Editing Japanese calendar (section)

==Holidays and other notable days==

===April 1===
The first day of April has broad significance in Japan. It marks the beginning of the government's fiscal year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jircas.affrc.go.jp/english/publication/annual/2002/169.pdf |title=The Japanese Fiscal Year and Miscellaneous Data  |access-date=2007-10-08 |year=2003 |publisher=Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025023143/http://www.jircas.affrc.go.jp/english/publication/annual/2002/169.pdf |archive-date=October 25, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Many corporations follow suit. In addition, corporations often form or merge on that date. In recent years, municipalities have preferred it for mergers. On this date, many new employees begin their jobs, and it is the start of many real-estate leases. The [[academic term|school year]] begins on April 1.

===''Rokuyō''===
The {{nihongo||六曜|rokuyō}} are a series of six days calculated from the date of [[Chinese calendar]] that supposedly predict whether there will be good or bad fortune during that day.  The ''rokuyō'' are commonly found on Japanese calendars and are often used to plan weddings and funerals, though most people ignore them in ordinary life. The ''rokuyō'' are also known as the {{nihongo||六輝|rokki}}.  In order, they are:

{| class="wikitable"
! Kanji
! Romanization
! Meaning
|-
| {{nihongo2|先勝}}
| {{tlit|ja|Senshō}}
| Good luck before noon, bad luck after noon. Good day for beginnings (in the morning).
|-
| {{nihongo2|友引}}
| {{tlit|ja|Tomobiki}}
| Your friends may be "drawn-in" towards good and evil.  Funerals are avoided on this day (''tomo'' = friend, ''biki'' = pull, thus a funeral might pull friends toward the deceased). Typically crematoriums are closed this day. But, for instance, weddings are fine on this day.
|-
| {{nihongo2|先負}}
| {{tlit|ja|Senbu}}
| Bad luck before noon, good luck after noon.
|-
| {{nihongo2|仏滅}}
| {{tlit|ja|Butsumetsu}}
| Symbolizes the day [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] died. Considered the most unlucky day.{{Citation needed|date=November 2011}}  Weddings are best avoided. Some [[Shinto]] shrines close their offices on this day.
|-
| {{nihongo2|大安}}
| {{tlit|ja|Taian}}
| The most lucky day.  Good day for weddings and events like shop openings.
|-
| {{nihongo2|赤口}}
| {{tlit|ja|Shakkō}}
| The [[Japanese clock|hour of the horse]] (11 am to 1 pm) is lucky.  The rest is bad luck.
|-
|}

The ''rokuyō'' days are easily calculated from the Japanese lunisolar calendar. The first day of the first month is always ''senshō'', with the days following in the order given above until the end of the month. Thus, the 2nd day is ''tomobiki'', the 3rd is ''senbu'', and so on. The 1st day of the 2nd month restarts the sequence at ''tomobiki''. The 3rd month restarts at ''senbu'', and so on for each month. The latter six months repeat the patterns of the first six, so the 1st of the 7th is ''senshō'', the 1st of the 12th is ''shakkō'' and the [[Tsukimi|moon-viewing day]] on the 15th of the 8th is always ''butsumetsu''. <!-- Don't use Western solar month names to describe the lunisolar calendar -->

This system did not become popular in Japan until the end of the Edo period.

===National Holidays===<!-- This section is linked from November 23 -->
[[File:Koinobori4797.jpg|thumb|right|''Koinobori'', flags decorated like [[koi]], are popular decorations around Children's Day.]]
{{Main|Holidays of Japan}}
After World War II, the names of Japanese national holidays were completely changed because of the secular state principle (Article 20, The Constitution of Japan). Although many of them actually originated from [[Shinto]], [[Buddhism]] and important events relating to the Japanese imperial family, it is not easy to understand the original meanings from the superficial and vague official names.

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 a Sunday the next day that is not a holiday (usually a Monday) is taken as a holiday.

