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Japanese Calendar

Japanese National Holidays

There are 15 national holidays on the Japanese calendar. These are a great time to get a peek inside Japanese culture and to see traditions, wear costumes, and eat Tokyo food that is not part of everyday Tokyo.

We started in January and work our way through to December. Some traditional events and celebrations are not public holidays. You'll find them in our Japanese festivals section.

January - March

• January 1st is - Japanese New Year, while the period of December 29 - January 4 is Oshogatsu. It's a time for new beginnings and fresh starts. On Japanese New Years Eve people celebrate hatsumode, the first temple visit of the New Year.

• The second Monday in January - Seijin no Hi, or Coming of Age Day. The actual date is the second Monday in January of any given year.

• February 11 - National Foundation Day, or Kenkoku Kinen no Hi.

• March 20 or 21 - Vernal Equinox, otherwise known as Spring Equinox or Shunbun no Hi.

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April - June

• April 29 - The birthday of the Showa Emperor, Hirohito, known as Showa no Hi. This day signals the start of Golden Week on the Japanese calendar.

• May 3 - Constitution Day Japan, or Kenpo Kinenbi. This day came into beginning after WWII.

• May 4 - Greenery Day, or Midori no Hi. A celebration of all things green and natural.

• May 5 - Kodomo no Hi, or Childrens' Day. Traditionally this was a festival for boys and referred to a Boys' Day.

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July - September

• The third Monday of July - Ocean Day, or Umi no Hi. As the name suggests this day is in honor of all things salty! The produce of the sea has had a major influence on Japanese culture and so it seems only right that the ocean should have a special day in thanks for its bounty.

• The third Monday of September - Respect for the Aged Day, or Keirou no Hi is all about family and ancestors and the important part they play in our lives.

• September 22, 23, or 24 - Autumn Equinox Day, or Shubun no Hi. A welcome signal that the days are getting cooler.

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October - December

• The second Monday of October - National Sports Day, or Taiiku no Hi. Events are held at schools in Tokyo and across Japan where school children compete for first place.

• November 3 - Bunka no Hi, or Culture Day.

• November 23 - Labour Thanksgiving Day, or Kinro Kansha no Hi. A Japanese calendar day to celebrate the hard work of the masses.

• December 23 - Tenno no Tanjobi, the Emperor's birthday. You may be confused as we've already mentioned April 29 as celebrating the birthday of the Showa Emperor. Tenno no Tanjobi honors the birthday of the current Emperor, in this case Akihito. When the next Emperor starts his reign, the date of this holiday will be moved to the new Emperor's birthday.

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Japanese Dates and Years

When you visit Tokyo, you will sometimes hear the year referred to by a different method than the standard 2008. Originally, the Japanese calendar was represented by the current Emperor. The year was determined by the length of time the Emperor had held his reign.

When Emperor Hirohito was alive, his reign was called the Showa era. On his death in 1989, this era was in it's 64th year. 1988 would have been year 63, 1978 year 53, and so on. We are now in the 20th year of the Heisei era, which started on January 8, 1989, when his son, Emperor Akihito, succeeded him to the throne.

The name 'Heisei' was chosen by combining two Chinese characters together. The overall meaning is 'peace everywhere'. This was to reflect the change in thinking after WWII.

The Japan calendar started to follow the Western style calendar in the late 1800s, at the end of the Edo Period. Previous to this, Japan had worked on a lunar calendar, very similar to China. Although the lunar calendar is rarely followed today, some traditional elements have been retained and can be seen in rituals and celebrations throughout the year.

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Chinese and Japanese Connections

On a final note, although the Japanese calendar no longer follows the lunar dates, the 12 symbols of the Chinese year are still very much a part of Japanese culture as well. Part of the Japanese New Year celebrations include wishing for luck by honoring the animal of the particular year.