1960 was a year of prolonged and intense political struggles in Japan. The massive and often quite violent
Miike Coal Mine Strike at the
Miike Coal Mine in
Kyushu lasted nearly the entire year, and the massive nationwide
Anpo Protests against renewal of the
U.S.-Japan Security Treaty carried over from 1959 and climaxed in June, forcing the resignation of Prime Minister
Nobusuke Kishi and the cancellation of a planned visit to Japan by U.S. President
Dwight D. Eisenhower.[1]
February 23 – As part of the ongoing
Miike Struggle, picketing coal miner Kiyoshi Kubo is stabbed to death by a yakuza gangster.[5]
May 19 – The "
May 19th Incident" – Prime Minister Kishi unexpectedly calls for a snap vote on the revised Security Treaty and has police drag opposition Diet Members out of the
National Diet to pass the treaty with only members of his own party present.[7]
Hagerty's car is mobbed by protestors, June 10, 1960
June 10 – The "
Hagerty Incident" – A car carrying Eisenhower's press secretary
James Hagerty and U.S. Ambassador to Japan
Douglas MacArthur II is mobbed by protesters outside of Tokyo's
Haneda Airport, requiring the occupants to be rescued by a U.S. Marines helicopter.[8]
June 19 – The new
U.S.-Japan Security Treaty is automatically ratified 30 days after passing the Lower House of the Diet.[10]
July 15 – The Kishi cabinet resigns en masse to take responsibility for the violent
Anpo Protests. Kishi is officially succeeded as prime minister by
Hayato Ikeda on July 19.
July 24 – According to
Japan National Police Agency official confirmed report, a charter bus collision with regular route bus, charter bus plunge into cliff in mountain road,
Mount Hiei,
Otsu,
Shiga Prefecture, 28 person were perish, 16 person were hurt.[11]