| |
| 1970 |
| |
The  saka Exposition brought visitors from around the world to Japan. The Self-Defense Forces reached 250,000 in number, the most rapidly growing military force in the world. | 1 |
| |
| 1972, May |
| |
| Okinawa was returned to Japanese control. | 2 |
| |
| July 7 |
| |
| Tanaka Kakuei (1918–93) became prime minister. | 3 |
| |
| Aug |
| |
| Tanaka met with U.S. president Richard Nixon; the following month, he went to Beijing to meet with Premier Zhou Enlai. Diplomatic relations were established between Japan and the People's Republic of China. Ambassadors were soon exchanged. | 4 |
| |
| |
