20MAR2019 - Holiday Today - Iran, Japan

Iran - Oil Nationalization Day
March 20 is Oil Nationalization Day in Iran. The era of nationalized oil began in 1951, when the National Iranian Oil Company took control over petroleum industry in the country.
The Islamic Republic of Iran possesses 10% of the world's oil reserves. Oil was discovered in Iran in 1908. After World War I Iran was admitted to the League of Nations and signed a trade agreement with the United Kingdom. Britain formally confirmed the independence of Iran, but actually tried to establish full control over it.
Mohammed Mossadegh, the member of Iranian Parliament, organized the National Front of Iran and led the movement for the nationalization of the oil industry. Numerous demonstrations began against the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company leading to a two-year struggle. A law on oil fields nationalization was passed in March 1951.

Bunker Price at Iran Ports

Japan - Vernal Equinox Day
Vernal equinox is generally associated with the arrival of spring. In some cultures, there are festivals related to this astronomical event, for example, Nowruz. In Japan, Vernal Equinox Day has been a public holiday since 1948.
The roots of Vernal Equinox Day in Japan can be traced to kōreisai, Shinto days of worship intended to pay respects to the past emperors and members of the imperial family. They were established in 1878 and occurred on the spring and autumn equinoxes.
After the end of World War II, the Japanese government began to repackage Shinto observances as secular holidays in order to separate religion from the state, as provided by the 1947 Constitution of Japan. The separation of religion and the state in post-war Japan was one of the Allies’ demands. Soon after Japan’s capitulation in 1945, General Douglas MacArthur introduced the so-called Shinto Directive intended to separate all government ties to the control of religious activities. According to the Directive, public shrines were to remain available to everyone, but they would be supported privately.

Bunker Price at Japan Ports