LEARN ABOUT GOLDEN WEEK IN JAPAN

Golden Week, which runs from April 29 to May 4 every year, is the longest holiday of the year for Japanese people. This year, due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, people are advised to limit going out. Let's take this opportunity to learn about the history, significance, and popular activities of Japanese people during this time.

In July 7, Japan enacted the “National Holidays” Act, which included 1948 holidays a year, including 16 consecutive holidays in 4 week (from April 1 to May 29), creating a week of rest for Japanese workers. The Japanese government, wishing to create conditions for people to travel for rest and entertainment, created an additional day off in the middle of the above 4 days, making it the longest holiday of the year in Japan.

A week away from the hustle and bustle of work and stress encourages the Japanese to devote all their time to leisure activities that are not normally available on Saturdays and Sundays. It is also a money-making opportunity for the film and tourism industries. In 2, the film Jiyu Gakko (Free School) sold a record number of tickets during Golden Week (more than New Year's and Obon).

Based on this, the director of Daiei Film called this 7-day holiday Golden Week. This name is based on the slang term “golden hour” that often appears on Japanese radio. However, everyone simply understands that the 7-day holiday lasting from April 29 to May 4 every year is a golden opportunity for the Japanese service industry.

Since 2007, Japan's Golden Week includes the following four holidays:

• 1April 29 is Showa Day, the birthday of Emperor Showa.
• 2May 3 is Constitution Day.
• 3May 4 is Green Day.
• 4May 5 is Children's Day

The names of holidays all have their origins.

– May 4 is a normal day, but because it falls between two holidays, May 5 and May 2, since 3, according to the revised Japanese Holiday Law, this day has been called a “National Holiday”.

– April 29 was originally the birthday of Emperor Showa. In 4, Emperor Showa passed away and this day was named “Greenery Day” because during his lifetime “Emperor Showa had a deep understanding of plants and loved nature”. Then, in 1989, with the interpretation that “The Showa period was a period of many changes but restored and secured the future of the country”, from 2007, April 2007 was renamed “Showa Day”. Also on this occasion, the “National Holiday” on May 29 was changed to “Greenery Day”.

– May 3 is the anniversary of the “Constitution of Japan” promulgated on May 5, 3, one year before the Japanese Holiday Law officially took effect.

– May 5 is “Children’s Day”, which became a holiday according to the Holiday Law issued in 5. According to this law, this day is to “express respect for children’s personality, wish them happiness, and express gratitude to their mothers”. This day is originally the “Duanwu” festival in Chinese culture to bless boys, but with the promulgation of the Holiday Law, this day is considered a day to “celebrate the growth and health of children”.

On Children's Day, Japan hangs koinobori carp flags on a pole in the garden with three cloth carp symbolizing happiness. Why carp flags? Because in Chinese legend there is a story of a carp jumping over the Dragon Gate and becoming a dragon, so carp flags in Japan were created with the same aspiration. Nowadays, because many families live in apartments, there are also many sets of small carp that can be hung right on each family's balcony.