Japan loves to celebrate and pay tribute. To people, events, but also things... for which we Westerners would never have dedicated a day. Most of them moreover come from the two great religions present in the country: Shintoism and Buddhism.
The Japanese calendar is thus full of festivals. Some are public holidays, notably to make room for the festivities; others aren't, but remain just as important in the eyes of the population.
Here's what the 2021 calendar will look like for the peninsula.
The public holidays
Japan is one of the countries with the most public holidays in the world. In 2021, there will be no fewer than 16. And only June and December will be without one.
But the reason this number of days is significant is mainly cultural, beyond the religious aspect. The Japanese work a lot (notably in volume of hours) and are mostly sceptical of holidays. So the government has added compulsory public holidays to let workers rest.
Note also that public holidays that fall on a Sunday are postponed to the following working Monday.
January
01_ New Year's Day
When bonenkai ("forget-the-year") parties are held to move into the new year.
11_ Coming of Age Ceremony
To celebrate all the young people turning 20.
February
11_ National Foundation Day
A patriotic celebration, of course.
23_ Birthday of Emperor Naruhito
This date changes according to the reigning emperor.
March
20_ Spring Equinox Day
April
29_ Birthday of Emperor Shōwa
To honour the memory of Emperor Hirohito (Shōwa), who reigned from 1926 to 1989.
May
03_ Constitution Day
Celebrates the 1947 Constitution.
04_ Greenery Day
Dedicated to the contemplation of nature.
05_ Children's Day
A family day to play and eat cakes.
July
19_ Marine Day
We'll probably spend the day at the beach.
August
11_ Mountain Day
A day to hike and stroll in nature.
September
20_ Respect for the Aged Day
Very important in Japan, this is about honouring the country's elders (and the grandparents in each family)
23_ Autumn Equinox Day
October — 11_ Health and Sports Day
In commemoration of the opening of the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964.
November
03_ Culture Day
It's the celebration of the Arts. Many cultural events take place.
23_ Labour Thanksgiving Day
The other festivals
In addition to these public holidays — which are therefore days off for most Japanese — many days are dedicated to an element of Japanese culture.
Note furthermore that the following list includes only some of the festivals celebrated at national level. Many provinces and/or big cities also have their own festivals, where local festivities take place.
January
07_ Nanakusa
Also called the "festival of the 7 herbs", where it's customary to eat a kayu (a rice-based preparation) with the seven herbs.
11_ Kagami Biraki
Which means "breaking the mirror" but which, in practice, is the act of breaking the lid of a sake barrel in order to enjoy it during a ceremony.
February
03_ Setsubun
The "bean-throwing festival", which celebrates the arrival of spring according to the old lunar calendar.
14_ Valentine's Day
It's the women who give chocolates to the men
March
03_ Hina Matsuri
It's the "doll festival", a day devoted to little girls.
14_ White Day
The men who received chocolates from a woman on Valentine's Day reply by offering a gift.
April
08_ Hana Matsuri
This Buddhist festival named the "flower festival" is celebrated in all the country's temples.
June
01_ Koromogae
It's the seasonal change of the required outfit for the students and workers concerned: the uniform.
July
07_ Tanabata Matsuri
The "star festival"
August
13_ Start of O-Bon
For several days the Japanese celebrate the dead with various rites and festivities.
September
15_ Tsukimi
It's the "mid-autumn festival". That evening, the full moon is the roundest and brightest of the year.
October
01_ Koromogae
Again a change of wardrobe.
November
15_ Shichi-go-san
A new festival for children — those aged 3, 5 and 7.
December
25_ Christmas
If you're planning a trip to Japan, it can be interesting to check the festivities taking place at that time (and in which locality). You'll probably be able to take part in traditional celebrations or discover festivals unknown in France.
