Holidays of Japan
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| Contents |
Table of Japanese holidays
| Date | Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| First half of January | Japanese New Year 正月 (Shōgatsu) or | Shogatsu is Japan's most important holiday. It may refer to the period of 1st–3rd, 1st–7th, or 1st–20th of January. Historically Shogatsu was an alternative name for January. January 1 is a national holiday. |
| Second Monday of January | Coming-of-Age Day 成人の日 (Sējin no hi) | A national holiday. All people who turn 20 this year are celebrated on this day. |
| February 11 | National Foundation Day 建国記念の日 (Kenkoku kinen no hi) | A national holiday. Emperor Jinmu, the first Japanese emperor, was crowned this day in 660 BC according to early Japanese history books. |
| Around March 21 | Vernal equinox 春分の日 (Shunbun no hi) | A national holiday. |
| April 29 | Greenery Day みどりの日 (Midori no hi) | A national holiday. This used to be celebrated as Emperor Showa's birthday. It is also the start of Golden Week. |
| May 3 | Constitution Memorial Day 憲法記念日 (Kenpō kinenbi) | A national holiday. |
| May 4 | "Between Day" 国民の休日 (Kokumin no kyūjitsu) | A national holiday by technicality.* |
| May 5 | Children's Day 子供の日 (Kodomo no hi) | A national holiday. |
| Third monday of July | Marine Day 海の日 (Umi no hi) | A national holiday. |
| Third monday of September | Respect for the Aged Day 敬老の日 (Keirō no hi) | A national holiday. |
| Around September 23 | Autumnal equinox 秋分の日 (Shūbun no hi) | A national holiday. |
| Second monday of October | Health and Sports Day 体育の日 (Taiiku no hi) | A national holiday. Created in 1966 after the opening day of Tokyo Olympics. |
| November 3 | Culture Day 文化の日 (Bunka no hi) | A national holiday. |
| November 23 | Labour Thanksgiving Day 勤労感謝の日 (Kinrō kansha no hi) | A national holiday. |
| December 23 | The Emperor's Birthday 天皇誕生日 (Tennō tanjōbi) | A national holiday. |
Other holiday dates
By law, when a national holiday lands on a Sunday, that holiday is moved to Monday the next day. Also when a day is sandwiched between two national holidays, that day shall also become a holiday (thus May 4, sandwiched between May 3 and May 5, is a holiday). By the same law, September 22, 2009 is forcasted to be a national holiday because vernal equinox is expected to land on September 23 that year. The official date of vernal equinox will be decided on Februrary 1 that year.
Recent changes
Beginning with 2000, Japan implemented the Happy Monday Seido (ハッピーマンデー制度 Happī Mandē Sēdo) which moved a number of national holidays to Monday:
- Coming-of-Age Day: January 15 → 2nd Monday of January, starting with 2000
- Marine Day: July 20 → 3rd Monday of July, starting with 2003
- Respect for the Aged Day: September 15 → 3rd Monday of September, starting with 2003
- Health and Sports Day: October 10 → 2nd Monday of October, starting with 2000
Planned changes
In 2005 the country has decided to add Showa Day, a new national holiday, in place of Greenery Day on April 29, and to move Greenery Day to May 4. These changes will take effect in 2007.
