Portal:Japan/Anniversaries/January/January 2
Events
- 1905 - Russia surrenders Port Arthur, or Lüshunkou, to the Japanese, during the Russo-Japanese War.
- 1942 - World War II: Manila is captured by Japanese forces.
- 1948 - The Imperial Palace is reopened to the public for New Year's celebrations for the first time in 25 years, drawing 130,000 visitors.
- 1954 - Sixteen people are crushed to death during New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace's Nijūbashi Bridge.
- 1966 - Japan's first monster show, Ultra Q, begins broadcasting.
- 1969 - During New Year's celebrations, a man is arrested for hurling a pachinko ball at Emperor Shōwa in resentment for having lost a friend during the war. The next year, the emperor begins making his New Year's appearances from behind protective glass.
Births
- 1892 - Seiichiro Kashio (d. 1962), tennis player
- 1928 - Daisaku Ikeda, religious leader
- 1931 - Toshiki Kaifu, politician, 76th Prime Minister of Japan
- 1933 - Seiichi Morimura, author
- 1940 - Masahiko Tsugawa, actor and director
- 1946 - Goro Ibuki, actor
- 1960 - Naoki Urasawa, illustrator, singer, and guitarist
- 1961 - Hitoshi Saito (d. 2015), martial artist
- 1968 - Goichi Suda, video game designer
- 1971 - Yutaka Takenouchi, actor
- 1974 - Tamao Satō, actress, voice actress, television personality, and model
- 1978 - Megumi Toyoguchi, voice actress and singer
- 1988 - Satomi Akesaka, voice actress
Holidays, observances, and anniversaries