1956 in Japan

Incumbents

• Emperor: Hirohito
• Prime Minister: Ichirō Hatoyama until December 23, Tanzan Ishibashi
• Chief Cabinet Secretary: Ryutaro Nemoto until December 23, Hirohide Ishida
• Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: Kōtarō Tanaka
• President of the House of Representatives: Shūji Masutani
• President of the House of Councillors: Yahachi Kawai until April 3, Tsuruhei Matsuno

  Events

• January 1 - According to Japanese government official confirmed report, human stamped hit during newyear festival in Yahiko Shrine, Niigata Prefecture, 124 person were perished, 77 person were hurt.
• April 10 - Sanwa Shutter was founded in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture.
• May 3 - The first World Judo Championships are held at the Kuramae Kokugikan, Tokyo.
• July 8 - House of Councillors election held.
• October 19 - Soviet–Japanese Joint Declaration of 1956 signed.
• October 28 - A landmark spot in Osaka, Tsūtenkaku was rebuild, after caught fire of adjacent a cinema on 1943.
• December 12 - Japan becomes a member of the United Nations

  Births

• January 1 - Kōji Yakusho, actor
• January 3 - Tomiko Suzuki, voice actress
• January 5 - Chen Kenichi, chef
• February 15 - Miyoko Asada, actress
• February 23 - Goro Noguchi, singer and actor
• February 26 - Keisuke Kuwata, musician
• March 20 - Naoto Takenaka, actor, comedian, singer and director
• April 8 - Yoshiko Tanaka, actress
• April 12 - Yasuo Tanaka, politician and novelist
• May 28 - Sayuri Yamauchi, voice actress
• May 31 - Yoshiko Sakakibara, voice actress
• July 15 - Toshihiko Seko, long-distance runner
• July 19 - Yoshiaki Yatsu, professional wrestler
• August 4 - Mika Doi, voice actress
• August 31 - Masashi Tashiro, television performer
• September 20 - Makiko Kinoshita, composer
• December 19 - Masami Akita, noise musician,

  Deaths

• January 4 - Makoto Nishimura, biologist
• June 3 - Fukushi Masaichi, physician and pathologist