Portal:Japan/Anniversaries/February/February 3

February 3:

Events
 * 1607 - Sarugaku (a kind of circus-like performance) is held at Edo Castle. (Traditional Japanese Date: Seventh Day of the First Month, 1607)
 * 1835 - Kunitomo Tōbē of Ōmi Province begins his scientific observation of sunspots. (Traditional Japanese Date: Sixth Day of the First Month, 1835)
 * 1851 - John Manjirō returns to the Ryūkyū Islands (modern day Okinawa). (Traditional Japanese Date: Third Day of the First Month, 1851)
 * 1867 - Emperor Meiji becomes the 122nd emperor.
 * 1875 - The first international shipping lane is opened between Yokohama and Shanghai.
 * 1901 - Fukuzawa Yukichi, best known as the founder of Keiō University, dies.
 * 1944 - World War II: United States troops capture the Marshall Islands from Japanese forces.
 * 1945 - World War II: The Soviet Union agrees to enter the Pacific Theatre conflict against Japan.
 * 1972 - The Eleventh Winter Olympics are held in Sapporo where Yukio Kasaya becomes the first Japanese ever to win a gold medal. Yukio Kasaya and two other from Japan won all three medals in the 70 meter jump, prompting people to refer to them as the "flying hinomaru."

Births
 * 1954 - Toshie Negishi, actress
 * 1959 - Yasuharu Konishi, DJ, producer, and songwriter
 * 1986 - Kanako Yanagihara, actress, comedian, and entertainer
 * 1995 - Tao Tsuchiya, actress
 * 1999 - Kanna Hashimoto, singer

Deaths
 * 1428 - Ashikaga Yoshimochi (b. 1386), shogun

Holidays, observances, and anniversaries
 * Setsubun