{| class=wikitable
|+ Japanese national holidays
! Date !!  English name !!  Official name !! [[Romanization of Japanese|Romanization]]
|-
| January 1 || [[Japanese New Year|New Year's Day]] || {{nihongo2|元日}} || {{tlit|ja|Ganjitsu}}
|-
| Second Monday of January || [[Coming of Age Day]] || {{nihongo2|成人の日}} || {{tlit|ja|Seijin no hi}}
|-
| February 11 || [[National Foundation Day (Japan)|National Foundation Day]]<sup>†</sup> || {{nihongo2|建国記念の日}} || {{tlit|ja|Kenkoku kinen no hi}}
|-
|February 23
|[[The Emperor's Birthday]]
|{{nihongo2|天皇誕生日}}
|{{tlit|ja|Tennō tanjōbi}}
|-
| March 20 or 21 || [[Vernal Equinox Day]] || {{nihongo2|春分の日}} || {{tlit|ja|Shunbun no hi}}
|-
| April 29 || [[Shōwa Day]]* || {{nihongo2|昭和の日}} || {{tlit|ja|Shōwa no hi}}
|-
| May 3 || [[Constitution Memorial Day]]* || {{nihongo2|憲法記念日}} || {{tlit|ja|Kenpō kinenbi}}
|-
| May 4 || [[Greenery Day]]* || {{nihongo2|みどりの日}} || {{tlit|ja|Midori no hi}}
|-
| May 5 || [[Children's Day (Japan)|Children's Day]]* || {{nihongo2|こどもの日}} || {{tlit|ja|Kodomo no hi}}
|-
| Third Monday of July || [[Marine Day]] || {{nihongo2|海の日}} || {{tlit|ja|Umi no hi}}
|-
| August 11 || [[Mountain Day]] || {{nihongo2|山の日}} || {{tlit|ja|Yama no hi}}
|-
| Third Monday of September || [[Respect for the Aged Day]] || {{nihongo2|敬老の日}} || {{tlit|ja|Keirō no hi}}
|-
| September 22 or 23 || [[Autumnal Equinox Day]] || {{nihongo2|秋分の日}} || {{tlit|ja|Shūbun no hi}}
|-
| Second Monday of October || [[Sports Day (Japan)|Sports Day]] || {{nihongo2|スポーツの日}} || {{tlit|ja|Supōtsu no hi}}
|-
| November 3 || [[Culture Day]] || {{nihongo2|文化の日}} || {{tlit|ja|Bunka no hi}}
|-
| November 23 || [[Labour Thanksgiving Day]] || {{nihongo2|勤労感謝の日}} || {{tlit|ja|Kinrō kansha no hi}}
|}

::<sup>†</sup> Traditional date on which according to legend [[Emperor Jimmu]] founded Japan in 660&nbsp;BC.

::<nowiki>*</nowiki> Part of [[Golden Week (Japan)|Golden Week]].

