Happy birthday Japan.

A narrow street lined with brick walls. A partially visible house is located to the right, and a Japanese flag can be seen hanging into the street. Most of the scene is in shadow but the sky beyond is bright blue and cloudless.

Today, I learned that Japan’s official birthday was first observed in 1967 (making the country two years my senior.)

Wikipedia adds, from 1872 to 1948, February 11 was known as Kigen-setsu(紀元節), a holiday commemorating the day on which—according to the Nihon Shoki— the legendary Emperor Jimmu is said to have acceded the throne in 660 BCE.