 – The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries releases a report stating that the Japanese Self-Defence Forces had culled 9.9 million chickens in 2023 to prevent the bird flu and they found 83 infected corpses.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-09 |title=Record 10 million birds culled in Japan as avian flu spreads |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/01/09/national/bird-flu-record-cullings/ |access-date=2023-01-22 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}}
- January 13 – Tetsuya Yamagami is indicted for the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on July 8, 2023.{{cite news|url=https://www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/articles/14813434|title=Yamagami found competent, to face trial for Abe's murder|date=13 January 2022|access-date=13 January 2022|work=The Asahi Shimbun}}
- January 19 – The Tokyo Institute of Technology and the Tokyo Medical and Dental University announce a merger to form the Tokyo Institute Science University, to be completed in April 2024.{{Cite web |title=【受付終了】新大学の名称案をご提案ください |url=https://www.titech.ac.jp/news/2022/065365.html |access-date=2023-01-22 |website=東京工業大学 |language=ja}}
- January 20 – The Bank of Japan reported that inflation in Japan increased by 4.0% in December 2022, the highest recorded increase since 1981.{{Cite news |date=2023-01-20 |title=Cost of living: Japan inflation jumps to new 41-year high |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64341733 |access-date=2023-01-22}}
- January 22 – Four people were killed, and three others were found unconscious in an apartment fire in Kobe.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-22 |title=Four killed and three others feared dead in predawn fire at Kobe apartment |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/01/22/national/kobe-apartment-fire/ |access-date=2023-01-22 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}}
- January 25 – A Hong Kong-registered ship carrying 22 people capsized off the waters of Japan. 13 crew members were rescued, with two reported dead and nine reported missing.{{Cite news |date=2023-01-25 |title=Cargo ship sinks off Japan, leaving two dead, nine missing |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/rescue-efforts-under-way-22-crew-members-capsized-cargo-ship-2023-01-25/ |access-date=2023-01-25}}
- January 29 – A 17-year-old student was filmed licking soy sauce bottles in the sushi chain Sushiro.{{Cite web |last=Yong |first=Nicholas |date=2023-02-03 |title='Sickening' sushi diner pranks enrage Japanese |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64508029 |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} Outrage spreads across Japan, starting a series of pranks across the country referred to as "sushi terrorism".{{Cite web |last=Khalil |first=Shaimaa |date=2023-03-09 |title=Japan makes arrests in 'sushi terror' pranks craze |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64898111 |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
=February=
{{Main|ja:荒井勝喜による性的少数者差別発言}}
File:Mitsubishi Regional Jet JA22MJ.jpg
- February 3 – An Executive Secretary to the Prime Minister of Fumio Kishida, {{Interlanguage link|荒井勝喜|lt=Masayoshi Arai|ja}} says, "I would not want to live next to, or look at the homosexual. If same-sex marriage were legalized, some people would abandon their country".{{Cite news |last=Davies |first=Alys |date=2023-02-04 |title=Japan PM fires aide over derogatory LGBT remarks |work=BBC NEWS |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64521862 |access-date=2023-02-21}}{{Cite news |date=2023-02-04 |title=オフレコ取材報道の経緯 性的少数者傷つける発言「重大な問題」 |language=ja |work=毎日新聞 |url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20230204/k00/00m/010/203000c |access-date=2023-02-21}} He is fired the following day. [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64521862.amp]
- February 6 – Mitsubishi Aircraft announces they have completely withdrawn from the manufacture, sales, and development of the Mitsubishi SpaceJet.{{cite news |url= https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2023020700629/mitsubishi-heavy-announces-pullout-from-passenger-jet-development.html |title= Mitsubishi Heavy Announces Pullout from Passenger Jet Development |date= Jan 1, 2024 |via= Nippon.com |agency= Jiji Press}}
=March=
{{Main|ja:ガーシー参議院議員への除名処分}}
- March 15 – YouTuber and former MP Yoshikazu Higashitani is expelled from the House of Councillors for never attending parliament.{{Cite web |last=Khalil |first=Shaimaa |date=2023-03-14 |title=Japan YouTuber MP expelled for never going to work |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64950117 |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} An arrest warrant was requested for him the following day.{{Cite web |last=Takahara |first=Kanako |date=2023-03-16 |title=Police secure arrest warrant for expelled lawmaker GaaSyy |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/03/16/national/gaasyy-police-seek-arrest/ |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}}
=April=
- April 1 – All cyclists are obliged to make an effort to wear helmets.{{cite web|title=One year after road law revision, few cyclists in Japan wear helmets|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/02/japan/japan-cyclists-helmet-wearing/|newspaper=The Japan Times|date=2024-04-02|accessdate=2024-09-21}}
