Since 1948, the fifth day of the fifth month has been distinguished as Children’s Day (Kodomo no Hi, こどもの日) in Japan – a day to commemorate and commend the nation’s youngest. All over Japan, you can catch the sight of the koinobori carps waving in the air, hung outside most Japanese homes. But despite this seemingly new inception, there is a more deep-seated history strongly connected to China, and this holiday was initially meant to celebrate young boys. What were the origins of Children’s Day? How do most people celebrate this holiday, and why did its original meaning from Boy’s Day get changed to Children’s Day?

In this blog, we’ll talk about the interesting origins of Children’s Day, and how people celebrate this holiday. We’ll even talk about the significance of the number five when it comes to this holiday, and how it’s connected to historical imperial court ceremonies as well. 

What is Children’s Day?

Children’s Day is a day to celebrate children in Japan, and to wish for their health and happiness. It’s also a day to give gratitude to the mothers that raised their children as well. 

The History of Children’s Day

Kodomo no Hi can be traced back to before the Nara era, when Empress Suiko reigned over Japan during 593AD and 628AD. Although, at that point, the day was known as Tango no Sekku (端午の節句) and it was dedicated only to boys and fathers. The literal meaning of Tango no Sekku becomes obvious with a little insight into Chinese zodiacs and the Lunar Calendar. Firstly, “tan” (端) means beginning, “go” (午) means horse and “sekku” (節句) means seasonal festival. 

Putting these together, roughly translates to “the start of the horse seasonal festival”, which looks quite like gibberish at first glance. However, once we know that the horse corresponds to the Chinese zodiac name of the fifth Lunar Calendar month, the meaning becomes clear – the start of the fifth month’s festival. That being said, the rituals linked to Tango no Sekku could not be glimpsed from its literal definition, because the day was commonly regarded as the “Boys’ Day Festival”.

It was only through the post-war constitution that the government expanded the meaning of the day to include girls and mothers, becoming Children’s Day. Due to its long running history, and the fact that there is also a Girls’ Day, elements of the original holiday are still relevant today.

What does the number 5 have to do with Children’s Day?

So far, we have been looking at Children’s Day slightly out of context, making the number five appear symbolic. In reality, Tango no Sekku formed part of the Gosekku (五節句) – five annual ceremonies that were traditionally held at the Japanese imperial court.

These were:

• Double First (1st January): O-shougatsu (お正月), Japanese New Year
• Double Third (3rd March): Hanamatsuri (花祭り), Girls’ Day
• Double Fifth (5th May): Tango no Sekku (端午の節句), Boys’ Day
• Double Seventh (7th July): Tanabata (七夕), Star Festival
• Double Ninth (9th September): Kiku Matsuri (菊祭り), Chrysanthemum Festival

When is Children’s Day?

Children’s Day occurs on May 5th annually. It also marks the last day of Golden Week, which is a week-long holiday period that runs from April 29th to May 5th. The three other holidays that make up Golden Week include Showa Day, Constitution Memorial Day, and Greenery Day. 

Below is a table that indicates which day Children’s Day is held. Plan your holidays accordingly!

What to do on Children’s Day

Compared to most Golden Week holidays, Children’s Day is more about celebrating children, so expect a variety of activities to be held throughout the country on this special day. Here are some traditions that always happen on Children’s Day, as well as our recommendations on what to do on Children’s Day:

Look at the koinobori streamers on display

Perhaps the most visible proclamations of Children’s Day are the elegant flying koinobori (carp-shaped wind socks) that adorn household roofs throughout Japan. These streamers originate from the Chinese legend which claimed that the perseverance and strength of an upstream swimming carp will transform it into a dragon.

Unlike the fire-breathing, power-hungry, destructive dragons of the West though, most Japanese dragons are believed to be benevolent water deities. Each koinobori flying represents a different member of the family, with black signifying the father, red the mother and various colours for the children (traditionally boys). Children’s Day may only be once per year, but you will usually see these beautiful koinobori swimming in the wind for several weeks. 

Eat kashiwa mochi

Families celebrating Children’s Day also make kashiwa mochi rice cakes and display samurai armour – expressing a wish for strong and healthy boys. It usually consists of white mochi filled with a sweet red paste filling known as anko, wrapped with an oak leaf. Unlike sakura mochi, the oak leaf wrapping the mochi is not meant to be eaten.

Make an origami kabuto

A kabuto is a traditional helmet worn by samurai that symbolizes the wish for health and prosperity to boys. Traditionally, the kabuto would be displayed along with samurai armor and swords, but because these displays can be costly, most families would just display the kabuto, but even that’s expensive.

Instead of spending money to display a kabuto in your home, you can make your own origami kabuto! While we don’t have a guide to making your own origami kabuto, we recommend finding videos online on how to create it. Give it a try!

Take an iris leaf bath

This practice isn’t as common as it used to be, but some people partake in this practice on Children’s Day. Known as shoubu-yu (菖蒲湯), this practice involves taking a bath infused with iris leaves. It’s believed that these leaves would promote good health as well as drive away evil spirits. You can find iris leaves being sold at the supermarket before Children’s Day, so give this practice a try if you want to experience its health benefits!

Fly a kite at a park

Even if you don’t have children of your own, why not heal your inner child and fly a kite at a park? Children’s Day is meant to celebrate the child and to wish for their health and happiness, but that doesn’t mean that adults can’t participate in the festivities. There are many parks to play at, just make sure that the space is open enough for your kite.

Conclusion: Children’s Day is a day to wish for the health and happiness for children.

