Japan's holidays in April and May
- Yuki sensei
- Mar 22
- 3 min read
April and May are the months when spring arrives and the warm sunshine makes it fun to go out and travel. Japan has several national holidays during this period, among which the long consecutive holidays known as "Golden Week (GW)" are particularly distinctive. In this article, we will introduce the origins and history of each holiday, as well as how Japanese people spend the days.
April Holidays
April 29th: Showa Day
Origin and History
April 29th was once known as the "Emperor's Birthday," and was a day to celebrate the birthday of Emperor Showa. However, after Emperor Showa passed away in 1989, the name was changed to "Greenery Day" and it was made into a day to get familiar with the environment and nature. It was later renamed "Showa Day" in 2007 and established as a day to look back on the Showa era and think about history.
General Ways to Spend the Day
・Going out to leisure and sightseeing spots
To kick off Golden Week, families often go to parks, zoos, and amusement parks.
・Experience Showa Retro Culture
In honor of Showa Day, there are also events where you can enjoy retro movies and Showa culture.
・Preparing for Golden Week
As it is the beginning of a long holiday, many people prepare for travel.
May Holidays
May 3: Constitution Memorial Day
Origin and History
This is a national holiday established to commemorate the enactment of the Japanese Constitution on May 3, 1947. The Japanese Constitution was established after the war to set Japan on the path of a peaceful nation, and it sets out three basic principles: "national sovereignty," "respect for basic human rights," and "pacifism."
May 4: Greenery Day
Origin and History
Originally, April 29 was Greenery Day, but with the establishment of Showa Day, it was changed to May 4 in 2007. It is said to be a day to get close to nature and be grateful for its blessings.
May 5th: Children's Day
Origin and history
Originally called Tango no Sekku, it was a day to pray for the healthy growth of boys, but in 1948 it became a national holiday as a day to respect the individuality of children and pray for their happiness.
Common ways to spend the day
・Decorating with carp streamers and helmet ornaments
Decorating gardens and balconies with carp streamers, and decorating indoors with helmets and May dolls.
・Eating kashiwamochi and Shimaki
Kashiwamochi is said to represent the prosperity of descendants, due to the characteristic of kashiwa trees that their old leaves do not fall until new leaves grow.
What is Golden Week?
Golden Week (GW) is a long holiday that is created by many companies setting holidays around the national holidays from April 29th (Showa Day) to May 5th (Children's Day). Depending on the arrangement of the calendar, it can be up to 10 consecutive days off.
Typical ways of spending the holiday by Japanese people
・Domestic and overseas travel
Many people travel domestically to Okinawa or Hokkaido, or to Hawaii or Europe, so air and bullet train tickets are booked up early.
・Returning to parents' homes
It is also an opportunity for family members who usually live far away to return to their parents' homes.
・Visiting theme parks and tourist spots
Tokyo Disney Resort and Universal Studios Japan (USJ) are at their peak of congestion.
・Outdoors and camping
The pleasant spring weather encourages more people to enjoy camping and barbecues.
・Watching movies and shopping
Movie theaters often release major films for GW, and shopping malls are also bustling.
Summary
Although the holidays in April and May have a historical background, for modern Japanese people they are important periods for relaxation and enjoying time with family. Golden Week in particular is an important consecutive holiday that has a major impact on the Japanese economy. Why not take the time this year to get in touch with nature and spend some time relaxing with family and friends?
In Yuki Sensei's class, you can learn not only Japanese but also Japanese culture and history. See you in the next class!
Comments