1961 in Japan

Events in the year 1961 in Japan. It corresponds to Shōwa 36 (昭和36年) in the Japanese calendar.

Demographically, Shinjinrui Generation is the second youngest Japanese demographic cohort, which approximately born between 1961 and 1969. Many young Japanese who were began to be born around this first date were often subsequently identified as "Shinjinrui" (New breed of humans) because they did not experience the suffering of older generations during the Asia-Pacific War, World War II and/or post-war period. They grew up in a time of plenty at the end of the Japanese economic miracle and the beginning of economic stagnation. The term was coined by anthropologist Shinichiro Kurimoto. This Japanese generation was seen as having a different mindset compared to their predecessors, influenced by the Japanese economic boom and changing societal norms.