2003 in Japan

	2003; in; Japan
Decades:	1980s • 1990s • 2000s • 2010s
See also:	Other events of 2003; List of years in Japan

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Events in the year 2003 in Japan.

[edit] Incumbents

Emperor: Akihito
Prime Minister: Junichiro Koizumi (L–Kanagawa)
Chief Cabinet Secretary: Yasuo Fukuda (L–Gunma)
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: Akira Machida
President of the House of Representatives: Tamisuke Watanuki (L–Toyama) until October 10, Yōhei Kōno (L–Kanagawa) from November 19
President of the House of Councillors: Hiroyuki Kurata (L–Chiba)
Diet sessions: 156th (regular, January 20 to July 28), 157th (extraordinary, September 26 to October 10), 158th (special, November 21)

Mori Tower, the centerpiece of Roppongi Hills, opened in April.

January - Toyota launches all-new Avensis to be built in Britain.
March 19: Extension of the Eidan Hanzomon Line from Suitengumae to Oshiage becomes operational.
March 31: Agriculture Minister Tadamori Oshima resigns due to a farm subsidy scandal; Koizumi replaces him with Yoshiyuki Kamei.
April 1: The Postal Agency becomes Japan Post, a public corporation.
April 1: Saitama becomes a city designated by government ordinance.
April 25: Grand opening of Roppongi Hills.
July 7: Noto Airport opens.
July 26: Diet of Japan authorizes the deployment of Japanese troops to Iraq.
August 10: Okinawa Monorail opens.
September 20: Koizumi announces a new cabinet: Taro Aso becomes Minister of Internal Affairs, Shoichi Nakagawa becomes Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Sadakazu Tanigaki becomes Minister of Finance and Yuriko Koike becomes Minister of Environment.
September 26: The Liberal Party merges into the Democratic Party of Japan.
October 1: Shinagawa Station opens platforms for the Tōkaidō Shinkansen.
October 10: House of Representatives is dissolved.
November 9: In the Japan general election, 2003, the Democratic Party of Japan realizes a slight gain against the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.