2003 in Japan.html

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Years:	2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

2003 was the 15th year of Heisei in Japan.

Incumbents

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

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.