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Japanese calendar

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jōkyō calendar published in 1729. Exhibit in the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, Japan.

Japanese calendar types have included several of official and unofficial systems. At present, Japan uses the Gregorian calendar and also the Japanese era name system.[1]

Japan has more than one traditional system for counting years,[2] including

Since the Meiji period, Japan has used the Western Common Era (Anno Domini) (西暦, seireki) system.[6]

In Japan today, the old Chinese calendar is rarely used. The system of counting years from the reign of Emperor Jimmu has been abandoned.[7]

Annual holidays in Japan's calendar

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Flags decorated like koi fish (koinobori) are common on Children's Day[8]

The Japanese calendar has yearly holidays and traditional events. Some of these preserve ancient customs.[9]

The names and dates of some of Japan's national holidays have changed over time.

Date English name Official name Romanization
January 1 New Year's Day[10] 元日 Ganjitsu
2nd Monday of January Coming of Age Day[11] 成人の日 Seijin no hi
February 11[12] National Foundation Day[10] 建国記念の日 Kenkoku kinen no hi
February 23 The Emperor's Birthday[10] 天皇誕生日 Tennō tanjōbi
March 3 Girls' Day[13] 雛祭の日 Hinamatsuri
March 20 or March 21 Vernal Equinox Day[10] 春分の日 Shunbun no hi
April 29 Shōwa Day[11] 昭和の日 Shōwa no hi
May 3 Constitution Memorial Day[10] 憲法記念日 Kenpō kinenbi
May 4 Greenery Day[11] みどり(緑)の日 Midori no hi
May 5 Children's Day[10] 子供の日 Kodomo no hi
3rd Monday of July Marine Day[10] 海の日 Umi no hi
3rd Monday of September Respect for the Aged Day[10] 敬老の日 Keirō no hi
September 23 or September 24[12] Autumnal Equinox Day[10] 秋分の日 Shūbun no hi
2nd Monday of October Health-Sports Day[10] 体育の日 Taiiku no hi
November 3 Culture Day[10] 文化の日 Bunka no hi
November 23[12] Labour Thanksgiving Day[10] 勤労感謝の日 Kinrō kansha no hi
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References

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  1. "Calendar" at Japan-guide.com; Bramsen, William. (1880). Japanese chronological tables, p. 25.
  2. Clement, Ernest W. (1902). "Japanese Calendars," in Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan, Vol. 30-31, p. 3.
  3. Bramsen, pp. 5-11.
  4. Bramsen, p. 11.
  5. Bramsen, pp. 2-5.
  6. Bramsen, p. 25.
  7. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Calendar" in Japan Encyclopedia, pp. 98-99.
  8. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Koi-nobori" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 544.
  9. Nakamura, Akemi. "National holidays trace roots to China, ancients, harvests," Archived 2012-10-18 at the Wayback Machine Japan Times. April 8, 2008; retrieved 2012-2-21.
  10. 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 Brown, Ju. (2006). China, Japan, Korea: Culture and Customs, p. 68.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 InfoMapJAPAN, "Japanese National Holidays/Traditional Events" Archived 2012-01-25 at the Wayback Machine; retreieved 2012-2-21.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Japan," Catholic Encyclopedia (2009); retrieved 2012-2-21.
  13. Hinamatsuri at About.com Archived 2009-10-10 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2013-3-6.

Other websites

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