Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates
Japanese calendar types have included a range of official and unofficial systems. At present, Japan uses the Gregorian calendar together with year designations stating the year of the reign of the current Emperor.<ref>"Calendar" at Japan-guide.com; Bramsen, William. (1880). Japanese chronological tables, p. 25.</ref> The written form starts with the year, then the month and finally the day, coinciding with the ISO 8601 standard.
For example, February 16, 2003, can be written as either {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (the latter following the regnal year system). {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} reads Template:Tlit and means "year", {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} reads Template:Tlit and means "month", and finally {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (usually) reads Template:Tlit (its pronunciation depends on the number that precedes it, see below) and means "day".
Prior to the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in 1873, the reference calendar was based on the lunisolar Chinese calendar.
HistoryEdit
- Briefly Abridged Calendar of 1873, Hiroshige Museum of Art.JPG
Briefly Abridged Calendar of 1873
- Calendar for 1907, Nakai Tokujiro (Pub.), Hiroshige Museum of Art.JPG
Calendar for 1907
Over the centuries, Japan has used up to four systems for designating years:<ref>Clement, Ernest W. (1902). "Japanese Calendars", in Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan, Vol. 30–31, p. 3,</ref> the Chinese sexagenary cycle, the Template:Nihongo system, the Japanese imperial year (Template:Nihongo krt or Template:Nihongo krt) and the Template:Nihongo system. In the 21st century, however, the era system (gengō) and Western system (seireki) are the only ones still widely used.
Chinese CalendarEdit
The lunisolar Chinese calendar was introduced to Japan via Korea in the middle of the sixth century. After that, Japan calculated its calendar using various Chinese calendar procedures, and from 1685, using Japanese variations of the Chinese procedures.<ref name="auto8">See the page on the history of the calendar at the National Diet Library site: [1].</ref><ref>Bramsen, pp. 5–11.</ref> Its sexagenary cycle was often used together with era names, as in the 1729 Ise calendar shown above, which is for "the 14th year of Kyōhō, tsuchi-no-to no tori", i.e., Template:Nihongo2.
In modern times, the old Chinese calendar is virtually ignored; celebrations of the Lunar New Year are thus limited to Chinese and other Asian immigrant communities. However, its influence can still be felt in the idea of "lucky and unlucky days" (described below), the traditional meanings behind the name of each month, and other features of modern Japanese calendars.
Era Names (gengō)Edit
The Template:Nihongo system was also introduced from China, and has been in continuous use since AD 701.<ref>Bramsen, pp. 2–5.</ref> The reigning Emperor chooses the name associated with their regnal eras; before 1868, multiple names were chosen throughout the same emperor's rule, such as to commemorate a major event.<ref name="auto5">See list of nengō with the reasons for the changes in Rekishi Dokuhon, January 2008 ("Nihon no Nengo Tokushuu"), pp. 196–221.</ref> For instance, the Emperor Kōmei's reign (1846–1867) was split into seven eras, one of which lasted only one year.<ref name="auto5"/> Starting with Kōmei's son the Emperor Meiji in 1868, there has only been one gengō per emperor representing their entire reign.
The nengō system remains in wide use, especially on official documents and government forms.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is also in general use in private and personal business.
The present era, Reiwa, formally began on 1 May 2019.<ref name="auto4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="auto11">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="auto3">Template:Cite news</ref> The name of the new era was announced by the Japanese government on 1 April 2019, a month prior to Naruhito's accession to the throne.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="auto3"/> The previous era, Heisei, came to an end on 30 April 2019, after Japan's former emperor, Akihito, abdicated the throne.<ref name="auto4"/><ref name="auto11"/><ref name="auto3"/> Reiwa is the first era name whose characters come from a Japanese root source; prior eras' names were taken from Chinese classic literature.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="auto4"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Japanese Imperial Years (kōki or kigen)Edit
The Japanese imperial year (Template:Nihongo krt or Template:Nihongo krt) is based on the date of the legendary founding of Japan by Emperor Jimmu in 660 BC.<ref>Bramsen, p. 11.</ref> For instance, 660 BC is counted as Kōki 1.