Children’s Day in Japan is not just a day for celebrating children. It’s a day to wish for the health and happiness of all children, and the traditions that take place during this holiday hold the same meaning; to ensure that children have a bright, happy, and prosperous future.

Study Japanese with us!

Learning about Japanese culture and holidays is good enough, but you’ll need the language skills to better understand the two of them. Why not improve your language skills with Coto Japanese Academy? With over 25 years of experience teaching practical Japanese, we have campuses in Shibuya, Shinjuku, Iidabashi, Minato, Yokohama, and online. Not only that, but we also offer JLPT preparation courses as well as business Japanese courses, so that you may reach your language learning goals.

Ready to start your language learning journey? Contact us by filling out the form below, and get a free level check!

FAQ

Forming part of Japan’s much-anticipated Golden Week, Constitution Memorial Day (憲法記念日, Kenpou Kinenbi) is an annual holiday held on the 3rd of May, which commemorates the declaration of Japan’s post-war constitution. While most people take this opportunity to take the day off from work or school, what does this holiday mean to Japan as a whole? What is the significance of the Japanese Constitution, and how is the day observed?

In this blog, we’ll talk about the history of Constitution Memorial Day, as well as the importance of Japan’s post-war Constitution and how it transformed Japan into a democracy. We’ll also cover how people celebrate this important holiday, as well as include our recommendations on what to do on Constitution Memorial Day. 

What is Constitution Memorial Day?

Constitution Memorial Day is a day to commemorate the adoption of the current Japanese Constitution. It’s a day to reflect on the role of the government in maintaining the rights of its citizens, and to reflect on the importance of peace and democracy in the country. It’s also a time to reflect on Japan’s history leading up to the post-war period as well. 

The History of Japan’s Constitution Memorial Day

To understand why Constitution Memorial Day is important in Japan, we have to go back to the events leading up to the declaration of Japan’s post-war Constitution. 

Japan’s monarchy is the longest continuous hereditary lineage in the world, yet despite their standing, the exact involvement of the Emperor Showa during the Second Sino-Japanese War and WWII is still ambiguous. In the events leading up to World War 2, Japanese endeavors to grow the empire led to increased militarisation, which resulted in a weakened Diet, civil government and Imperial Family. Japanese citizens not only lost basic liberties such as freedom of speech, but millions of people in Japan, and around the world, lost their lives.

After the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, on 6th August and 9th August respectively, Emperor Hirohito broke the Imperial silence and announced Japan’s unconditional surrender to the allied forces. Over the next two years, during the Allied occupation of Japan, U.S. General Douglas MacArthur worked with the Japanese to draft their new constitution. Signed on 3rd May 1947, the Constitution of Japan is now also known as the Peace Constitution. It introduced workers’ and human rights and reversed the progression towards totalitarianism by declaring the country as a pacifist nation. More importantly, the 1947 Constitution introduced Article 9, which is a clause that forever renounces war as a sovereign right. In addition, the clause also pledges to not maintain any military forces with war potential. 

When is Constitution Memorial Day?

Constitution Memorial Day is always held on May 3rd every year. It is the second public holiday of Golden Week, with the first being Showa Day. These holidays together serve as active reminders of Japan’s history, not only for the hardship endured through Imperial Japan, but also for their remarkable progression to a democratic nation.

Below is a table that includes what day Constitution Memorial Day falls on every year. Plan your holidays accordingly.

How is Constitution Memorial Day Celebrated?

Similar to Showa Day, Constitution Memorial Day is not a “party” holiday. Rather, it’s a time to reflect upon the events of Japan’s recent and definitive history. To help expand public knowledge, Diet buildings are open to the public – allowing us to look around and ask questions to local officials. Public lectures about WWII and Japan’s history are also held around metropolitan areas.

What to do on Constitution Memorial Day

As Constitution Memorial Day is part of Golden Week, many people use this opportunity to take a vacation and reunite with their families outside of the cities. However, there are other ways to observe this important holiday. Here are some of our recommendations on what to do on Constitution Memorial Day.

Visit the Diet Buildings

Constitution Memorial Day is the only day where the National Diet Building is open to the public. Visitors can tour the premises and even get a glimpse of the legislative chambers. In addition, you can also get a glimpse into the original 1947 Constitution. This is a rare opportunity to take in the historical significance of the National Diet Building, and how the government plays a role in maintaining democracy.

Attend a lecture

If you’re leaning more into the educational aspects of Constitution Memorial Day, why not attend a public lecture? There are various lectures and events on teaching constitutional values and civic duties that are held across the country, most of them open to the public. To find such events, you might want to check out your local City Hall.

Reflect upon peace and democracy

As mentioned before, although many people take the opportunity to visit their families outside the city, it’s important to realize that this is a day to reflect upon how Japan became the peaceful, democratic nation that it is now. Without proper reflection, history will repeat itself.

Conclusion: Constitution Memorial Day is a day to reflect upon the role of government in maintaining the rights of its citizens.

Constitution Memorial Day is a significant day, as not only does it show Japan’s transformation from a zealous, militaristic empire to a peaceful, democratic country, but it’s also a day to reflect on the role of the government in maintaining the rights of its citizens. It shows that peace is the only way forward to furthering society. 

Come study Japanese with us!

Now that you know about the significance of Constitution Memorial Day, maybe you want to learn vocabulary related to the government and politics. If that’s the case, why not come study Japanese with Coto Japanese Academy? With campuses in Shibuya, Shinjuku, Iidabashi, Minato, Yokohama, and online, Coto has been providing Japanese lessons focused on practical language skills for more than 25 years.

Ready to study Japanese with us? Contact us below by filling out the form, and get a free level check!

FAQ