Operation U-Go
Mutaguchi launches Operation U-Go, sending the Fifteenth Army across the frontier toward Imphal and Kohima.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1944 in Japan
Explore 94 historical events and records for Japan in 1944.
Historical records for Japan in 1944
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 94 unique records.
94Unique records
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37Named events on this page
24Named people on this page
18Places on this page
March
Plan Z
Finalizes Plan Z using Hollandia in New Guinea to launch an attack on the US forces
Death of Mineichi Koga
Death of Mineichi Koga, in an aircrash
April
Advance on Kohima
Sato's Thirty-First Division reaches the Kohima area and begins operations against the Allied position.
May
Withdrawal from Kohima
Sato orders his exhausted division to withdraw from Kohima as food and ammunition shortages become critical.
June
Command of Iwo Jima
Kuribayashi takes command of the Iwo Jima garrison and develops a defense based on caves, tunnels, and mutually supporting positions.
Defense of Saipan
Saito commands the Japanese army garrison as American forces land on Saipan.
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Ozawa commits the Mobile Fleet's carrier aircraft against the American Fifth Fleet in the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
Loss of Taiho and Shokaku
Ozawa loses fleet carriers Taiho and Shokaku to American submarines during the first day of the Philippine Sea battle.
Retreat from Philippine Sea
Ozawa withdraws after devastating aircraft losses and further carrier damage during the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
Capture of Saipan
The USA captures Saipan & can bomb Japanese cities
July
Imphal Offensive
Mutaguchi's failed offensive is called off after severe losses, disease, hunger, and collapsing supply lines.
Death of Chuichi Nagumo
Committs suicide during the defence of Saipan
Suicide
Committs suicide during the defence of Saipan
Death of Yoshitsugu Saito
Saito commits suicide on Saipan as the Japanese defense collapses during the final phase of the battle.
Final Attack on Saipan
Saito orders a final mass attack as organized Japanese resistance on Saipan nears collapse.
Abdication
Members of Hirohitos family secretly agree he should abdicate in favour of Akihito
Resignation of Hideki Tojo
Tojo is forced to resign by Hirohito who makes him a scapegoat for the war
Resignation of Hideki Tojo
Tojo resigna after Hirohito withdraws support from him
Defense of Guam
Takashina commands Japanese forces on Guam as American troops land on the island.
Prime Minister of Japan
Appointed Prime Minister of Japan
August
Death of Hideyoshi Obata
Obata dies during the final destruction of organized Japanese resistance on Guam.
September
Commander of 34th Army
Appointed Commander of the 34th Army
Commander of 34th Army
Appointed Commander of the 34th Army
October
Assumption of Fourteenth Area Army Command
Yamashita assumes command of the Fourteenth Area Army and responsibility for the defence of the Philippines.
Activation of Sho-1
Toyoda activates the Sho-1 plan as Japanese naval forces prepare to contest the Allied landing at Leyte.
Formation of Special Attack Unit
Tamai helps organize the first special-attack unit at Mabalacat and selects Seki to lead the Shikishima squadron.
Special Attack Planning
Inoguchi serves on Onishi's staff during the organization of the first naval special-attack units in the Philippines.
Southern Force Recommendation
Kusaka recommends detaching part of Kurita's force to approach Leyte Gulf through Surigao Strait.
Departure for Leyte Gulf
Kurita leads the Center Force from Brunei toward the central Philippines and Leyte Gulf.
Second Striking Force Departure
Shima leads the Second Striking Force from the Pescadores toward the southern approaches to Leyte Gulf.
Battle of Phillipines
1st day of the Battle of the Phillipines
Battle of the Palawan Passage
American submarines attack Kurita's Center Force, sinking Atago and Maya and badly damaging Takao.
Loss of Atago
Kurita survives the sinking of his flagship Atago by an American submarine while approaching the Philippines.
Air Strikes off Luzon
Onishi sends land-based naval aircraft against American carriers operating east of Luzon during the Leyte operations.
Air Support for Sho-1
Fukudome directs Second Air Fleet operations intended to support the Japanese Sho-1 naval counteroffensive.
Approach to Surigao Strait
Nishimura continues toward Surigao Strait after American carrier aircraft attack his Southern Force in the Sulu Sea.
Battle of Leyte Gulf
Koiso's government treats the struggle for the Philippines as strategically decisive, but Japan suffers a major naval defeat at Leyte Gulf.
Battle of the Sibuyan Sea
Kurita leads the Center Force through repeated American carrier attacks in the Sibuyan Sea, where Musashi is sunk.
Battle of the Sibuyan Sea
Kurita's Center Force endures repeated American carrier strikes while attempting to reach San Bernardino Strait.
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.