Many countries offer a week of holidays to students as winter comes to an end. In some countries this is called spring break. In others it is known as March break or reading week. In Japan, the spring holiday is called Golden Week. Students aren’t the only ones who get a week of holidays at this time. Most of Japan takes a break, including the hardworking business workers.
Why is this period from April 29-May 5th so special? Four public holidays take place during Golden Week in Japan. Since there are only 9 official holidays in the whole year, this is agolden opportunity for Japanese workers and students to travel or get together with friends. Most take the days in between off too. Many companies shut down for the whole week. This is similar to holidays between Christmas and New Year’s in the Western world.
The first holiday in Golden Week is April 29th. On this day, Japanese people celebrate the birthday of Hirohito. In Japan, he is known as the Showa Emperor. The late emperor died in 1989. He was the 124th emperor of Japan and he reigned for 65 years during the Showa Period. Though it was once referred to as Greenery Day, April 29th is now known as Showa Day. Showa was an important period for Japan. During this time, rural Japan transformed into a highly industrialized nation.
The second holiday in Golden Week is Constitution Memorial Day. This holiday takes place on May 3rd. Many countries have a holiday to celebrate a constitution. Japan’s new constitution was established in 1947 after World War II. Article 9 was an important part of this new constitution. It gave the power back to the people. The new constitution also put an end to Japan’s army. Japan has a self defense force to defend itself against attacks.
Greenery Day is on May 4th. This holiday celebrates the environment. Did you know that Hirohito was a lover of nature? Before the emperor’s death, Greenery Day was on April 29th. May 4th has been a national holiday for many years due to an interesting law in Japan. Any day that falls between two national holidays is also a holiday. How convenient!
The final holiday in Golden Week is Children’s Day. May 5th was traditionally a boys’ festival for families to celebrate their sons. The girls’ festival is in March, but is not a public holiday. Children’s Day has received a name change, but it is still a celebration of sons. Parents pray for their sons’ futures, and decorate homes with samurai dolls.
Is Golden Week a good time to visit Japan? If you like crowds and have a place to stay, yes! You will see fireworks, parades and festivals. You will also learn a lot about Japanese culture. Unfortunately, traveling is difficult when everyone takes holidays at the same time.
