四月二十四日（shigatsu nijyuyokka）： April 24

It has been 1300 years since the capital was moved to Nara, Heijyo kyo(奈良　平城京). To commemorate this, there is a big event called Heijyo sento sen san byaku nen sai (平城遷都1300年祭) in Nara. There was an opening ceremony today. This event will last until November 7.
Please check the following site.

http://www.1300.jp/foreign/english/index.html

Between the year 630 and 894 Japanese missions to Imperial China called ken to shi (遣唐使) were dispatched. They were sent to Tang Dynasty to learn culture, system, technology, and Buddhism. International relationship between Japan and other countries has such a long history. Amazing, isn't it?

明治最後の日（meiji saigo no hi）： Last day of Meiji

In Japan, we use not only the western dating system but also the Japanese dating system. This year is 2009 in the western dating system, but it is also the 21st year of Heisei(平成) in Japanese calendar. We call this dating system nengo (年号).
Before Heisei, it was Showa (昭和), before Showa, it was Taisho(大正), and before Taisho, it was Meiji (明治).
Meiji period started on Jan. 25, 1868 and finished on July 30, 1912 when the Emperor Meiji passed away at the age of 61. He was the 122nd Emperor.
Between 1913 to 1926, July 30 became a holiday to commemorate the Emperor Meiji. But it has moved to Nov. 3 which is his birthday in Gregorian calendar since 1927. Now the day is a holiday called bunka no hi(文化の日), Culture Day.