- April 6 – A JSDF Mitsubishi UH-60JA helicopter crashes off the coast of Miyakojima in Okinawa Prefecture with 10 people on board.{{Cite web |last1=Emiko |first1=Jozuka |last2=Lendon |first2=Brad |date=2023-04-07 |title=Japanese military helicopter crashes in sea with 10 on board |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/06/asia/japan-military-helicopter-crash-intl-hnk-ml/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407182807/https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/06/asia/japan-military-helicopter-crash-intl-hnk-ml/index.html |archive-date=2023-04-07 |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=CNN |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Yamaguchi |first=Mari |date=2023-04-06 |title=Debris found in search for GSDF copter presumed to have crashed into sea |url=https://japantoday.com/category/national/japanese-army-helicopter-carrying-10-crew-members-missing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406233803/https://japantoday.com/category/national/japanese-army-helicopter-carrying-10-crew-members-missing |archive-date=2023-04-06 |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=Japan Today |language=en}}
- April 13 – North Korea launches a ballistic missile toward northern Japan, prompting evacuation orders in Hokkaido.{{Cite web |title=North Korea fires possible 'new type' ballistic missile |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/12/north-korean-missile-prompts-evacuation-order-in-japan |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}
- April 15 – An assassination attempt is made on Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida when what was described as a "smoke bomb" was thrown in his direction, while he was giving a speech in Wakayama. Despite the bomb's detonation, Kishida is unharmed.{{Cite web |last1=Jozuka |first1=Emi |last2=Ogura |first2=Junko |date=2023-04-15 |title=Man arrested after explosion prompts evacuation of Japanese leader Fumio Kishida from speech venue |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/14/asia/kishida-evacuated-japan-explosion-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=CNN |language=en}}
=May=
File:Damage of 2023 Noto earthquake swarm 01.jpg]]
File:20230520g7summit outreachevent 16.jpg
- May 5 – 2023 Ishikawa earthquake. A magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits the Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture, killing one person and injuring 48 others.
- May 11 – A magnitude 5.2 earthquake hits the Tokyo Metropolitan area, injuring nine people.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}
- May 19 to 21 – 49th G7 summit in Hiroshima.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}
- May 25 – Four people including two policemen are killed in a stabbing and shooting incident in Nakano.{{Cite news |date=2023-05-25 |title=Nagano: Man detained over shooting and stabbing attack in Japan |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-65709901 |access-date=2023-05-26}}
=June=
- June 2–3 – Torrential rain from Typhoon Mawar causes a flash flood, a levee collapse, and a landslide in the Tokyo Metropolitan area, the Kii Peninsula, and Hamamatsu, killing 7 people and injuring 45 people.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}
- June 4 – The former member of House of Councillors, Yoshikazu Higashitani is arrested on his way to Japan from Dubai, according to the Japan National Police Agency and Interpol.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}
- June 14 – 2023 Japan military facility shooting
- June 16 – The Japanese Diet passes the LGBT Understanding Promotion Act, raises the age of consent from 13 to 16, and criminalizes voyeurism.{{cite news |title=Japan passes watered-down LGBT understanding bill |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/16/asia/japan-lgbt-bill-passed-intl-hnk/index.html |work= CNN}}{{Cite news |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=2023-06-16 |title=Japan raises age of consent from 13 to 16 in reform of sex crimes law |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/16/japan-raises-age-of-consent-from-13-to-16-in-reform-of-sex-crimes-law |access-date=2023-06-16 |issn=0261-3077}}
- June 18 – A bus and a truck carrying livestock collide in Yakumo, Hokkaido with five fatalities and twelve injuries.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-19 |title=5 killed after truck collides with bus in Hokkaido in northern Japan |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/tokyo-ap-hokkaido-japan-police-b2360018.html |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=The Independent |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=NEWS |first=KYODO |title=5 dead after truck collides with bus in Japan's Hokkaido |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/06/fe359e178f64-5-dead-after-bus-collides-with-truck-in-japans-hokkaido.html |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Kyodo News+}}
- June 23 – According to a report by the World Health Organization, a patient who died of myocarditis in June 2022 was confirmed as the first case of the Oz virus in the world based on the results from the Japan National Institute of Infectious Diseases.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}
=July=
- July 4 – The UN's nuclear watchdog approves plans to release water from Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean.{{cite news |work= The Guardian |title= Fukushima plan to release water into ocean approved by UN watchdog |date= July 4, 2023 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/04/fukushima-china-calls-for-suspension-of-japanese-plan-to-release-radioactive-water-into-sea |language= en |last1= McCurry |first1= Justin }}
- 11 July – Floods and mudslides kill at least six people in southwestern Japan and injure nineteen more. Five others are reported missing.{{cite news|title= Floods and mudslides kill six in Japan as scientists warn extreme rainfall events will get worse |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/11/asia/rainfall-japan-floods-climate-intl/index.html |work= CNN }}
