Portal:Japan/Anniversaries/March/March 17

March 17:

Events
 * 1607 - Izumo no Okuni performs Kabuki in Edo. (Traditional Japanese Date: Twentieth Day of the Second Month, 1607)
 * 1869 - The Meiji government encourages the construction of primary schools. (Traditional Japanese Date: Fifth Day of the Second Month, 1869)
 * 1945 - World War II: Nearly 20,000 Japanese soldiers lose their lives at the Battle of Iwo Jima.
 * 1951 - The law on public elections is passed. The law implements the various principles set forth in the constitution, including equality and confidentiality and the ability to campaign freely.
 * 1959 - The age of the young comic book arrives when Kōdansha and Shōgakukan simultaneously introduce Weekly Shōnen Magazine and Weekly Shōnen Sunday, respectively. These were followed over the next ten years by such publications as Shōnen Jump, Shōnen King, and Shōnen Champion.
 * 1985 - The Tsukuba Science Expo '85 opens. The Expo records 20 million visitors and produces a profit of 8.4 billion yen.
 * 1988 - The Tokyo Dome is completed. In a fitting turn of events, the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Dome, Japan's first covered baseball stadium, took place on a day that was cold and rainy outside.
 * 1989 - The Asia Pacific Expo opens in Fukuoka. Thirty seven countries participated and the expo welcomed over 8.2 million visitors.
 * 1990 - Yokozuna (Grandmaster) Chiyonofuji marks his 1,000th win.

Births
 * 1231 - Emperor Shijō (d. 1242)
 * 1907 - Takeo Miki (d. 1988), politician, 41st Prime Minister of Japan
 * 1942 - Yoko Yamamoto, actress
 * 1955 - Jyunichi Haruta, actor
 * 1968 - Eri Nitta, singer, actress, and lyricist
 * 1989 - Shinji Kagawa, footballer
 * 1995 - Akari Hayami, actress, model, and singer