Events

1937 - Toyota Motors becomes an independent company.
1953 - Nippon Television broadcasts Japan's first television show, including its first TV advertisement.
1971 - The dollar is allowed to float against the yen for the first time.

Births

1025 - Emperor Go-Reizei (d. 1068)
1840 - Alexander Cameron Sim (d. 1900), Scottish-Japanese pharmacist and businessman, founded Kobe Regatta & Athletic Club
1951 - Keiichi Suzuki, singer-songwriter and actor
1965 - Satoshi Tajiri, video game designer, founded Game Freak
1966 - Yoko Takahashi, singer
1974 - Takahito Eguchi, pianist and composer
1974 - Kaori Mizuhashi, voice actress
1975 - Yūko Gotō, voice actress

Deaths