The name of month: (pronunciation, literally meaning)
- January - 睦月 (mu tsuki)
- February - 如月 or 衣更着 (kisaragi)
- March - 弥生 (yayoi)
- April - 卯月 (uzuki)
- May - 皐月 or 早月 or 五月(satsuki)
- June - 水無月 (minatsuki or minazuki, no water month)
- July - 文月 (fumi zuki)
- August - 葉月 (ha zuki)
- September - 長月 (naga tsuki, long month)
- October - 神無月 (kan'na zuki, no god month)
- November - 霜月 (shimo tsuki)
- December - 師走 (shiwasu, teachers run)
Holidays
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 Sunday the following Monday is being taken as a holiday.
Date | English Name | Local Name | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
January 1 | New Year's Day | 元日 | |
Moveable Monday | Coming-of-age Day | 成人の日 | 2nd Monday of January |
February 11 | National Foundation Day | 建国記念日 | |
March 20 or 21 | Vernal Equinox Day | 春分の日 | |
April 29 | Greenery Day | みどりの日 | Golden Week |
May 3 | Constitution Memorial Day | 憲法記念日 | |
May 4 | Bank Holiday | ||
May 5 | Children's Day | 子供の日 | |
Moveable Monday | Maritime Day | 海の日 | 3rd Monday of July |
Moveable Monday | Respect for the Aged Day | 敬老の日 | 3rd Monday of September |
September 23 or 24 | Autumnal Equinox Day | 秋分の日 | |
Moveable Monday | Health-Sports Day | 体育の日 | 2nd Monday of October |
November 3 | Culture Day | 文化の日 | |
November 23 | Labor Thanksgiving Day | 勤労感謝の日 | |
December 23 | The Emperor's Birthday | 天皇誕生日 |
The list and the table are to be merged.
The list of national holidays:
- January 1 - Ganjitsu New Year's Day (since 1948)
- The second monday in January - Seijin no hi Coming of Age Day. Until 1999, the day was on January 15 (since 1948)
- February 11 - Kenkoku kinen' no hi National Foundation Day)
- March 21 - Vernal Equinox Day (since 1966) The day may vary according to the law.
- April 29 - Midori no hi Greenery Day (since 1989)
- May 3 - Constitution Memorial Day (since 1948)
- May 4 - National holiday (since 1985)
- May 5 - Kodomo no hi Children's Day (since 1948)
- The third monday in July - Umi no hi Marine Day. Until 2002, the day was on July 20 (since 1995)
- The third monday in September - Keirou no hi Respect for the Aged Day. Until 2002, the day was on September 15 (since 1966)
- September 22 - national holiday (since 2003). This day appears occasionally according to the law. The day is predicted to appear in 2009 unless the law remains same.
- September 23 - Autumnal Equinox Day (since 1948)
- The second monday in October - Taiiku no hi Health and Sports Day. Until 1999, the day was on October 10 (since 1966)
- November 3 - National Culture Day (since 1948)
- November 23 - Labor Thanksgiving Day (since 1948
- December 23 - The Emperor's Birthday (since 1989)
- January 5 - 寒の入り Kannoiri
- January 5 - 小寒 Shoukan'
- January 17 - 冬土用 Fuyu doyou
- January 20 - 大寒 Daikan'
- February 3 - 節分 Setsubun
- February 4 - 立春 Risshun' (literally meaning standing spring)
- February 19 - 雨水 Usui
- March 6 - 啓蟄 Keichitsu
- March 16 - 春社日 haru sha nichi
- March 18 - 春彼岸 haru higan'
- March 21 - 春分 Shun'bun'
- April 5 - 清明 Seimei
- April 17 - 春土用 haru doyou
- April 20 - 穀雨 Kokuu
- May 2 - 八十八夜 hachijyu hachi ya 88 nights
- May 6 - 立夏 Rikka (literally meaning standing summer)
- May 21 - 小満 Shouman'
- June 6 - 芒種 Boushu
- June 11 - 入梅 Nyu bai (literally meaning entering tsuyu)
- June 21 - 夏至 Gesshi
- July 2 - 半夏生 Hange shou
- July 7 - 小暑 Shousho
- July 15 - 中元 Chugen
- July 15 - お盆 Obon
- July 20 - 夏土用
- July 23 - 大暑 Taisho
- August 8 - 立秋 Risshuu
- August 23 - 処暑 Shosho
- September 1 - 二百十日 (Ni-hyaku to ka, 210 days)
- September 8 - 白露 Hakuro
- September 11 - 二百二十日 (Ni-hyaku hatsu ka, 220 days)
- September 20 - 秋彼岸 aki higan'
- September 22 - 秋社日 aki sha nichi
- September 23 - 秋分 Shuubun
- October 8 - 寒露 Kannro
- October 20 - 秋土用 aki doyou
- October 23 - 霜降 Soukou
- November 7 - 立冬 Rittou
- November 22 - 小雪 Shousetsu
- December 7 - 大雪 Taisetsu
- December 22 - 冬至 Touji
Some of these names are still used quite frequently in everyday life in Japan. It is common that daily weather reports use 冬至 (Touji).
五節句
- January 7 - 人日 (Jinjutsu), 七草の節句
- March 3 - 上巳 (Jyoushi/Jyoumi), 桃の節句
- May 5 - 端午 (Tango), 端午の節句
- July 7 - 七夕 (Sichiseki/Tanagata)
- September 9 - 重陽 (Chouyou), 菊の節句
External Links
- Koyomi no page in Japanese
- Koyomi no hanashi in Japanese
See also: Calendar, Japanese era name, Chinese Calendar