Marking the start of Japan’s Golden Week is Showa Day (昭和の日, Shouwa no hi), an annual holiday held on April 29th. The purpose of Showa Day is to contemplate the profound events of the 20th century, or more specifically, the Showa era (1926-1989) which was governed by the late emperor, Hirohito. While many people spend Showa Day by taking the week off from work and school, why is the late Emperor’s birthday a public holiday in the first place? How do people celebrate, or rather, reflect on the holiday and its significance?
In this blog, we’ll talk about the meaning of Showa Day, and the history of this somewhat controversial holiday. We’ll also give our recommendations on what to do should you choose to commemorate and observe Showa Day.
What is Showa Day
Showa Day (Shouwa no Hi 昭和のひ) is a public holiday observed annually on 29th April. The purpose of Shouwa no Hi is to contemplate the profound events of the 20th century, or more specifically, the Showa era (1926-1989) which was governed by the late emperor, Hirohito, now renamed Emperor Showa after his death.
The kanji for “showa” are: 昭 (shou) meaning “shining” or “bright”, and 和 (wa) which means “peace”. Putting them together makes “enlightened peace”.
History of Showa Day
The Showa Period of Japan is a significant era in Japanese history. Much of the 20th century was tough – not just for the people of Japan, but for many other nations too. In the 63 years of Emperor Showa’s rule, Japan witnessed: devastation through the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War 2, several attempted coup d’états, their first foreign occupation in history as well as the “Japanese economic miracle.”
The origins of Showa Day are relatively confusing because it is closely connected with two other holidays: The Emperor’s Birthday and Greenery Day. After Emperor Hirohito’s death on January 7th, 1989, the Emperor’s Birthday was changed to December 23rd to reflect Emperor Akihito’s ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne. However, a new holiday was created in his memory to be held every April 29th, though it had a different name; Greenery Day. Since 2007, Greenery Day has been shifted to May 4th, and April 29th was renamed as Showa Day.
However, for some, this holiday might be seen as controversial. Even 70 years later, the extent of Emperor Hirohito’s involvement in World War 2 is still debatable. Some argue that the increased militarisation of Japan left the Showa Emperor with little power at all, whereas others claim that he supported Japan’s invasion of Manchuria and attack on Pearl Harbour – albeit reluctantly. Therefore, remembering the former Emperor’s birthday might be seen as glorifying Japan’s dark and ugly past as a militaristic, expansionist empire.
Whichever we choose to believe, the intentions of this holiday were supposed to be for the good – to encourage unity and peace.
When is Showa Day?
Showa Day occurs on April 29th every year. It also marks the first day of Golden Week, which is a week-long holiday period that runs from April 29th to May 5th. The four holidays that make up Golden Week include Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day, and Children’s Day.
Below is a table that includes the day it falls on every year. Plan your holidays accordingly.
| Year | Date | Day |
| 2026 | April 29th, 2026 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | April 29th, 2027 | Thursday |
| 2028 | April 29th, 2028 | Saturday |
| 2029 | April 29th, 2029 | Sunday |
| 2030 | April 29th, 2030 | Monday |
How is Showa Day Celebrated?
With Showa Day indicating the start of Golden Week, many people across Japan leave their hectic city lives behind to reunite with their family and friends somewhere more peaceful. However, this is a time to reflect and remember the events that occurred during the Showa period, and how these events shaped Japan as we know it. Here are a few recommendations on what to do during the start of Golden Week.
Reflect on the hardships faced during the Showa Period
If we don’t reflect on history and how we got here, history will be bound to repeat itself. This is especially true for those who choose to commemorate Showa Day, as not only major economic development happened, but the events of World War 2 brought about massive destruction and loss of life. Regardless of your feelings towards this controversial holiday, and whether you choose to observe the meaning behind it, it’s important to remember history so that a brighter future can be forged.
Public lectures are often held about the this period in Japanese history in major city centers throughout Japan, so if you want to learn more about the Showa era, this is a good opportunity to do so.
Visit the National Showa Memorial Museum in Tokyo
A good way to observe Showa Day and to reflect on history is to visit the National Showa Memorial Museum. Located right next to Kudanshita Station, this museum was built to commemorate the experiences of those who suffered during and after World War 2, with many items and memorabilia of the time on display.
Take the day off
Even if you choose not to observe this public holiday, it’s still a good opportunity to take the day off from work; as mentioned before, this public holiday marks the start of the Golden Week holiday period. Most major cities will have less people than usual during this time, so this is a good chance to finally visit that café or shop that you’ve been meaning to visit.
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Tokyo during Showa Day, here are some of our recommendations on day trips you can take that are close to Tokyo.
Conclusion: Showa Day is a day to reflect on the events that shaped Japan as a country.
While most people see Showa Day as the start to the Golden Week period, it’s a day to reflect on the events that happened during the Showa period. It’s true that Japan’s economic recovery during this time was remarkable, but at the same time, Japan’s involvement during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War 2 must be acknowledged.
Hence, it’s important that, regardless of your feelings towards Showa Day, history is remembered, studied, and reflected upon. The hope is that by thinking about yesterday, we will learn for tomorrow.
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FAQ
Are the origins of Showa Day controversial?
Although Showa Day was created as a day to reflect upon the Showa era, critics argue that commemorating the late Emperor Hirohito (now known as Emperor Showa) means glorifying Japan’s militaristic and expansionist past.
How do people observe Showa Day?
As it’s not really a celebratory holiday, some people will take the time to reflect on the events of the Showa period and how these major events shaped Japan. Many people, however, will take this opportunity to visit family and friends away from the city centers, as Showa Day marks the start of Golden Week.
Why was Showa Day known as Greenery Day at first?
After the death of Emperor Showa on January 7th, 1989, a new holiday was created in his memory called Greenery Day, which was held on the late Emperor’s birthday. In 2007, Greenery Day was shifted to May 4th, and April 29th was replaced with Showa Day.