- July 14 – An explosion occurs during the test of solid fuel Epsilon rocket at JAXA's Noshiro Testing Center in Noshiro, Akita Prefecture. No injuries are reported.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}
- July 15–16 – Heavy rain causes flooding, levee breaches, and landslides across Akita Prefecture, killing one person and injuring four others.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}
=August=
- August 1 to 9 – Typhoon Khanun hits the Sakishima Islands, Okinawa Island, killing one person and wounding 91 people. {{citation needed|date=September 2023}}
- August 15 – Torrential rain from Typhoon Lan causes a levee collapse which injures 66 persons mainly around Fukuchiyama, Tottori City.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}
- August 24 – According to a Japanese government official announcement, and despite opposition from environmental activists and government officials in neighboring countries, discharge of radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean starts. The Chinese government announces a prohibition on all fish imports from Japan the same day.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}
- August 26 – Utsunomiya Light Rail, officially starts operating in Tochigi Prefecture, the first new tram in Japan in 75 years.{{Cite web |last=NEWS |first=KYODO |title=Japan's 1st new tram system in 75 years starts operating north of Tokyo |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/08/16c7e5e9d81d-japans-1st-new-tram-in-75-years-starts-operating-north-of-tokyo.html |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Kyodo News+}}
=September=
- September 4 – The Supreme Court of Japan formally orders Okinawa to allow the United States Armed Forces to expand its runways and military infrastructure on the island despite protests from the locals who oppose the American military's presence.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-04 |title=Japan's top court orders Okinawa to allow a divisive government plan to build US military runways |url=https://apnews.com/article/japan-us-okinawa-military-753685ce51dbc9958e1b1d6c43fcbf4d |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=AP News |language=en}}
- September 8–9 – Heavy rain from Tropical Storm Yunyeung leads to a flash flood and a levee collapse in Iwaki, Kitaibaraki and Boso Peninsula. There is one fatality and 21 injuries.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}
- September 13 – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announces the second reshuffling of his cabinet.{{Cite web |title=Inauguration of the Second Kishida Cabinet (Second Reshuffle) |url=https://japan.kantei.go.jp/101_kishida/actions/202309/13naikaku_kaizo.html |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Prime Minister's Office of Japan |language=en}}
- September 29 – K-Arena Yokohama, a major concert hall in Tokyo Metropolitan area, opens in Nishi-ku, Yokohama.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}
=October=
- October 2 – Entertainment giant Johnny & Associates changes its name to Smile-Up and spins off the talent agency as Starto.{{cite web |url=https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-news/20231002-140437/ |title=Johnny & Associates to Change Name to Smile-Up. (Update 2) |date=October 2, 2023 |website=The Japan News |publisher=Yomiuri Shimbun |access-date=October 18, 2023}}
{{Main|Johnny Kitagawa sexual abuse scandal}}
- October 7 – Four climbers on Mount Asahi, Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture die due to sudden weather changes.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-10-07 |title=Four elderly hikers die near mountain trail in eastern Japan |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/10/07/japan/four-bodies-found-tochigi-mountain/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}}
- October 25 – The Supreme Court of Japan rules that requiring sterilization as part of gender transitioning is unconstitutional, but sends the gender-affirming surgery requirement back to a lower court.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-25 |title=Japan court says 'cruel' gender change sterilisation rule unconstitutional |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/international-news/20231025-japan-court-says-gender-change-sterilisation-rule-unconstitutional |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=RFI |language=en}}
- October 30 – Japan suspends the pilot experiment of its first fully autonomous self-driving car following a minor collision.{{Cite web |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=2023-10-30 |title=Japan's first fully autonomous vehicle suspended |url=https://tribune.net.ph/2023/10/japans-first-fully-autonomous-vehicle-suspended/ |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=Daily Tribune |language=en-US}}
- October 31 – Two men at a hospital are injured by gunshots at a hospital and two post office employees are held hostage in Warabi, Saitama Prefecture. One hostage is released and the other escapes without injuries. An 86 year old man is arrested inside the post office.{{Cite news |date=2023-10-31 |title=Man arrested after holing up in east Japan post office, 2 injured at hospital |url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20231031/p2a/00m/0na/009000c |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101124036/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20231031/p2a/00m/0na/009000c |archive-date=2023-11-01 |access-date=2023-11-03 |work=Mainichi Daily News |language=en}}
=November=
- November 4 – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visits the Philippines and meets Philippine President Bongbong Marcos, and addresses a joint session of the Philippine Congress.
