Timeline Tuesday 1 January 2002

Events on Tuesday 1 January 2002 10

• 2002 2002: Michael Schumacher Ferrari Schumacher won his fifth title in the most dominant season the sport had ever seen, clinching the championship at the French Grand Prix with six races remaining — the earliest in F1 history.
• 2002 – 2006 Chairman of Keidanren Served as chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), Japan's most powerful business lobby, giving him influence over national economic policy. He used the platform to advocate for corporate reform and globalisation.
• 2002 Co-founded Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Co-founded Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, a company focused on developing RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics — a direct descendant of the RNA biology his career had helped establish. Alnylam would go on to bring the first RNAi drug to market.
• 2002 – present Establishment of the Euro Currency Transition France officially replaced the franc with the euro, solidifying its role in the European Union.
• 2002 Euro coins and notes launched Single currency enters circulation Euro coins and banknotes entered circulation in 12 European countries on January 1, 2002, replacing national currencies including the Deutschmark, French franc and Italian lira.
• 2002 Gangs of New York Appeared in Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York, adding another legendary director to his filmography.
• 2002 – present Introduction of the Euro Currency Changeover Germany officially replaced the Deutsche Mark with the Euro as its national currency.
• 2002 – 2005 Irish Roots and Reggae Albums Released Sean-Nós Nua (2002), exploring traditional Irish music, and Throw Down Your Arms (2005), a reggae album reflecting her love of the genre.
• 2002 Kafka on the Shore Published Kafka on the Shore, featuring a 15-year-old boy who runs away from home and an ageing man who can talk to cats. It became an international bestseller and was a finalist for the World Fantasy Award.
• 2002 – 2006 Sitcom and Supporting Roles Appeared in the television sitcom Lovers (2002) and took supporting roles across film and TV, steadily building his craft during years of relative obscurity.