Japan
TIMELINE
The United States
First transcontinental railroad opens.
The Japanese government issues passports to Japanese immigrants upon a treaty signed between the Kingdom of Hawaii and the Japanese Imperial government.
Meiji Government announces the Japanese Land Tax Reform, changing from payment method from rice or other crops to cash payment.
The first government-organized farmer group immigrates to Hawaii.
The Japanese government issues passports to Japanese immigrants upon a treaty signed between the Kingdom of Hawaii and the Japanese Imperial government.
Private immigration agencies start operating.
First New Americans Conference was held.
Supreme Court strikes down restrictions levied by Hawaiian Territorial Gov't against Japanese language schools.
Japanese army invades French Indochina.
U.S - Japan peace negotiations fail.
Japanese navy bombs the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor.
Japan occupies Guam and Penang, and gains control over Hong Kong.
Martial law is declared in Hawaii.
U.S. delivers the Hull note demanding that Japan withdraw from China, the last diplomatic communication.
The FBI begins arresting Japanese immigrants identified as community leaders: priests, Japanese language teachers, newspaper publishers, and heads of organizations.
A declaration of war against Japan is brought by the President and passed by Congress.
Japan occupies Batavia in Jakarta and Rangoon in Burma.
U.S. conducts the first air bombing in Tokyo.
The U.S. Navy defeats the Japanese Navy at the Battle of Midway.
The first exchange ship the Gripsholm transports Japanese immigrants from the United States to Japan.
Japanese army is destroyed in New Guinea.
General DeWitt begins the process of removing all persons of Japanese ancestry--U.S. citizens and aliens alike. A curfew goes into effect for all those of Japanese ancestry.
The Wartime Civil Control Administration opens 16 "Assembly Centers" to detain approximately 92,000 men, women, and children until the permanent incarceration camps are completed.
The President signs Executive Order 9102 establishing the War Relocation Authority.
The first Civilian Exclusion Order is issued for Bainbridge Island near Seattle, Washington. Forty-five families are given one week to prepare.
The incarcerated Japanese Americans begin transfer to 10 permanent WRA incarceration facilities or "camps." The WRA, Department of Justice, and other types of confinement sites eventually hold 120,000 people.
Greater East Asia Conference is held in Tokyo.
The Hideki Tojo Cabinet resigns.
The first fleet of Kamikaze suicide bombers takes off.
Fierce land battles in Okinawa take place.
Japanese Government signs Instrument of Surrender, ending the World War II.
The Supreme Commander for the Allied Power occupies Japan.
The U.S. drops the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Three days later, a second bomb is dropped on Nagasaki. Japan surrenders on August 14.
Some 88,000 people still remain in the camps. Many have nowhere to go, having lost their homes and jobs. Many are afraid of anti-Japanese hostility.
Constitution of the State of Japan is enacted.
"You not only fought the enemy but you fought prejudice... and you won." These were the words of President Truman as he received the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.