- November 5 - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visits Malaysia and meets Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
- 2023 Japan Series: In Japanese baseball, the Hanshin Tigers defeat the Orix Buffaloes to win the Japan Series in seven games, capturing their second championship, their first since 1985, breaking the Curse of the Colonel.{{Cite web|date=2023-11-05 |title=Hanshin Tigers Win Japan Series for First Time in 38 Years, Beating Orix Buffaloes in Game 7 |url=https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/baseball/20231105-147833/ |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=japannews.yomiuri.co.jp |language=en}}
- November 23 – The High Court of Seoul orders Japan to pay ₩200 million (around ¥22 million or US$154,000) in compensation to 16 women who were comfort women during World War II, overturning a previous ruling that denied the women's claims due to sovereign immunity.{{Cite web |title=S. Korea court rules in favour of victims of wartime sexual slavery |url=https://mb.com.ph/2023/11/23/s-korea-court-rules-in-favour-of-victims-of-wartime-sexual-slavery |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Manila Bulletin |language=en}}
- November 29 – A United States Air Force V-22 Osprey crashes off the coast of Japan's Kagoshima Prefecture with eight crew members on board. A search and rescue operation is launched, according to the Japan Coast Guard.{{Cite web |last=Jozuka |first=Jessie Yeung, Emiko |date=2023-11-29 |title=At least one dead as US Osprey aircraft crashes off coast of Japan |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/29/asia/us-osprey-aircraft-crashes-japan-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=CNN |language=en}}
=December=
- December 12 – A district court in Fukushima convicts three former soldiers for sexually assaulting their colleague, Rina Gonoi, during a military exercise in 2021, sentencing them to two years in prison and suspending them from the military for four years.
{{Main|ja:2022年に発覚した自衛隊での性被害}}
- December 20 – Japanese electronics company Toshiba is delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange after 74 years.
- December 26 –
- Daihatsu, a unit of Japanese automaker Toyota, shuts down all production lines at its four factories in Japan, while transport ministry officials investigate improper tests for safety certifications.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-26 |title=Toyota small car maker Daihatsu shuts down Japan factories during probe of bogus safety tests |url=https://apnews.com/article/japan-daihatsu-toyota-safety-scandal-shutdown-1e5808bd4fe335f585a9049a2cb64e0a |access-date=2023-12-26 |website=AP News |language=en}}
- The Tokyo High Court rules that the operator of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, TEPCO will be solely responsible for compensating evacuees, while reducing the amount to half of what a lower court had initially ordered, and absolves the government of any liability.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-26 |title=Tokyo court only holds utility responsible to compensate Fukushima evacuees and reduces damages |url=https://apnews.com/article/japan-fukushima-nuclear-ruling-evacuees-compensation-tepco-a844a85ecdff3e2526e81e242d4c89ed |access-date=2023-12-26 |website=AP News |language=en}}
Arts and entertainment
Sports
- July 14 to 30 - 2023 FINA World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka.{{cite web|url=https://resources.fina.org/fina/document/2023/01/16/8d440e7e-1f63-4fe8-af1c-a96ba1af40bf/20th-FINA-WORLD-CHAMPIONSHIPS-Fukuoka-2023-Schedule-12.01.23.pdf|title=World Aquatics Championships Fukuoka 2023|accessdate=17 January 2023}}
- September 24 – 2023 Formula One World Championship is held at 2023 Japanese Grand Prix
- October 1 – 2023 MotoGP World Championship is held at 2023 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix
- 2023 F4 Japanese Championship
- 2023 Super Formula Championship
- 2023 Super Formula Lights
- 2023 Super GT Series
- 2022 AFC Champions League Final (Japan)
- 2023 in Japanese football
- 2023 J1 League
- 2023 J2 League
- 2023 J3 League
- 2023 Japan Football League
- 2023 Japanese Regional Leagues
- 2023 Japanese Super Cup
- 2023 Emperor's Cup
- 2023 J.League Cup
Deaths
File:RyuichiSakamotoJI4 (cropped).jpg, Japanese composer, pianist, and record producer of Yellow Magic Orchestra, has died of cancer at 71.]]
