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Japanese calendar

The name of month: (pronunciation, literally meaning)

Only 師走 is still used nowadays.

Holidays

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 Sunday the following Monday is being taken as a holiday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Date English Name Local Name Remarks
January 1 New Year's Day 元日  
Moveable Monday Coming-of-age Day 成人の日 2nd Monday of January
February 11 National Foundation Day 建国記念日  
March 20 or 21 Vernal Equinox Day 春分の日  
April 29 Greenery Day みどりの日 Golden Week
May 3 Constitution Memorial Day 憲法記念日
May 4 Bank Holiday  
May 5 Children's Day 子供の日
Moveable Monday Maritime Day 海の日 3rd Monday of July
Moveable Monday Respect for the Aged Day 敬老の日 3rd Monday of September
September 23 or 24 Autumnal Equinox Day 秋分の日  
Moveable Monday Health-Sports Day 体育の日 2nd Monday of October
November 3 Culture Day 文化の日  
November 23 Labor Thanksgiving Day 勤労感謝の日  
December 23 The Emperor's Birthday 天皇誕生日  

The list and the table are to be merged.

The list of national holidays:

This table includes 雑節 (Zassetsu), 二十四節気 (24 Setsuki) and some others. (Except 中元 (chugen) and お盆 (obon), days vary according to the year.)

Some of these names are still used quite frequently in everyday life in Japan. It is common that daily weather reports use 冬至 (Touji).

五節句

External Links


See also: Calendar, Japanese era name, Chinese Calendar