It was first used in the official calendar in 1873.<ref>See "2533 years since Jinmu's accession" in the heading [2] Template:Webarchive"</ref> Kōki 2600 (1940) was a special year. The 1940 Summer Olympics and Tokyo Expo were planned as anniversary events, but were canceled due to the Second Sino-Japanese War. The Japanese naval Zero Fighter was named after this year. After the Second World War, the United States occupied Japan, and stopped the use of kōki by officials.<ref name="auto7">"kigen" in Kokushi Daijiten, vol. 4 (Yoshikawa Kôbunkan, 1983).</ref>
Today, kōki is rarely used, except in some judicial contexts.<ref name="auto7"/> Usage of kōki dating can be a nationalist signal, pointing out that the history of Japan's imperial family is longer than that of Christianity, the basis of the Anno Domini (AD) system.
The 1898 law determining the placement of leap years<ref>Template:Nihongo2 (Japanese Imperial Edict No. 90, May 11, 1898)</ref> is officially based on the kōki years, using a formula that is effectively equivalent to that of the Gregorian calendar: if the kōki year number is evenly divisible by four, it is a leap year, unless the number minus 660 is evenly divisible by 100 and not by 400. Thus, for example, the year Kōki 2560 (AD 1900) is divisible by 4; but 2560 − 660 = 1900, which is evenly divisible by 100 and not by 400, so kōki 2560 (1900) was not a leap year, just as in most of the rest of the world.
Gregorian Calendar (seireki)Edit
The Template:Nihongo system, based on the solar Gregorian calendar, was first introduced in 1873 as part of the Japan's Meiji period modernization.<ref>Bramsen, p. 25.</ref><ref name="auto8"/>
Nowadays, Japanese people know it as well as the regnal eras.
Divisions of timeEdit
SeasonsEdit
There are four seasons corresponding to the West's:
| English name | Japanese name | Romanisation | Traditional dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | February 5 – May 6 |
| Summer | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | May 7 – August 8 |
| Fall | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | August 9 – November 7 |
| Winter | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | November 8 – February 4 |
However, there is also a traditional system of Template:Nihongo, consisting of Template:Nihongo each divided into three sets of five days,<ref name="auto">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="auto9">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and with specially-named days or Template:Nihongo indicating the start and end of each. This system was adapted from the Chinese in 1685 by court astronomer Shibukawa Shunkai, rewriting the names to better match the local climate and nature in his native Japan.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto1"/> Each kō has traditional customs, festivals, foods, flowers and birds associated with it:<ref name="auto9"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The 24 sekkiEdit
| Microseason Number | Traditional Dates | Japanese Name | Romanization | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 1 | February 4–8 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | The east wind melts the thick ice. |
| 2 | February 9–13 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Bush warblers sing in the countryside. |
| 3 | February 14–18 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Ice cracks, allowing fish to emerge. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 4 | February 19–23 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Rain falls, moistening the soil. |
| 5 | February 24–28 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Mist lies over the land. |
| 6 | March 1–5 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Trees and plants put forth buds. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 7 | March 6–10 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Hibernating insects emerge. |
| 8 | March 11–15 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Peach trees begin to bloom. |
| 9 | March 16–20 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Cabbage whites emerge from their cocoons. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 10 | March 21–25 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Sparrows begin building their nests. |
| 11 | March 26–30 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Cherry blossoms begin to bloom. |
| 12 | March 31–April 4 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Thunder rumbles far away. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 13 | April 5–9 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Swallows return from the south. |
| 14 | April 10–14 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Wild geese fly north. |
| 15 | April 15–19 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Rainbows begin to appear. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 16 | April 20–24 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Reeds begin to sprout. |
| 17 | April 25–29 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Rice seedlings grow. |
| 18 | April 30–May 4 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Peonies bloom. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 19 | May 5–9 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Frogs begin croaking. |
| 20 | May 10–14 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Worms wriggle to the surface. |
| 21 | May 15–20 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Bamboo shoots sprout. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 22 | May 21–25 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Silkworms feast on mulberry leaves. |
| 23 | May 26–30 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Safflowers bloom in abundance. |
| 24 | May 31–June 5 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Barley ripens, ready to be harvested. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 25 | June 6–10 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Praying mantises hatch and come forth. |
| 26 | June 11–15 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Fireflies fly out from moist grass. |
| 27 | June 16–20 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Plums ripen, turning yellow. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 28 | June 21–26 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Prunella flowers wither. |
| 29 | June 27–July 1 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Irises bloom. |
| 30 | July 2–6 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Crowdipper sprouts. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 31 | July 7–11 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Warm winds blow. |
