Portal:Japan/Anniversaries/July/July 4

July 4:

Events
 * 1993 - Sumitomo Chemical's resin plant in Nihama explodes killing one worker and injuring three others.
 * 2006 - North Korea tests four short-range missiles, one medium-range missile, and a long-range Taepodong-2. The long-range Taepodong-2 reportedly fails in mid-air over the Sea of Japan/East Sea.

Births
 * 1330 - Ashikaga Yoshiakira (d. 1367), shogun
 * 1973 - Gackt, singer-songwriter, producer, and actor
 * 1973  - Keiko Ihara, race car driver
 * 1976 - Daijiro Kato (d. 2003), motorcycle racer
 * 1984 - Jin Akanishi, singer-songwriter and actor
 * 1986 - Takahisa Masuda, singer and actor
 * 1990 - Naoki Yamada, footballer
 * 1996 - Mahiro Takasugi, actor
 * 1999 - Moa Kikuchi, singer and model

Film and television
 * 2001 - Fighting Girl begins airing on Fuji Television, starring Kyoko Fukada
 * 2006 - Kekkon Dekinai Otoko begins airing on Kansai Telecasting Corporation, starring Hiroshi Abe
 * 2008 - Maō begins airing on Tokyo Broadcasting System, starring Satoshi Ohno and Toma Ikuta