Japanese Holidays

Japanese holidays include a number of national and local holidays from modern history, current politics, and ancient tradition. Ranging from shifting holidays like the Emperor’s Birthday and the subsequent Golden Week o the regular holidays of New Year and Coming of Age, there is a wide variety covering nearly every month in the nation.

National Holidays

• New Year (Shogatsu) – The most important Holiday in Japan, January 1st is a national holiday with most businesses closing and remaining closed through the 3rd.

• Coming of Age (Seijin no Hi) – Celebrated on the Second Monday of January, this holiday is a national holiday that celebrates all women and men who have reached 20 years of age.

• National Foundation Day (Kenkoku Kinenbi) – Celebrated on February 11, this holiday commemorates the Ancient Japanese records that state on this day in 660 BC, the first Japanese Emperor was crowned.

• Spring Equinox Day (Shunbun no Hi) – Celebrated around March 20 each year this holiday commemorates the Spring Equinox on which graves are visited all week.

• Showa Day (Showa no Hi) – Celebrating the birthday of former Emperor Showa, this holiday was previously known as Greenery Day, which has since been moved to May 4. Showa Day is celebrated on April 29 every year and is part of the early start to Golden Week.

• Constitution Day (Kenpo Kinenbi) – Celebrated each year on May 3 each year as part of the Golden Week, this holiday commemorates the new constitution put into effect after the end of the Second World War

• Greenery Day (Midori no Hi) – Previously celebrated on April 29th, this holiday is now celebrated on May 4 and is named for the former emperor’s love for plants and nature. It is part of the Golden Week.

• Children’s Day (Kodomi no Hi) – Celebrated on May 5 each year as part of Golden Week, this holiday is also known occasionally as Boy’s Festival.

• Ocean Day (Umi no Hi) – This holiday, celebrated on the Third Monday of July is a recent addition meant to mark the return of Emperor Meiji to Hokkaido in 1876 and to celebrate the ocean.

• Respect for the Aged Day (Keiro no Hi) – This holiday, celebrated on the third Monday of September is designed to show respect for the elderly

• Autumn Equinox Day (Shubun no Hi) – Celebrated on or around September 23 each year, this holiday is also marked by visiting graves.

• Health and Sports Day (Taiiku no Hi) – This day, the second Monday of October marks the celebration of exercise in Japan as well as the day in 1964 on which the Olympic Games opened in Tokyo.

• Culture Day (Bunka no Hi) – Celebrated each year on November 3, this holiday commemorates Japanese culture and the love of freedom and peace. Awards and cultural achievements are often handed out on this day in schools and in government.

• Labor Thanksgiving Day (Kinro Kansha no Hi) – Each year on November 23, this holiday honors the labor of Japanese citizens.

• Emperor’s Birthday (Tenno no Tanjobi) – On December 23 each year, this holiday is celebrated to commemorate the current Emperor’s birthday. With a new emperor, this holiday changes.

Other Holidays

These holidays are not national holidays, but are celebrated by Japanese each year regardless.

• Valentine’s Day – Each year on February 14, Valentine’s Day is celebrated by women presented chocolates to men.

• White Day – On March 14, the opposite of Valentine’s Day is celebrated on which men present chocolates to women.

• Star Festival (Tanabata) – This is a major festival held each year in July or August celebrating the summer length of the days and the showcase of the stars each night.

• Obon – Held each year between July and August, this festival commemorates deceased ancestors in Japan.

• Seven-five-Three (Shichigosan) – Held each year on November 15, this is an annual festival for children.

Christmas – Celebrated on December 25, Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan but is widely celebrated as a sectarian holiday.

External Links

• Japanese Holidays and Traditions