Siege of Singapore
Yamashita launches his 1st attack on Singapore
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1941 in Japan
Explore 64 historical events and records for Japan in 1941.
Historical records for Japan in 1941
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 64 unique records.
64Unique records
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30Named events on this page
19Named people on this page
8Places on this page
February
Capture of Singapore
The British surrender Singapore to Yamashita
Siege of Singapore
The British surrender Singapore to Yamashita
April
Japan & Russia sign a neutrality pact
Japan & Russia sign a neutrality pact
Neutrality
Japan & Russia sign a neutrality pact
Neutrality
Japan & Russia sign a mutual neutrality pact
Pact between Japan and Soviet Union
Japan & Russia sign a mutual neutrality pact
June
International Sanctions
US sanctions on Japan
July
Embargo
The US imposes a total embargo on Japan for its invasion of Indochina. Britain freezes Japans assets for its invasion of Indochina
Invasion of Indochina
Japan invades southern Indochina
August
Invasion of Indochina
The US & Britain are prepared to go to war if Japan goes further into Indochina
October
Resignation of Konoe Fumimaro
Resigns due to the Armys unwillingness to make concessions demanded by US diplomacy
Resigns due to the Armys unwillingness to make concessions demanded by US
Resigns due to the Armys unwillingness to make concessions demanded by US diplomacy. Resigns due to the Armys unwillingness to make concessions demanded by the US
November
Assembly of Pearl Harbour Strike Force
Nagumo concentrates the six-carrier strike force at Hitokappu Bay before its secret advance toward Hawaii.
Departure for Pearl Harbour
Nagumo leads the Japanese carrier strike force from Hitokappu Bay on its concealed northern route toward Hawaii.
December
Pearl Harbour Attack Order
Nagumo receives the coded order confirming that the Pearl Harbour attack will proceed on 7 December.
Invasion of Malaya
The 25th Army sets sail from Hainan
Attack on USS Arizona
Kasumi commands the aircraft credited by later analysis with dropping the bomb that triggered USS Arizona's catastrophic magazine explosion.
Battle of Pearl Harbour
does not follow the battle up with an air strike & the base remains intact. Dive bombers take off from Nagumos task force 250 miles north of the US Pacific Fleet. Commands the Japanese carriers
Bombing of Pearl Harbour
Leads the 1st wave of 183 planes to attack Pearl Harbour
Dive Bombing at Pearl Harbour
Takahashi leads a first-wave dive-bomber unit against targets on Oahu during the Pearl Harbour attack.
Fighter Escort at Pearl Harbour
Itaya leads Akagi's Zero fighters in the first-wave fighter component of the Pearl Harbour attack.
Midget Submarine Attack
Sakamaki commands midget submarine HA-19, which fails to penetrate Pearl Harbour and later grounds on Oahu.
Midget Submarine Launch
Furuno commands HA-17, launched from submarine I-18 as part of the Pearl Harbour operation.
Midget Submarine Launch
Iwasa commands one of the five Japanese midget submarines launched for the Pearl Harbour operation.
Midget Submarine Launch
Yokoyama commands HA-16, launched from submarine I-16 before the air attack on Pearl Harbour.
Pearl Harbour Strike Staff
Kusaka serves as Nagumo's chief of staff while the First Air Fleet conducts the Pearl Harbour strike.
Second Wave at Pearl Harbour
Shimazaki leads the second Japanese air wave against Pearl Harbour and nearby military airfields.
Tora Tora Tora Signal
Fuchida signals that tactical surprise has been achieved as the first Japanese air wave reaches Pearl Harbour.
Torpedo Attack at Pearl Harbour
Murata leads the first-wave torpedo attack unit against American warships at Pearl Harbour.
Invasion of Hong Kong
Leads the 2Third Army across the border of Japanese occupied China
Invasion of Malaya
The 25th Army lands near the Thai border, immediately after Pearl Harbour
Declaration of War
Britain, Australia & the USA declare war on Japan
Declaration of War
Britain, Australia & the USA declare war on Japan
Invasion of Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Governor, Sir Mark Young, rejects a surrender demand. Reaches the waterfront of Kowloon
Invasion of Borneo
Japanese forces land on the coast of Borneo
Invasion of Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Governor, Sir Mark Young, rejects a surrender demand
Landing on Luzon
Homma's Fourteenth Army lands its main force at Lingayen Gulf during the invasion of Luzon.
Capture of Hong Kong
Sakai accepts the collapse of organized British resistance as Hong Kong surrenders on Christmas Day.
Capture of Hong Kong
Leads the principal assault in the Japanese capture of Hong Kong
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.