Jiro Horikoshi, the aviation engineer who inspired the main character of The Wind Rises, was born.
A devastating earthquake struck the Kanto region of Japan, causing widespread damage and influencing the era depicted in the film.
Jiro developed the Mitsubishi A5M, the world's first low-wing monoplane fighter aircraft, a precursor to the Zero fighter.
The Mitsubishi A6M Zero, an advanced fighter aircraft designed by Jiro Horikoshi, was developed and became prominent during WWII.