Tuesday, 29 April 2014

Golden Week

Kogosai 100DJs x 100SONGs000
Kogosai 100DJs x 100SONGs000 (Photo credit: Mixtribe Photo)
The Golden Week has begun, Ladies and Gentlemen
The Golden Week has begun (Photo credit: @ 孟亚柯)

Today is the 29th of April which in Japan is the start of Golden week. Golden week is a succession of  holidays which (if you include the weekends) is one of the longest holidays in the whole year! Today we are going to learn all about Shōwa Day and it's origins so stay tuned to Smiletalk for everything about it!

The first day you celebrate

天皇誕生日 Tennō Tanjōbi
which is the Emperor's birthday.
Which Emperor?  Emperor Akihito of course who was born in 1933.

This day later evolved into what is now known as みどりの日 Midori no Hi which is Greenery Day (not to be mistaken for the band GreenDay). It is mildly similiar to the western celebration 'Earth Day'. Greenery day is a day for communing with nature and being thankful for what it gives us. The Emperor was known for his love of nature so it seemed appropriate to have a day that both honored him and nature.
Isn't Japanese History Fascinating?
If you enjoy it you should check out the Facebook
for all sorts of tidbits of Japanese History!

The day then evolved once more to 昭和の日 Shōwa no Hi or as we know it Shōwa Day.
This day honors the birthday of the Shōwa Emperor and exists to remind people to look back on his reign. This is only the first day Of golden week!


Golden Week 02
Golden Week 02 (Photo credit: bhollar)

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