==== Timeline of Creation of and Changes to National Holidays ====
{{update section|date=January 2023}}
* '''1948''': The following national holidays were introduced in the {{nihongo|Public Holiday Law|国民の祝日に関する法律|Kokumin no Shukujitsu ni Kansuru Hōritsu|{{lit|An Act on public holidays}}; Act No. 178 of 1948}}: [[Japanese New Year|New Year's Day]], [[Coming-of-Age Day]], [[Constitution Memorial Day]], [[Children's Day]], [[Autumnal Equinox Day]], [[Culture Day]], and [[Labor Thanksgiving Day]].<ref name="auto10">{{Cite web|url=https://elaws-e--gov-go-jp.translate.goog/document?lawid=323AC1000000178_20200101_430AC0000000057&keyword=%E5%9B%BD%E6%B0%91%E3%81%AE%E7%A5%9D%E6%97%A5%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E6%B3%95%E5%BE%8B&_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp|title=国民の祝日に関する法律 &#124; e-Gov法令検索|website=elaws-e--gov-go-jp.translate.goog|accessdate=March 8, 2023}}</ref>
* '''1966''': A supplementary provision to create [[Health and Sports Day]] was introduced in memory of the 1964 [[1964 Summer Olympics|Tokyo Olympics]].<ref name="auto10"/> [[Vernal Equinox Day]], [[National Foundation Day (Japan)|National Foundation Day]] and [[Respect for the Aged Day]] were also introduced.<ref name="auto10"/>
* '''1985''': Reform to the national holiday law made days like May 4, sandwiched between two other national holidays, a {{Nihongo|generic national holiday|国民の休日|kokumin no kyūjitsu}}.<ref name="auto10"/> 
* '''1989''': After the [[Shōwa Emperor]] died on January 7, his birthday, April 29, was renamed ''[[Greenery Day]]'' and ''[[The Emperor's Birthday]]'' (observed as a national holiday since 1868) moved to December 23 for the succeeding [[Akihito]].
* '''1995''': Reform to the national holiday law added [[Marine Day]], to be celebrated July 20.<ref name="auto10"/>
* '''2000, 2003''': {{nihongo|[[Happy Monday System]]|ハッピーマンデー制度|Happī Mandē Seido}} moved several holidays to Monday. Starting with 2000: Coming-of-Age Day (formerly January 15, now the second Monday in January) and Health and Sports Day (formerly October 10, now the second Monday in October).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~law/law/ldb/H10H0141.htm | title=国民の祝日に関する法律の一部を改正する法律（平成１０年法律第１４１号）／網際情報館 }}</ref> Starting with 2003: Marine Day (formerly July 20, now the third Monday in July) and Respect for the Aged Day (formerly September 15, now the third Monday in September).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~law/law/ldb/H13H0059.htm | title=国民の祝日に関する法律及び老人福祉法の一部を改正する法律（平成１３年法律第５９号）／網際情報館 }}</ref>
* '''2005, 2007''': April 29 was renamed [[Shōwa Day]], and May 4, previously a {{Nihongo|generic national holiday|国民の休日|kokumin no kyūjitsu}}, became the new [[Greenery Day]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://publicholidays.jp/emperors-birthday/ | title=The Emperor's Birthday 2023, 2024 and 2025 }}</ref>
* '''2014''': [[Mountain Day]] was established as a new holiday, to be observed starting 2016<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2014-07-15/japan-16th-national-holiday-added/ | title=Japan: 16th National Holiday Added | website=[[Library of Congress]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.asahi.com/articles/TKY201311220056.html |title=Asahi |access-date=February 8, 2023 |archive-date=December 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209043848/http://www.asahi.com/articles/TKY201311220056.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="auto10"/>
* '''2019''': [[Akihito]]'s birthday is December 23; however, he abdicated April 30, 2019, in favor of his son [[Naruhito]], which moved the "Emperor's Birthday" holiday to February 23. Because the transition happened before [[Akihito]]'s birthday but after [[Naruhito]]'s, the "Emperor's Birthday" holiday was not celebrated that year.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www-nikkei-com.translate.goog/article/DGXMZO26424440R00C18A2PP8000/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp | title=初めて天皇誕生日なし 政府が19年の祝日発表 | date=February 2018 }}</ref>
* '''2020''': The speech given by [[Naruhito]] during the New Year was the first given since 2017, when [[Akihito]] halted the practice to reduce his workload.<ref name="auto6">{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japans-emperor-gives-first-public-new-years-greeting-since-2020-2023-01-02/ | title=Japan's emperor gives first public New Year's greeting since 2020 | newspaper=Reuters | date=January 2, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://apnews.com/article/japan-coronavirus-pandemic-naruhito-tokyo-db55a819cba38424c1473c72bc9c408f | title=Japan's emperor acknowledges virus hardship in video message | website=[[Associated Press]] | date=January 2021 }}</ref>
* '''2021, 2022''': Because of the [[COVID-19]] crisis, [[Naruhito]]'s  New Year's greetings were delivered via a televised speech instead of in-person.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-about/kyuchu/shukuga01.html/ |title=Imperial Household Agency |access-date=February 8, 2023 |archive-date=February 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208231654/https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-about/kyuchu/shukuga01.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/his-birthday-japanese-emperor-hopes-bright-future-amid-pandemic-2021-02-23/ | title=On his birthday, Japanese Emperor hopes for bright future amid pandemic | newspaper=Reuters | date=February 23, 2021 }}</ref><ref name="auto6"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/02/asia/japan-emperor-naruhito-new-year-address-intl-hnk/index.html | title=Japan's emperor wishes for 'peaceful' 2023 in first live New Year address since pandemic began | website=[[CNN]] | date=January 2, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14076898 | title=Emperor delivers 1st video message to rally people's hopes in crisis &#124; the Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis | work=The Asahi Shimbun }}</ref>
* '''2023''': The imperial family's New Year's greetings were held publicly for the first time in three years.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14806461 | title=Emperor, family greet New Year crowds for 1st time since 2020 &#124; the Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis | work=The Asahi Shimbun }}</ref> The Emperor's Birthday on February 23 will also be the first time public celebrations will be held for the occasion since [[Naruhito]]'s ascension in 2019.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2022121900007/?cx_recs_click=true/ | title=Japan Emperor's Birthday Greeting Event to Resume | date=December 19, 2022 }}</ref> The latter events in 2020, 2021 and 2022 had all been cancelled due to concerns over [[COVID-19]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-about/kyuchu/shukuga02.html | title=His Majesty's Birthday Receptions - the Imperial Household Agency }}</ref><ref name="auto2"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2022121900007/?cx_recs_click=true | title=Japan Emperor's Birthday Greeting Event to Resume | date=December 19, 2022 }}</ref>

