National Foundation Day

This February 11th began as just another day here in Japan. I went to the mall with my family and I immediately noticed how crowded it was for a Tuesday afternoon. I asked my wife why it was so crowded on a weekday and she informed me that today is National Foundation Day in Japan.

What is National Foundation Day? Well, it is the Japanese version of the Fourth of July in America, the traditional day when the country of Japan was founded. I say traditional because Japan was founded on this day, by Emperor Jimmu, in the year 660BC, which is a heck of a long time ago. The information comes from the Nihon Shoki (which means the Chronicles of Japan) and it is the oldest known book of Japanese history.

Originally National Foundation Day was so important to the country that the Japanese calendar began on that day. It wasn't until 1873 when Japan adopted the Gregorian Calendar that the official day became February 11th. The holiday was celebrated with parades and festivals.

The holiday became abolished after World War II by the Constitution drafted by General MacArthur, ironically on February 11, 1946, but the holiday was re-introduced in 1966 although it was stripped of most of its celebratory practices. Today it is a day when Japanese citizens wave their flag with pride and show their patriotism.

But unlike the Fourth of July, you won't be seeing many barbecues going on in the middle of February.