=January=
- January 1 – Tetsuo Hasegawa, actor (b. 1938){{Cite web |last=INC |first=SANKEI DIGITAL |date=2023-01-08 |title=名脇役の長谷川哲夫さん死去、84歳 ドラマ「3年B組金八先生」「水戸黄門」などに出演 |url=https://www.sanspo.com/article/20230108-OKLXPFDW7NIYXPC2BZUFPWLYRU/ |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=サンスポ |language=ja}}
- January 11 – Yukihiro Takahashi, musician (b. 1952)
- January 23 – Hiromitsu Kadota, baseball player (b. 1948)
=February=
- February 5 – Takako Sasuga, voice actress (b. 1936)
- February 7 – Hiroki Nakata, shogi player (b. 1964)
- February 10 – Satoshi Iriki, baseball player (b. 1967)
- February 13 – Leiji Matsumoto, animator and manga artist (b. 1938){{cite web|title=Legendary Manga Creator Leiji Matsumoto Passes Away at 85|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-02-19/legendary-manga-creator-leiji-matsumoto-passes-away-at-85/.195093|website=Anime News Network|first=Rafael Antonio|last=Pineda|date=February 19, 2023|access-date=February 20, 2023}}
- February 14 – Shoichiro Toyoda, business executive (b. 1925)
- February 15 – Shōzō Iizuka, voice actor (b. 1933)
- February 16 – Maon Kurosaki, singer and songwriter (b. 1988)
- February 25 – Mitsuo Senda, voice actor (b. 1940)
=March=
- March 2 – Ryuho Okawa, religious leader (b. 1956)
- March 5
- Takahiro Kimura, animator, illustrator and character designer (b. 1964){{cite web|last=Cayanan|first=Joanna|title=Code Geass, GaoGaiGar Character Designer Takahiro Kimura Passes Away|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-03-09/code-geass-gaogaigar-character-designer-takahiro-kimura-passes-away/.195750|website=Anime News Network|date=March 9, 2023}}
- Kenzaburō Ōe, writer (b. 1935)
- March 9 – Chikage Oogi, actress and politician (b. 1933)
- March 10 – Naonobu Fujii, volleyball player (b. 1992)
- March 11 – Chen Kenichi, chef (b. 1956)
- March 15 – Taro Nakayama, politician and former Foreign Minister of Japan (b. 1924)
- March 22 – Jirō Dan, actor (b. 1949)
- March 23 – Tomoko Naraoka, actress (b. 1929)
- March 28 – Ryuichi Sakamoto, composer, record producer, and actor (b. 1952)
=April=
- April 1 – Yasumichi Kushida, voice actor (b. 1976)
- April 5 – Masanori Hata, zoologist, essayist, and filmmaker (b. 1935)
=May=
- May 11 – Futoshi Nakanishi, baseball player (b. 1933)
=June=
- June 9 – Yumie Hiraiwa, screenwriter, novelist (b. 1932)
- June 11
- Mikio Aoki, politician (b. 1934)
- Sadao Nakajima, film director (b. 1934)
- June 12 – Shigeru Sugishita, baseball player (b. 1925)
- June 16 – Manabu Kitabeppu, baseball player (b. 1957)
=July=
- July 1 – Ippei Kuri, manga artist and entrepreneur (b. 1940){{cite web|title=Tatsunoko Production Co-Founder Ippei Kuri Passes Away|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-07-19/tatsunoko-production-co-founder-ippei-kuri-passes-away/.200467|website=Anime News Network|date=July 19, 2023}}
- July 11 – Yuzo Toyama, composer (b. 1931)
- July 12 – Ryuchell, television personality (b. 1995)
- July 18 – Keiko Suzuka, actress (b. 1955)
- July 24 – Seiichi Morimura, novelist (b. 1933)
=August=
- August 5 – Nami Sano, manga artist (b. 1987)
- August 19 – Nizo Yamamoto, manga art director (b. 1953)
=September=
- September 1 – Shozaburo Nakamura, politician, former Justice Minister (b. 1934)
