www.takeigo.com |
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| January 1st / Ganjitsu (New Year's Day) |
 The New Year is one of the most important occasions for all Japanese. Relatives
living far away gather together to celebrate the New Year, wishing for
the future health of every family member.
 Many Japanese people pay the first visit to shrines or Buddhist temples
on New Year's Day. But as for me, I don't have certain religions so I don't
make it a rule to visiting shrines on the day. But when some of my friends
invite me to their "New Year's Party", I go to Shintou shrine
with them! |
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| January 10th / Seijin no hi (Coming-of-age Day) |
| February 11th / Kenkoku kinenbi (National Foundation Day) |
This is the day the first Emperor, Jimmu, is said to have ascended the
throne. It was thus designed as Japanese Foundation Day.
| March 20th / Shunbun no hi (Vernal Equinox Day) |
March 20th is "Shunbun no hi" (Vernal Equinox Day) in Japan.
On this day, the sun crosses the equator and the length of night and day
becomes equal. The week with the equinox day in the middle is called "Higan"
(The land across the bank), when Buddhist services are performed for the
spirits of their dead ancestors. People clean the tombs, offer new flowers
and incense, and pay homage to their ancestral tombs. They also offer Higan
dumplings and Botamochi on their household altars.
Um. I like that Higan dumplings very much! We call them "Ohagi".
Ohagi is a traditional Japanese oval shaped sweet made from boiled glutinous
rice coated with a redbean jam, sweetened soy bean powder, or sweet sesame
paste! Yum Yum :P
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| April 29th / Midori no hi (Green Day) |
| Originally, April 29th used to be celebrated as the birthday of Emperor
"Showa", who passed away in 1989, and it was the starting day
of "the Golden week" which includes three national holidays.
After the demise of the late Emperor, it was decided that the day should
be kept as a national hoilday. Commemorating the late Emperor, who was
very interested in environmental problems, and especially in the preservation
of woods and forests, the day was denominated as "Green Day". |
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| May 3rd / Kenpou kinenbi (Constitution Memorial Day) |
Kenpou Kinenbi (Constitution Memorial Day) is celebrated on May 3, for
the commemoration of the promulgation of the new Japanese Constitution,
which came into effect on this day in 1947 After World War II. The older
Constitution called "Meiji Constitution" had been subject to
revision and was aboiled on May 2, 1947.This new Constitution prohibits
armament and war.
Talking of "Constitution", when I was a sophomore at Meiji University,
I took a constitution class. But professor was really weird. He had dark
purple hairs and always complained of Japanese constitutions @_@;; Oh yeah,
I got "A" though!! Viva that professor ;) If you want to know
his name, "Shuichi Nogamii" is the very one I am talking about!!
| May 5th / Kodomo no hi (Children's Day) |
| Originally it was a festival for
boys. Their parents fly carp streamers from a high pole and display warrior
dolls inside the house to wish their boys happiness and prosperity when they
grow up. The carp was chosen because of its energy and power to fight its way up
rapid streams and even waterfalls. |
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| July 18th / Umino hi (Sea Day) |
| The third Monday of July is "Umino hi" (Sea Day) in Japan. This
is the day when "Meiji" tennnou (emperor) ended his ship trip
and got to Yokohama Bay.
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| September 19th / Keirou no hi (Respect-for-the-Aged Day) |
| September 19th is "Keirou no hi" (Respect-for-the-Aged Day) in
Japan. It is a a day to express respect for aged people, to thank them
for their contributions to society over many years, and to celebrate their
longevity. |
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| September 23rd / Shubunno hi (Autumnal Equinox Day) |
This holiday falls on or around September 23. This day is the counterpart
of Vernal Equinox Day, and on this day the sun crosses the equator again,
making night and day of equal length.
Just as in spring, in Buddhist temples, special services for ancestors
are performed, and people clean the tombs of their ancestors and pay homage
to their spirits, offering flowers and incense.There is a popular saying
in Japan, "No heat or cold lasts beyond the Equinox Day." (Atsusa
samusa mo higanmade) |
| October 10th / Taiiku no hi (Sports Day) |
| Taiikunohi (Health-Sports Day) is celebrated on the second Monday in October
in Japan. It was established in commemoration of the Tokyo Olympic Games,
which began on October 10th, 1964. As this day is a national holiday in
Japan, we enjoy athletic festivals and other sports events all over the
country. |
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| November 3rd / Bunka no hi (Culture Day) |
It is the day to celebrate the development of culture in Japan. Formerly
it was the day to commemorate Emperor Meiji's birthday, who was a strong
support of Japanese culture.
On this day the government announces the name of those who have contributed
to the advancement of this nation's culture, and several of them are awarded
a "Cultural Medal" by the Emperor at the Imperial Palace.
Guess what! My grandfather once awarded Medal because he contributed to
the advancement of education! |
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| November 23rd / Kinrou Kansha no hi (Labor Thanks-giving Day) |
November 23 is Labor Thanks-giving Day, which was established in 1948.
This day was set aside to recognize the importance of labor and to express
our gratitude to working people.
Farmers celebrate the rice harvest on this day. Formerly, this was the
day for Harvest Festival held in the Imperial Household, in which the Emperor
dedicated the newly harvested rice of the year to the gods and thanked
them for the good harvest they had granted us.
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| December 23rd / Tennou Tanjoubi (Emperor's Birthday) |
December 23rd is "Tenno Tanjobi" (Emperor's Birthday) in Japan.
Japan is a country of constitutional monarchy, but after World War II,
it has been agreed the Emperor is not the ruler, but the symbol of the
nation. On this day, lots of people visit the Imperial Palace in Tokyo,
where the Emperor lives, and offer prayers for the Emperor's good health
and long life. The Emperor and the Imperial family members appear on the
balcony of the palace to greet the visitors.
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