Jun 24 05:32 AM US/Eastern
TOKYO, June 24 (AP) - (Kyodo) — The following is a chronology of major political events in Japan since the end of World War II.
1945 -- Japan surrenders, marking the end of WWII.
1947 -- Japan's pacifist Constitution takes effect.
1955 -- The Liberal Democratic Party founded through a merger of 2 conservative parties.
1960 -- Revised Japan-U.S. security treaty takes effect.
May 1972 -- Reversion of Okinawa to Japan from U.S. administration
Sept. 1972 -- Japan normalizes ties with China.
Aug. 1985 -- Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone makes official visit to war-linked Yasukuni Shrine, draws protest from China.
Aug. 1993 -- Anti-LDP coalition government set up, ousting LDP from power for 1st time since its establishment in 1955.
June 1994 -- LDP regains power by teaming up with the Social Democratic Party, New Party Sakigake.
Feb. 1996 -- Naoto Kan, as health minister in LDP-led coalition gov't, makes name by apologizing to hemophiliacs infected with HIV from government-approved tainted blood products.
Sept. 1996 -- The precursor of the Democratic Party of Japan formed, with Kan, Yukio Hatoyama serving as joint representatives.
April 1998 -- The current DPJ set up through a merger with three other parties.
April 2001 -- LDP chief Junichiro Koizumi becomes prime minister.
Sept. 2003 -- DPJ absorbs Ichiro Ozawa's Liberal Party.
Sept. 2005 -- LDP wins landslide victory in House of Representatives election.
May 2006 -- Japan, U.S. agree to relocate U.S. Futenma base within Okinawa as part of realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.
Sept. 2006 -- Koizumi leaves office as 3rd-longest serving leader in postwar Japan.
July 2007 -- DPJ becomes top party in the House of Councillors.
Aug. 30, 2009 -- DPJ wins landslide in lower house election.
Sept. 16, 2009 -- Prime Minister Hatoyama takes office, his DPJ-led tripartite coalition ousting LDP from power for 2nd time ever.
Sept. 28, 2009 -- LDP chooses Sadakazu Tanigaki as its head.
May 28, 2010 -- Japan, U.S. reaffirm plan to move Futenma base within Okinawa.
May 30, 2010 -- SDP leaves coalition gov't in protest at Futenma base accord.
June 2, 2010 -- Hatoyama announces decision to step down from the posts of DPJ chief and premier, along with DPJ Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa, over Futenma issue, money scandals.
June 8, 2010 -- Kan takes office as prime minister.
June 11, 2010 -- Shizuka Kamei leaves Cabinet in protest at DPJ's decision to postpone trying to have Diet pass postal reform bill, but his People's New Party decides to stay in coalition gov't.
July 11, 2010 -- Upper house election to be held.
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