Events
- 1703 - The 47 masterless samurai who avenged their master's death in the well known Akō vendetta, are ordered to commit ritual suicide (seppuku). (Traditional Japanese Date: Fourth Day of the Second Month, 1703)
- 1712 - A couple of farmers are arrested for climbing Nagoya Castle and attempting to steal the golden dolphin. (Traditional Japanese Date: Fourteenth Day of the Second Month, 1712)
- 1877 - Government forces defeat Saigō Takamori at Tahara Hill, bringing the Satsuma Rebellion.
- 1882 - The Tokyo National Museum and the Ueno Zoo are both opened on the site where the Kan'ei Temple was once located.
- 1926 - An Electric Expo is held in Osaka. Over 35,000 items were on display, and the electric heater was particularly popular.
- 1932 - Tokyo Subway workers go on strike.
- 1939 - Military training becomes compulsory at universities.
- 1956 - A large fire engulfs Noshiro City, Akita Prefecture and destroys 1,482 homes.
- 1960 - Sumō wrestlers Tochinishiki and Wakanohana both reach the final day of the Spring Bout with no losses and face off against each other for the championship. Tochinishiki defeats Wakanohanat to become the first wrestler ever to win every bout in a tournament.
- 1973 - The Kumamoto lower court rules in favor of the plaintiff in the Minamata disease lawsuit against the Chisso Corporation for mercury poisoning.
- 1981 - The Kobe Port Pier Expo (Port Pier '81) opens.
- 1995 - Members of the Aum Shinrikyō release sarin nerve gas at various locations in the Tokyo subway system, killing 12 and injuring 5,500.
Births
- 1941 - Kenji Kimihara, runner
- 1956 - Naoto Takenaka, actor, comedian, singer, and director
- 1965 - Taeko Kawata, voice actress
- 1979 - Shinnosuke Abe, baseball player
- 1984 - Yuka Nomura, actress
- 1987 - Yuya Endo, actor and singer
- 1989 - Masahiro Inoue, actor and martial artist