Garcia, Pauline Roxanne

T05309

JAPANESE HOLIDAYS

 January 1 (national holiday)

New Year (shogatsu):
This is the most important holiday in Japan. While only January 1 is designated as a
national holiday, many businesses remain closed through January 3.
 Second Monday of January (national holiday)
Coming of Age (seijin no hi):
The coming of age of 20 year old men and women is celebrated on this national holiday.
 February 3
Beginning of spring (setsubun):
Setsubun is not a national holiday, but celebrated at shrines and temples nationwide.
 February 11 (national holiday)
National Foundation Day (kenkoku kinenbi):
According to the earliest Japanese history records, on this day in the year 660 BC the first
Japanese emperor was crowned.
 February 14
Valentine's Day:
In Japan, women give chocolates to men on Valentine's Day. It is not a national holiday.
 March 3
Doll's Festival (hina matsuri):
Also called girl's festival.
 March 14
White Day:
The opposite of Valentine's Day: Men give cakes or chocolates to women. It is not a
national holiday.
 Around March 20 (national holiday)
Spring Equinox Day (shunbun no hi):
Graves are visited during the week (ohigan) of the Equinox Day.
 April 29 (national holiday)
Showa Day (Showa no hi):
The birthday of former Emperor Showa. Before 2007, April 29 was known as Greenery
Day (now celebrated on May 4). Showa Day is part of the Golden Week.
 May 3 (national holiday)
Constitution Day (kenpo kinenbi):
A national holiday remembering the new constitution, which was put into effect after the
war.
 May 4 (national holiday)
Greenery Day (midori no hi):
Until 2006, Greenery Day was celebrated on April 29, the former Emperor Showa's
birthday, due to the emperor's love for plants and nature. It is now celebrated on May 4
and is part of the Golden Week.
 May 5 (national holiday)
Children's Day (kodomo no hi):
Also called boy's festival.
 July/August 7
Star Festival (tanabata):
Tanabata is a festival rather than a national holiday.
 Third Monday of July (national holiday)
Ocean Day (umi no hi):
A recently introduced national holiday to celebrate the ocean. The day marks the return
of Emperor Meiji from a boat trip to Hokkaido in 1876.
 July/August 13-15
Obon:
Obon is a festival to commemorate deceased ancestors.
 Third Monday of September (national holiday)
Respect for the Aged Day (keiro no hi):
Respect for the elderly and longevity are celebrated on this national holiday.
 Around September 23 (national holiday)
Autum Equinox Day (shubun no hi):
Graves are visited during the week (ohigan) of the Equinox Day.
 Second Monday of October (national holiday)
Health and Sports Day (taiiku no hi):
On that day in 1964, the Olympic games of Tokyo were opened.
 November 3 (national holiday)
Culture Day (bunka no hi):
A day for promotion of culture and the love of freedom and peace. On culture day,
schools and the government award selected persons for their special, cultural
achievements.
 November 15
Seven-Five-Three (shichigosan):
A festival for children, Shichigosan is not a national holiday.
 November 23 (national holiday)
Labour Thanksgiving Day (kinro kansha no hi):
A national holiday for honoring labour.
 December 23 (national holiday)
Emperor's Birthday (tenno no tanjobi):
The birthday of the current emperor is always a national holiday. If the emperor changes,
the national holiday changes to the birthday date of the new emperor.
 December 24-25
Christmas:
Christmas is not a national holiday, but it is celebrated by an increasing number of
Japanese.
 December 31
New Year's Eve (omisoka):
December 31 is not a national holiday.