UPCOMING HOLIDAYS |
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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, also known as the "star festival", takes place on the 7th day of the 7th month of the year, when, according to a Chinese legend, the two stars Altair and Vega, which are usually separated from each other by the milky way, are able to meet. Because the 7th month of the year roughly coincides with August rather than July according to the formerly used lunar calendar, Tanabata is still celebrated on August 7th in some regions of Japan, while it is celebrated on July 7th in other regions. One popular Tanabata custom is to write one's wishes on a piece of paper, and hang that piece of paper on a specially erected bamboo tree, in the hope that the wishes become true. |
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