| 32 | July 12–16 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Lotuses begin to bloom. |
| 33 | July 17–22 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Young hawks learn to fly. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 34 | July 23–28 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Paulownia trees begin to produce seeds. |
| 35 | July 29–August 2 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | The ground is damp, the air hot and humid. |
| 36 | August 3–7 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Heavy rains fall. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 37 | August 8–12 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Cool winds blow. |
| 38 | August 13–17 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Evening cicadas begin to sing. |
| 39 | August 18–22 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Thick fog blankets the land. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 40 | August 23–27 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Cotton bolls open. |
| 41 | August 28–September 1 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | The heat finally relents. |
| 42 | September 2–7 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Rice ripens. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 43 | September 8–12 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | White dew shimmers on the grass. |
| 44 | September 13–17 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Wagtails begin to sing. |
| 45 | September 18–22 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Swallows return to the south. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 46 | September 23–27 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Thunder comes to an end. |
| 47 | September 28–October 2 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Insects close up their burrows. |
| 48 | October 3–7 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Fields are drained of water. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 49 | October 8–12 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Wild geese begin to fly back. |
| 50 | October 13–17 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Chrysanthemums bloom. |
| 51 | October 18–22 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Crickets chirp by the door. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 52 | October 23–27 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Frost begins to form. |
| 53 | October 28–November 1 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Drizzling rain falls gently. |
| 54 | November 2–6 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Maple leaves and ivy turn yellow. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 55 | November 7–11 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Sasanqua camellias begin to bloom. |
| 56 | November 12–16 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | The land begins to freeze. |
| 57 | November 17–21 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Daffodils bloom. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 58 | November 22–26 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Rainbows disappear. |
| 59 | November 27–December 1 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | The north wind blows leaves off the trees. |
| 60 | December 2–6 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Tachibana citrus trees begin to turn yellow. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 61 | December 7–11 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | The skies stay cold as winter arrives. |
| 62 | December 12–16 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Bears hide away in their dens to hibernate. |
| 63 | December 17–21 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Salmon swim upstream en masse. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 64 | December 22–26 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Prunella sprouts. |
| 65 | December 27–31 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Deer shed their antlers. |
| 66 | January 1–4 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Barley sprouts under the snow. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 67 | January 5–9 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Parsley thrives. |
| 68 | January 10–14 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Springs once frozen flow once more. |
| 69 | January 15–19 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Cock pheasants begin to call. |
| Template:Nihongo3 | ||||
| 70 | January 20–24 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Butterburs put forth buds. |
| 71 | January 25–29 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Mountain streams gain a cover of thick ice. |
| 72 | January 30–February 3 | lang}} | Template:Tlit | Hens begin to lay eggs. |
ZassetsuEdit
Template:Nihongo is a collective term for special seasonal days within the 24 sekki.
| Date | Kanji | Romaji | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 3 | Template:Nihongo2 | [[Setsubun|Template:Tlit]] | The eve of Risshun by one definition. |
| March 18–March 24 | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | The seven days surrounding Shunbun. |
| Vernal Equinox day | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | In Shinto. Template:Nihongo krt in Buddhism. |
| May 2 | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | Literally meaning 88 nights (since Risshun). |
| June 11 | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | Literally meaning entering tsuyu. |
| July 2 | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | One of the 72 Kō. Farmers take five days off in some regions. |
| July 15 | Template:Nihongo2 | [[Chugen|Template:Tlit]] | Officially July 15. August 15 in many regions (Tsuki-okure). |
| July 20 | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | Custom of eating eel on this day. |
| September 1 | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | Literally meaning 210 days (since Risshun). |
| September 11 | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | Literally meaning 220 days. |
| September 20–September 26 | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | The seven days surrounding Shūbun. |
| Autumal Equinox | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | In Shinto. Template:Nihongo krt in Buddhism. |
Shanichi dates can vary by as much as 5 days. Chūgen has a fixed day. All other days can vary by one day.