- September 8 – Buichi Terasawa, manga artist (b. 1955){{cite web|title=Space Adventure Cobra Manga Creator Buichi Terasawa Passes Away|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-09-11/space-adventure-cobra-manga-creator-buichi-terasawa-passes-away/.202235|website=Anime News Network|first=Alex|last=Mateo|date=September 11, 2023|access-date=September 11, 2023}}
- September 16 – Yukiyoshi Tokoro, manga artist (b. 1947)
=October=
- October 8 – Shinji Tanimura, singer-songwriter (b. 1948)
- October 10 – Toshio Naka, former professional baseball player and coach (b. 1936)
- October 14 – Ichirō Zaitsu, actor and comedian (b. 1934)
- October 18 – Yoshinori Monta, singer-songwriter (b. 1951)
- October 19 – Atsushi Sakurai, musician and singer-songwriter (b. 1966)
- October 25 – Yūji Tsushima, politician (b. 1930)
- October 26 – Hiroshi Inuzuka, actor and bassist (b. 1929)
- October 29 – Heath, bassist (b. 1968){{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-11-11/x-japan-releases-statement-confirming-passing-of-band-member-heath/.204340 |title=X Japan Releases Statement Confirming Passing of Band Member Heath |date=November 11, 2023 |publisher=Anime news Network |access-date=November 12, 2023}}
=November=
- November 2 – Asashio Tarō IV, sumo wrestler (b. 1955)
- November 4 – Kosuke Hori, politician (b. 1934)
- November 9 – Junko Ōhashi, singer (b. 1950){{Cite news|url=https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/obituaries/20231111-148886/|title=Junko Ohashi, singer of 'Silhouette Romance,' dies at 73|date=11 November 2023|access-date=11 November 2023|newspaper=The Japan News}}
- November 10 – Hiroyuki Hosoda, politician (b. 1944)
- November 11 – Masatoshi Wakabayashi, politician (b. 1934)
- November 12 – Kimura Kan (Kan), musician (b. 1962)
- November 15 – Daisaku Ikeda, a chairman of Soka Gakkai and founder of Komeito (b. 1928)
- November 19 – Mizuho Suzuki, actor (b. 1927)
- November 29 – Taichi Yamada, screenwriter and novelist (b. 1934){{cite news |title=Scriptwriter Taichi Yamada Dies at 89 |url=https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/obituaries/20231201-152883/ |access-date=1 December 2023 |publisher=The Japan News |date=1 December 2023}}
=December=
- December 7 – Emiko Miyamoto, volleyball player (b. 1937){{Cite web |title=「東洋の魔女」バレーボール女子 寺山恵美子さん死去 86歳 |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20231210/k10014283681000.html |date=10 December 2023 |access-date=10 December 2023 |website=NHK NEWS WEB |language=ja}}
- December 12 – Fusa Tatsumi, super-centenarian (b. 1907)
- December 17 – Terao Tsunefumi, sumo wrestler (b. 1963)
- December 30 – Aki Yashiro, singer (b. 1950){{Cite news|title=Aki Yashiro, Enka Singer and Painter, Dies at Age 73; Known for Hit Songs "Funauta" and "Ame no Bojo" |url=https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/obituaries/20240109-160954/ |date=9 January 2024 |access-date=9 January 2024 |newspaper=The Japan News}}
See also
=Country overviews=
{{Div col}}
- Japan
- History of Japan
- Outline of Japan
- Government of Japan
- Politics of Japan
- Years in Japan
- Timeline of Japanese history
{{End div col}}
=Related timelines for current period=
References
{{Reflist|2}}{{Portal bar|2020s|Japan}}
{{Year in Asia|2023}}
{{Years in Japan}}