Capture of Japan
The Japanese complete the capture of Malaya
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1942 in Japan
Explore 93 historical events and records for Japan in 1942.
Historical records for Japan in 1942
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 93 unique records.
93Unique records
1 of 3Page
28Named events on this page
13Named people on this page
15Places on this page
January
Invasion of Burma
Begins the Japanese invasion of Burma
February
Invasion of Malaya
Forces the British back as far as Singapore Island
Battle of Singapore
1st day of the battle to capture Singapore
Capture of Singapore
Launches an assault on Singapore Island
Capture of Singapore
Singapore surrenders to Yamashita, 130,000 British are taken prisoner
Result of Surrender of Singapore Garrison
Singapore falls to Japan and about 130,000 Allied personnel become prisoners.
Surrender of Singapore Garrison
Singapore surrenders to Yamashita, 130,000 British are taken prisoner
Capture of Sumatra
Leads the principal assault in the Japanese capture of southern Sumatra
March
Invasion of Java
Imamura's Sixteenth Army lands on Java as Japan moves to complete the conquest of the Netherlands East Indies.
Capture of Rangoon
The Japanese capture Rangoon
Surrender of Java
Imamura receives the capitulation of Allied forces on Java, completing the principal Japanese campaign on the island.
Battle of Toungoo
Renews the offensive in Burma by attacking the Chinese Army at Toungoo
April
Fall of Bataan
Homma's forces secure Bataan after the exhausted American and Filipino defenders surrender.
May
Battle of Coral Sea
Ordered by Yamamoto to sieze bases in the southern Solomons & capture Port Moresby
Battle of Coral Sea
Orders Inouye to sieze bases in the southern Solomons & capture Port Moresby
Capture of Mandalay
The Japanese capture Mandalay
Capture of Port Moresby
Ordered to capture Port Moresby in the Solomons
Battle of Coral Sea
Captures the Island of Tulagi in the Coral Sea
Capture of Tulagi
Japanese forces occupy the island of Tulagi without opposition
Capture of Tulagi
Captures the Island of Tulagi in the Coral Sea
Battle of Midway
Japan must now concentrate on defending the Southern Resources Area. Japan loses its initiative in the Pacific
Midway Occupation Order
Yamamoto receives orders to conduct the occupation of Midway and key western Aleutian positions.
Capture of Corregidor
The Japanese capture Corregidor
Capture of Corregidor
The Japanese complete their capture of the Phillipines
Fall of Corregidor
Homma's forces capture Corregidor, ending organized Allied resistance in the Manila Bay defenses.
Battle of Coral Sea
The Shoho is sunk
Battle of the Coral Sea
Takagi commands the Japanese carrier striking force as the Battle of the Coral Sea begins.
Carrier Operations at Coral Sea
Hara commands Carrier Division Five, centered on Shokaku and Zuikaku, during the Coral Sea operation.
Battle of Coral Sea
Inouye is forced to call off his planned capture of Port Moresby in the Solomons
Battle of Coral Sea
The air-sea Battle of the Coral Sea comes out as an tactical victory but strategical defeat for Japan
Battle of Coral Sea
Calls off the plan to sieze bases in the southern Solomons & capture Port Moresby
Battle of Coral Sea
Japanese expansion is stopped at New Guinea
Carrier Battle at Coral Sea
Takagi's carriers exchange major air strikes with American carriers in the first carrier battle fought beyond visual range.
Damage to Shokaku
Hara's Carrier Division Five loses operational strength after Shokaku is badly damaged by American dive bombers.
Departure for Aleutians
Kakuta sails from Ominato with the carrier force assigned to strike the Aleutians during the Midway operation.
Departure for Midway
Nagumo's four-carrier striking force sails for Midway as the principal offensive element of Yamamoto's plan.
Midway Main Body Sortie
Yamamoto sorties with the Combined Fleet main body aboard Yamato in support of the Midway operation.
Battle of Midway
Ordered to make diversionary strikes against US Alaskan bases before the Midway strike
June
Battle of Midway
Bombards Dutch Harbour in the Aleutians to divert the Japanese from the Midway Islands
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.