Many zassetsu days occur in multiple seasons:
- Template:Nihongo refers to the 18 days before each season, especially the one before fall which is known as the hottest period of a year.
- Template:Nihongo is the seven middle days of spring and autumn, with Shunbun at the middle of the seven days for spring, Shūbun for fall.
- Template:Nihongo is the Template:Nihongo day closest to Shunbun (middle of spring) or Shūbun (middle of fall), which can be as much as 5 days before to 4 days after Shunbun/Shūbun.
The term Template:Nihongo originally referred to the eves of Template:Nihongo3, Template:Nihongo3, Template:Nihongo3, and Template:Nihongo3; however, it now only refers to the day before Template:Tlit.
MonthsEdit
As mentioned above, the Japanese calendar used to be based on an adaptation of the Chinese lunar calendar, which begins 3 to 7 weeks later than the Gregorian. In other words, the Gregorian "first month" and the Chinese "first month" do not align, which is important in historical contexts.
The "traditional names" for each month, shown below, are still used by some in fields such as poetry; of the twelve, Shiwasu is still widely used today. The opening paragraph of a letter or the greeting in a speech might borrow one of these names to convey a sense of the season. Some, such as Yayoi and Satsuki, do double duty as given names (for women). These month names also appear from time to time on jidaigeki, contemporary television shows and movies set in the Edo period or earlier.
The Japanese names for the modern Gregorian months literally translate to "first month", "second month", and so on. The corresponding number is combined with the suffix Template:Nihongo krt. The table below uses traditional numerals, but the use of Western numerals (Template:Nihongo2, Template:Nihongo2, Template:Nihongo2, etc.) is common.
| English name | Common Japanese name | Traditional Japanese name | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Template:Nihongo krt | Template:Nihongo3.<ref name="about.com old names">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}[ About.com, Can you tell me the old names of the months?]</ref> |
| February | Template:Nihongo krt | Template:Nihongo or Template:Nihongo3.<ref name="about.com old names"/> | |
| March | Template:Nihongo krt | Template:Nihongo3.<ref name="about.com old names"/> | |
| April | Template:Nihongo krt | Template:Nihongo3.<ref name="about.com old names"/> The Template:Nihongo is a flower, of the genus Deutzia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| May | Template:Nihongo krt | Template:Nihongo or Template:Nihongo3.<ref name="about.com old names"/> | |
| June | Template:Nowrap | Template:Nihongo3. The Template:Nihongo2 character, which normally means "absent" or "there is no", is ateji here, and is only used for the na sound. In this name the na is actually a possessive particle, so minazuki means "month of water", not "month without water", and this is in reference to the flooding of the rice fields, which require large quantities of water.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| July | Template:Nowrap | Template:Nihongo3.<ref name="about.com old names"/> | |
| August | Template:Nowrap | Template:Nihongo3. In old Japanese, the month was called {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Template:Tlit, or "Month of Falling Leaves").<ref name="about.com old names"/> | |
| September | Template:Nihongo krt | Template:Nihongo3.<ref name="about.com old names"/> | |
| October | Template:Nihongo krt | Template:Tlit or Template:Nihongo3. The Template:Nihongo2 character, which normally means "absent" or "there is not", was here probably originally used as an ateji for the possessive particle na, so Kaminazuki may have originally meant "Month of the Gods", not "Month without Gods" (Kaminakizuki), similarly to Minatsuki, the "Month of Water".<ref>Entries in the standard dictionaries Daijisen Template:Nihongo2 (Shōgakukan Template:Nihongo2), Daijirin Template:Nihongo2 (Sanseidō Template:Nihongo2), Nihon Kokugo Daijiten Template:Nihongo2 (Shōgakukan Template:Nihongo2).</ref> However, by what may be false etymology, the name became commonly interpreted to mean that, because in that month all the Shinto kami gather at Izumo shrine in Izumo Province (modern-day Shimane Prefecture), there are no gods in the rest of the country. Thus in Izumo Province, the month is called Template:Tlit ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}} or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "Month with Gods").<ref>For example, Template:Cite book</ref> Various other etymologies have also been suggested from time to time.<ref>Nihon Kokugo Daijiten Template:Nihongo2 (Shōgakukan Template:Nihongo2) lists nine more besides.</ref> | |
| November | Template:Nowrap | Template:Nihongo3.<ref name="about.com old names"/> | |
| December | Template:Nihongo krt | Template:Nihongo3. This is in reference to priests being busy at the end of the year for New Year's preparations and blessings.<ref name="about.com old names"/> |
Division of the MonthEdit
WeekEdit
Japan uses a seven-day week, aligned with the Western calendar. The seven-day week, with names for the days corresponding to the Latin system, was brought to Japan around AD 800 with the Buddhist calendar. The system was used for astrological purposes and little else until 1876.
