The new Meiji administration began construction of the Tokyo - Yokohama telegraph line on September 19 (old calendar) 1869 (Meiji 2). The telegraph line started operation by the end of that year. However, September 19, the date of the start of construction, has become an important day to remember in Japan's telecommunications history. As September 19 in the old calendar corresponds to October 23 in the new calendar, this date was chosen as the Telecommunications Day after the formation of the Ministry of Telecommunications. After the formation of the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation, the day continued as the Telegraph and Telephone Day.

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