Map Day: the first step that led to Japan's geographic identity

April 19th annually is Map Day 地図の日 Chizu no Hi, also known as the Day of the First Step 最初の一歩の日 Saisho no ippo no hi

 in Japan. It honors Ino Tadataka's first surveying expedition. A journey that marked the beginning of Japan's most ambitious mapping project, one that would eventually define the country's geographic identity with unprecedented accuracy.

After retiring from his job as a merchant, Ino devoted himself to studying astronomy and surveying in Edo. He must have been very young retiring, because he embarked on the surveying expedition at the age of 55. Despite limited official support or funding, Ino walked thousands of kilometers across Japan, measuring coastlines, elevations and distances with meticulous care.

His work culminated in the Dai Nihon Enkai Yochi Zensu, the first scientifically measured map of Japan. Completed after his death, it astonished scholars worldwide for its precision. Thus, April 19th honors not just a map, but the courage of taking the first step, even later in life, and of course Ino Tadakata himself.