In Japan, there are about 15 national holidays in which the Japanese have a day off. But, besides these, there are many other seasonal festivals and celebrations, each with their own unique set of decorations, customs, and food. There are several different systems for marking these festivals and many of them stem from the ancient Chinese astrological calendar.
Official National Holidays:These are the 15 official national holidays in Japan when schools and businesses are closed. The Japanese government purposefully places many of these holidays on Mondays to give workers a three-day weekend.
- New Year’s Day, gan jitsu (January 1) One of the most significant days of the year in Japan.
- coming of age day, Seijin no hello (Second Monday in January) A day of celebration for all those who have turned 20, the legal age of majority in Japan. The cities celebrate great ceremonies. Young men wear suits and women wear colorful kimonos with very long-sleeved pockets to indicate youth. These same kimonos will be modified and the sleeves will be shortened when they get old.
- National Foundation Daygold founders day, Kenkoku Kinen no hello (February 11) Celebrates the founding of the nation, similar to America’s Independence Day. It actually marks the accession to the throne of the first emperor in 660 BC.
- vernal equinox day, Shunbun no hello (around March 20) This is a Buddhist day to visit family graves and also to celebrate the renewal of spring.
- showa day, show no hello (April 29) A day to reflect on the Showa era of reconstruction after World War II, celebrated on the birthday of the Showa Emperor.
- Day of the constitution, kenpo kinenbi (May 4) A day to commemorate the Japanese constitution and reaffirm the commitment to peace. The constitution entered into force on May 3, 1947 after the end of the war.
- green Day, midori no hello (May 4) A day to be in communion with nature. This holiday was previously celebrated on April 29, that day is now Showa no hi.
- Children’s Daygold Children’s Day, kodomo no hello (May 5) A day for children. The main activity is to blow up big carp streamers in the hope that the children will be strong like carp.
- Marine Day, Umi no hello (Third Monday in July) A day to give thanks to the ocean for so many gifts. Many people visit the beach on this day.
- Day of Respect for the Elderly, Keiro no hello (Third Monday in September) People remember and show appreciation to grandparents and seniors. Cities hold various events for seniors.
- Autumn Equinox Day, shubun no hello (around September 23) Another Buddhist day in which the ancestors are remembered.
- sports day, Taiiku no hello (Second Monday in October) Commemorates the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. It is a day for sports and health and many school sporting events are held on this day.
- culture day, bunka no hello (November 3) A day to celebrate freedom, equality and culture. Many events with traditional arts or music are held.
- Thanksgiving Day (Work), Kinro Kansha no hello (November 23) A day for workers.
- emperor’s birthday,Tenno Tanjobi (December 23) A day to congratulate the current Heisei Emperor.
These national holidays are important, but many are not very colorful. However, there are many more interesting festivals celebrated in Japan that originally came from China.
Niju Shi Sekki, The 24 Solar Terms According to the traditional farmer’s almanac of ancient China, the year can be divided into 24 periods, or solar terms, approximately one every two weeks. In Japan, this system is known as Niju Shi Sekki (24 festivals). This calendar was used by farmers to mark the year and these days are still printed on Japanese calendars today. Some of them are also national holidays. Some are celebrated with specific customs or foods, but most are not celebrated at all. These days include the equinoxes and solstices. According to this system, the first day of each season is not marked at an equinox or solstice, as in America, but at the midpoints between them. The days in bold below are national holidays.
- risshun: February 4-Start of Spring (Setsubun, February 3, Spring Eve)
- usui: February 18-Rainwater
- Keichitsu: March 5-Awakening of the insects (from hibernation)
- shunbun: March 20-Spring Equinox, mid-spring
- Seimei: April 4-Clear and bright (sky)
- kokuu: April 20-Cereal Rain
- Rikka: May 5-Beginning of summer
- shoman: May 21-Grain Fillings
- boshu: June 5-Grain in spike
- Geshi: June 21-Summer Solstice, Midsummer
- shosho: July 7-Little Heat
- taisho: July 23-Great Heat
- Risha: August 7-early fall
- shosho: August 23-End of heat
- hakuro: September 7-Descent of the White Dew
- shubun: September 23-Autumn Equinox, Mid-Autumn
- Kanro: October 8-Cold Dew
- soko: October 23-Frost Descent
- Ritto: November 7-Beginning of winter
- things you: November 22-Little snow
- Taisetsu: December 7-Big snowfall
- Toji: December 22-Winter Solstice, Midwinter
- shokan: January 5 — Little Cold
- Daikan: January 20-Great Cold
In addition to Niju Shi Sekki days, there are 15 additional calendar days, collectively known as zaasetsu. These include; Setsubun, a holiday on the eve of Risshun, the first day of spring, Doyo days, 18 days before the start of each season, and Higan days. Many of the days of Niju Shi Sekki or Zaasetsu have specific customs or foods associated with them.
Gosekku festival days These are a group of five festivals from China that were originally observed on the lunar calendar, but in Japan they have been converted to the Gregorian calendar:
- day of the seven herbs Nanakusa no sekku; It is celebrated on the seventh day of the first month (January 7). It is a day when people eat rice porridge made with seven traditional spring herbs to promote health. Also known as “Human Day” Jinjitsu.
- girl’s day, hinamatsuri; The third day of the third month (March 3). It is a day when girls display beautiful traditional dolls in the hope of good luck and a good marriage.
- Children’s Daygold children’s day, Kodomo no hello. The fifth day of the fifth month (May 5) Also a national holiday. Children hang streamers from tents and display miniature armor to be strong.
- the party of the stars, Tanabata. The seventh day of the seventh month (July 7). There is a folk tale of two lovers on either side of the milky way who can only meet once a year on this day. The main activity of the children is to write wishes and hang them on a small bamboo branch.
- the double ninth goldchrysanthemum party, Choyo, the ninth day of the month (September 9) Nine is a lucky number in China and this was also a day for viewing chrysanthemums or other flowers. This festival is not observed much in Japan and is very small compared to the others.
setsubun: This means the eve of the first day of the new season. Technically there are four setsubun, one for each season, but the only one celebrated is the spring setsubun on February 3rd. In ancient times, the first day of spring was considered the New Year. Setsubun was like New Year’s Eve. On this day, children throw beans at demons to ward off evil, and eat sushi rolls in an auspicious direction.
Doyo days: Doyo means 18 days before the start of each season. As with setsubun, there are four Doyo days each year, but only one is celebrated. It is 18 days before the beginning of autumn on August 7th. This day is called Doyo Ushi No Hi, also known as Eel Day and falls around July 21, but it varies slightly each year. This is the hottest part of the year and people eat eel for energy.
Higan: Higan is a seven-day Buddhist time of reflection that occurs twice a year, three days before and three days after the spring and autumn equinoxes. This is also a time to visit family graves. However, most people think of Higan in autumn. It is at this time of year that the so-called higanbana flower (red spider lily) blooms. This beautiful, though unusual-looking flower now grows wild in Japan, in fields and along roadsides. Its appearance is associated with the return of the ancestors.
tsukimi: Tsukimi is the autumn moon-gazing festival. The full moon of the eighth lunar month is the harvest moon. This is said to be the biggest moon of the year and the most beautiful to see. This normally falls in September. The Japanese traditionally hold moon viewing parties. They put up decorations of susuki, or pampas grass, a kind of autumn grass. They also eat sweet rice dumplings called tsukimi dango.
This covers most of the major festivals on the calendar in Japan. However, there are also many other local city festivals or religious festivals associated with specific temples or shrines.