Much like in multiple European languages, in which the names for weekdays are, partially or fully, based on what the Ancient Romans considered the seven visible planets, meaning the five visible planets and the sun and the moon, in The Far East the five visible planets are named after the five Chinese elements (metal, wood, water, fire, earth.) On the origin of the names of the days of the week, also see East Asian Seven Luminaries.
| Japanese | Romanization | Element (planet) | English name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | Sun | Sunday |
| Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | Moon | Monday |
| Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | Fire (Mars) | Tuesday |
| Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | Water (Mercury) | Wednesday |
| Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | Wood (Jupiter) | Thursday |
| Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | Metal (Venus) | Friday |
| Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | Earth (Saturn) | Saturday |
Sunday and Saturday are regarded as "Western style take-a-rest days". Since the late 19th century, Sunday has been regarded as a "full-time holiday", and Saturday a Template:Nihongo. These days have no religious meaning (except the less than 1% who believe in Christianity or Judaism). Many Japanese retailers do not close on Saturdays or Sundays, because many office workers and their families are expected to visit the shops during the weekend. Monday is traditionally the first day of the week.
10-Days (jun)Edit
Japanese people also use 10-day periods called Template:Nihongo. Each month is divided into two 10-day periods and a third with the remaining 8 to 11 days:
- The first (from the 1st to the 10th) is Template:Nihongo3
- The second (from the 11th to the 20th), Template:Nihongo3
- The last (from the 21st to the end of the month), Template:Nihongo3.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
These are frequently used to indicate approximate times, for example, "the temperatures are typical of the jōjun of April"; "a vote on a bill is expected during the gejun of this month." The magazine Kinema Junpo was originally published once every jun (i.e. three times a month).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
DaysEdit
The table below shows dates written with traditional numerals, but use of Arabic numerals (Template:Nihongo2, Template:Nihongo2, Template:Nihongo2, etc.) is extremely common in everyday communication, almost the norm.
Each day of the month has a semi-systematic name. The days generally use kun (native Japanese) numeral readings up to ten, and thereafter on (Chinese-derived) readings, but there are some irregularities.
Tsuitachi is a worn-down form of Template:Nihongo, literally "month start." The last day of the month was called tsugomori, which means "Moon hidden." This classical word comes from the tradition of the lunisolar calendar.
The 30th was also traditionally called misoka, just as the 20th is called hatsuka. Nowadays, the terms for the numbers 28–31 plus nichi are much more common. However, misoka is much used in contracts, etc., specifying that a payment should be made on or by the last day of the month, whatever the number is. New Year's Eve is known as Template:Nihongo3, and that term is still in use.
As mentioned below, there is traditional belief that some days are lucky (kichijitsu) or unlucky. For example, there are some who will avoid beginning something on an unlucky day.<ref>Nussbaum, "Kichijitsu" at p. 513.</ref>
Holidays and other notable daysEdit
April 1Edit
The first day of April has broad significance in Japan. It marks the beginning of the government's fiscal year.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Many corporations follow suit. In addition, corporations often form or merge on that date. In recent years, municipalities have preferred it for mergers. On this date, many new employees begin their jobs, and it is the start of many real-estate leases. The school year begins on April 1.
