03: National Foundation Day ( February 11th )
February 11th is National Foundation Day (建国記念の日 Kenkoku Kinen no Hi) in Japan, the day when the Japanese people celebrate the foundation of the Japanese nation. On the same day, the Imperial Japanese Line is celebrated, which started with the crowning of the first Japanese emperor, Emperor Jinmu.
According to the Nihonshoki (日本書紀), one of the earliest Japanese history records, Emperor Jinmu was crowned on February 11th, 660. The story of the foundation of Japan by Emperor Jinmu has been celebrated throughout the Japanese history, but it only became a official holiday in 1873. A few years later, in 1889, the new Japanese Constitution was also promulgated on February 11th. It is believed that Emperor Meiji established the holiday on this specific day, in order to strengthen the legitimacy of the imperial family after the abolition of the Tokugawa Shogunate. In the beginning, the 11th of February was named Kigensetsu (紀元節) meaning Empire Day, and it was celebrated with large parades and festivals.
After WWII Kigensetsu was abolished, because of its connotation with Shinto mythology and its reinforcement of the Japanese nobility. In 1966, the Japanese government reinstated it as National Foundation Day. However, most of its overt references to the Emperor were taken away. It still remains as a holiday to express patriotism and love for the nation, but in many places various groups take to the streets and demonstrate against the revival of the imperial system.
