07: Greenery Day ( May 4th )
Until 1988, April 29th was celebrated as the birthday of Emperor Hirohito, who ruled Japan from 1926 until 1989 during the Showa Period. After he passed away in January of 1989, April 29th became known as “Greenery Day” (みどりの日 Midori no Hi).
To avoid using the war-time Emperor’s name and creating a controversy, a name was adopted that refers to nature, something the late Emperor was very fond of. On Greenery Day people go out in nature, they plant trees or hold other events that bring them closer to nature. It is a day to appreciate nature and enjoy the beauty of it.
From 2007, however, Greenery Day is celebrated on May 4th, and April 29th will be named “Showa Day” (昭和の日 Showa no Hi), referring to the former Emperor Hirohito, who became a symbol of Japan because of the new Japanese Constitution he promulgated on May 3rd, 1947.
May 4th is one day of “Golden Week,” a week when many Japanese households go on holiday.