RokuyōEdit
The Template:Nihongo are a series of six days calculated from the date of Chinese calendar that supposedly predict whether there will be good or bad fortune during that day. The rokuyō are commonly found on Japanese calendars and are often used to plan weddings and funerals, though most people ignore them in ordinary life. The rokuyō are also known as the Template:Nihongo. In order, they are:
| Kanji | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | Good luck before noon, bad luck after noon. Good day for beginnings (in the morning). |
| Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | Your friends may be "drawn-in" towards good and evil. Funerals are avoided on this day (tomo = friend, biki = pull, thus a funeral might pull friends toward the deceased). Typically crematoriums are closed this day. But, for instance, weddings are fine on this day. |
| Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | Bad luck before noon, good luck after noon. |
| Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | Symbolizes the day Buddha died. Considered the most unlucky day.Template:Citation needed Weddings are best avoided. Some Shinto shrines close their offices on this day. |
| Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | The most lucky day. Good day for weddings and events like shop openings. |
| Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit | The hour of the horse (11 am to 1 pm) is lucky. The rest is bad luck. |
The rokuyō days are easily calculated from the Japanese lunisolar calendar. The first day of the first month is always senshō, with the days following in the order given above until the end of the month. Thus, the 2nd day is tomobiki, the 3rd is senbu, and so on. The 1st day of the 2nd month restarts the sequence at tomobiki. The 3rd month restarts at senbu, and so on for each month. The latter six months repeat the patterns of the first six, so the 1st of the 7th is senshō, the 1st of the 12th is shakkō and the moon-viewing day on the 15th of the 8th is always butsumetsu.
This system did not become popular in Japan until the end of the Edo period.
National HolidaysEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} After World War II, the names of Japanese national holidays were completely changed because of the secular state principle (Article 20, The Constitution of Japan). Although many of them actually originated from Shinto, Buddhism and important events relating to the Japanese imperial family, it is not easy to understand the original meanings from the superficial and vague official names.
Notes: Single days between two national holidays are taken as a bank holiday. This applies to May 4, which is a holiday each year. When a national holiday falls on a Sunday the next day that is not a holiday (usually a Monday) is taken as a holiday.
| Date | English name | Official name | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit |
| Second Monday of January | Coming of Age Day | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit |
| February 11 | National Foundation Day† | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit |
| February 23 | The Emperor's Birthday | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit |
| March 20 or 21 | Vernal Equinox Day | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit |
| April 29 | Shōwa Day* | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit |
| May 3 | Constitution Memorial Day* | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit |
| May 4 | Greenery Day* | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit |
| May 5 | Children's Day* | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit |
| Third Monday of July | Marine Day | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit |
| August 11 | Mountain Day | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit |
| Third Monday of September | Respect for the Aged Day | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit |
| September 22 or 23 | Autumnal Equinox Day | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit |
| Second Monday of October | Sports Day | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit |
| November 3 | Culture Day | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit |
| November 23 | Labour Thanksgiving Day | Template:Nihongo2 | Template:Tlit |
- † Traditional date on which according to legend Emperor Jimmu founded Japan in 660 BC.
- * Part of Golden Week.
Timeline of Creation of and Changes to National HolidaysEdit
- 1948: The following national holidays were introduced in the Template:Nihongo: New Year's Day, Coming-of-Age Day, Constitution Memorial Day, Children's Day, Autumnal Equinox Day, Culture Day, and Labor Thanksgiving Day.<ref name="auto10">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- 1966: A supplementary provision to create Health and Sports Day was introduced in memory of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.<ref name="auto10"/> Vernal Equinox Day, National Foundation Day and Respect for the Aged Day were also introduced.<ref name="auto10"/>
- 1985: Reform to the national holiday law made days like May 4, sandwiched between two other national holidays, a Template:Nihongo.<ref name="auto10"/>
- 1989: After the Shōwa Emperor died on January 7, his birthday, April 29, was renamed Greenery Day and The Emperor's Birthday (observed as a national holiday since 1868) moved to December 23 for the succeeding Akihito.
