Japan Founded by Emperor Jimmu: Mythological Origin, Real Holiday
Japan's first emperor supposedly ascended on February 11, 660 BC. That's the official story. The problem: there's no historical evidence Jimmu existed. The date comes from the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, written in the 700s AD—over 1,300 years later. They worked backward from the Chinese calendar, picking numbers they liked. February 11 became National Foundation Day in 1873, when the Meiji government needed a creation myth to unify the country. It worked. Japan still celebrates it. The holiday isn't about whether Jimmu was real. It's about deciding, as a nation, that the story matters more than the facts.
February 11, 660 BC
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on February 11
Britannicus died at a dinner party, right in front of everyone. He was fourteen. Nero's stepbrother, blood heir to Emperor Claudius. He took a sip of wine, conv…
Britannicus collapsed at dinner. He was 13, one day away from becoming a man under Roman law. One day away from challenging Nero for the throne. He'd been eatin…
Gordian III was 19 when his own soldiers killed him at Zaitha in Mesopotamia. He'd been emperor for six years — crowned at 13 after a military coup his family d…
Guo Wei didn't want to be emperor. He was a court official sent to suppress a rebellion when his own troops mutinied — and proclaimed him emperor instead. He re…
In der Schlacht am Welfesholz verliert ein Heer Kaiser Heinrichs V. unter Hoyer I. von Mansfeld gegen ein Bündnis sächsischer Edelleute unter dem späteren Kaise…
Robert of Chester finished translating an Arabic alchemy text in 1144. It was the first time Western Europe had access to practical chemical procedures written …
Talk to History
Have a conversation with historical figures who witnessed this era. Ask questions, explore perspectives, and bring history to life.