===Seasonal Festivals===
The following are known as the {{nihongo|five seasonal festivals|節句|sekku}}, also known as {{nihongo||五節句|[[gosekku]]}}. The ''sekku'' were made official holidays during [[Edo period]] on Chinese [[lunisolar calendar]]. The dates of these festivals are confused nowadays; some on the Gregorian calendar, others on "''Tsuki-okure''".

# 7th day of the 1st month: {{nihongo krt||人日|[[Jinjitsu]]}}, {{nihongo krt||七草の節句|[[Nanakusa no sekku]]}} held on 7 January 
# 3rd day of the 3rd month: {{nihongo krt||上巳|Jōshi}}, {{nihongo krt||桃の節句|Momo no sekku}} held on 3 March or 3 April depending on the area
#* {{nihongo krt|Girls' Day|雛祭り|[[Hinamatsuri|Hina matsuri]]}}.
# 5th day of the 5th month: {{nihongo||端午|[[Double Fifth|Tango]]}}: mostly held on 5 May
#* {{nihongo krt||端午の節句|[[Tango no sekku]]}}, {{nihongo krt||菖蒲の節句|[[Ayame no sekku]]}}
#* Boys' Day. Overlaps with the national holiday [[Children's Day]].
# 7th day of the 7th month: {{nihongo krt||七夕|Shichiseki, [[Tanabata]]}}, {{nihongo krt||星祭り|[[Hoshi matsuri]]}} held on 7 July in many areas, but in northern Japan held on 7 August (e.g. in [[Sendai]])
# 9th day of the 9th month: {{nihongo krt||重陽|Chōyō}}, {{nihongo krt||菊の節句|[[Kiku no sekku]]}} almost out of vogue today

Not ''sekku'':
* January 1: [[Japanese New Year]]
* August 15: [[Obon]] – the date is "''Tsuki-okure''". In central [[Tokyo]], Obon is held on July 15 (the local culture of Tokyo tends to dislike ''Tsuki-okure'' custom{{citation needed|date=January 2013}})
* December 31: [[Ōmisoka]]