- 1995: Reform to the national holiday law added Marine Day, to be celebrated July 20.<ref name="auto10"/>
- 2000, 2003: Template:Nihongo moved several holidays to Monday. Starting with 2000: Coming-of-Age Day (formerly January 15, now the second Monday in January) and Health and Sports Day (formerly October 10, now the second Monday in October).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> Starting with 2003: Marine Day (formerly July 20, now the third Monday in July) and Respect for the Aged Day (formerly September 15, now the third Monday in September).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- 2005, 2007: April 29 was renamed Shōwa Day, and May 4, previously a Template:Nihongo, became the new Greenery Day.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- 2014: Mountain Day was established as a new holiday, to be observed starting 2016<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- 2019: Akihito's birthday is December 23; however, he abdicated April 30, 2019, in favor of his son Naruhito, which moved the "Emperor's Birthday" holiday to February 23. Because the transition happened before Akihito's birthday but after Naruhito's, the "Emperor's Birthday" holiday was not celebrated that year.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- 2020: The speech given by Naruhito during the New Year was the first given since 2017, when Akihito halted the practice to reduce his workload.<ref name="auto6">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- 2021, 2022: Because of the COVID-19 crisis, Naruhito's New Year's greetings were delivered via a televised speech instead of in-person.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- 2023: The imperial family's New Year's greetings were held publicly for the first time in three years.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Emperor's Birthday on February 23 will also be the first time public celebrations will be held for the occasion since Naruhito's ascension in 2019.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The latter events in 2020, 2021 and 2022 had all been cancelled due to concerns over COVID-19.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="auto2"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Seasonal FestivalsEdit
The following are known as the Template:Nihongo, also known as Template:Nihongo. The sekku were made official holidays during Edo period on Chinese lunisolar calendar. The dates of these festivals are confused nowadays; some on the Gregorian calendar, others on "Tsuki-okure".
- 7th day of the 1st month: Template:Nihongo krt, Template:Nihongo krt held on 7 January
- 3rd day of the 3rd month: Template:Nihongo krt, Template:Nihongo krt held on 3 March or 3 April depending on the area
- 5th day of the 5th month: Template:Nihongo: mostly held on 5 May
- Template:Nihongo krt, Template:Nihongo krt
- Boys' Day. Overlaps with the national holiday Children's Day.
- 7th day of the 7th month: Template:Nihongo krt, Template:Nihongo krt held on 7 July in many areas, but in northern Japan held on 7 August (e.g. in Sendai)
- 9th day of the 9th month: Template:Nihongo krt, Template:Nihongo krt almost out of vogue today
Not sekku:
- January 1: Japanese New Year
- August 15: Obon – the date is "Tsuki-okure". In central Tokyo, Obon is held on July 15 (the local culture of Tokyo tends to dislike Tsuki-okure customTemplate:Citation needed)
- December 31: Ōmisoka
Customary issues in modern JapanEdit
Gregorian months and the "One-Month Delay"Edit
In contrast to other East Asian countries such as China, Vietnam, Korea and Mongolia, Japan has almost completely forgotten the Chinese calendar. Since 1876, January has been officially regarded as the "first month" even when setting the date of Japanese traditional folklore events (other months are the same: February as the second month, March as the third, and so on). But this system often brings a strong seasonal sense of gap since the event is 3 to 7 weeks earlier than in the traditional calendar. Modern Japanese culture has invented a kind of "compromised" way of setting dates for festivals called Tsuki-okure ("One-Month Delay") or Chūreki ("The Eclectic Calendar"). The festival is celebrated just one solar calendar month later than the date on the Gregorian calendar. For example, the Buddhist festival of Obon was the 15th day of the 7th month. In many places the religious services are held on 15 July. However, in some areas, the rites are normally held on 15 August, which is more seasonally close to the old calendar. (The general term "Obon holiday" always refers to the middle of August.) Although this is just de facto and customary, it is broadly used when setting the dates of many folklore events and religious festivals. But Japanese New Year is the great exception. The date of Japanese New Year is always 1 January.
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Rokuyo – Lucky and Unlucky Days of the Japanese Calendar in Japanese
- National Diet Library, "The Japanese Calendar"
- The Lunar Calendar in Japan
Template:Japanese calendars Template:Calendars Template:Portal bar Template:Authority control