Portal:Japan/Anniversaries/January/January 2

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
 * Hatsuyume