Japanese calendar

File:Jokyo-reki.jpg

1729 calendar, which used the Jōkyō calendar procedure, published by Ise Grand Shrine

Japanese calendar types have included a range of official and unofficial systems. At present, Japan uses the Gregorian calendar together with year designations stating the year of the reign of the current Emperor. The written form starts with the year, then the month and finally the day, coinciding with the ISO 8601 standard.

For example, February 16, 2003, can be written as either or (the latter following the regnal year system). reads Template:Tlit and means "year", reads Template:Tlit and means "month", and finally (usually) reads Template:Tlit (its pronunciation depends on the number that precedes it, see below) and means "day".

Prior to the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in 1873, the reference calendar was based on the lunisolar Chinese calendar.

History

File:Japanese-Calendar-Color-Woodcut-1867.png

Japanese Calendar (woodcut, 1867)

• Briefly Abridged Calendar of 1873
  Briefly Abridged Calendar of 1873
• Calendar for 1907
  Calendar for 1907

Over the centuries, Japan has used up to four systems for designating years: the Chinese sexagenary cycle, the system, the Japanese imperial year (Template:Nihongo krt or Template:Nihongo krt) and the system. In the 21st century, however, the era system () and Western system () are the only ones still widely used.

Chinese calendar

The lunisolar Chinese calendar was introduced to Japan via Korea in the middle of the sixth century. After that, Japan calculated its calendar using various Chinese calendar procedures, and from 1685, using Japanese variations of the Chinese procedures. Its sexagenary cycle was often used together with era names, as in the 1729 Ise calendar shown above, which is for "the 14th year of Kyōhō, tsuchi-no-to no tori", i.e., Template:Category handler.

In modern times, the old Chinese calendar is virtually ignored; celebrations of the Lunar New Year are thus limited to Chinese and other Asian immigrant communities. However, its influence can still be felt in the idea of "lucky and unlucky days" (described below), the traditional meanings behind the name of each month, and other features of modern Japanese calendars.

Era names ()

The system was also introduced from China, and has been in continuous use since AD 701. The reigning Emperor chooses the name associated with their regnal eras; before 1868, multiple names were chosen throughout the same emperor's rule, such as to commemorate a major event. For instance, the Emperor Kōmei's reign (1846–1867) was split into seven eras, one of which lasted only one year. Starting with Kōmei's son the Emperor Meiji in 1868, there has only been one per emperor representing their entire reign.

The system remains in wide use, especially on official documents and government forms. It is also in general use in private and personal business.

The present era, Reiwa, formally began on 1 May 2019. The name of the new era was announced by the Japanese government on 1 April 2019, a month prior to Naruhito's accession to the throne. The previous era, Heisei, came to an end on 30 April 2019, after Japan's former emperor, Akihito, abdicated the throne. Reiwa is the first era name whose characters come from a Japanese root source; prior eras' names were taken from Chinese classic literature.

Japanese imperial years ( or )

The Japanese imperial year (Template:Nihongo krt or Template:Nihongo krt) is based on the date of the legendary founding of Japan by Emperor Jimmu in 660 BC. For instance, 660 BC is counted as 1. It was first used in the official calendar in 1873. 2600 (1940) was a special year. The 1940 Summer Olympics and Tokyo Expo were planned as anniversary events, but were canceled due to the Second Sino-Japanese War. The Japanese naval Zero Fighter was named after this year. After the Second World War, the United States occupied Japan, and stopped the use of by officials.

Today, is rarely used, except in some judicial contexts. Usage of dating can be a nationalist signal, pointing out that the history of Japan's imperial family is longer than that of Christianity, the basis of the Anno Domini (AD) system.

The 1898 law determining the placement of leap years is officially based on the years, using a formula that is effectively equivalent to that of the Gregorian calendar: if the year number is evenly divisible by four, it is a leap year, unless the number minus 660 is evenly divisible by 100 and not by 400. Thus, for example, the year 2560 (AD 1900) is divisible by 4; but 2560 − 660 = 1900, which is evenly divisible by 100 and not by 400, so 2560 was not a leap year, just as in most of the rest of the world.

Gregorian calendar ()

The system, based on the solar Gregorian calendar, was first introduced in 1873 as part of the Japan's Meiji period modernization.

Nowadays, Japanese people know it as well as the regnal eras.

Divisions of time

Seasons

There are four seasons corresponding to the West's:

English name	Japanese name	Romanisation	Traditional dates
Spring	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	February 5 – May 6
Summer	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	May 7 – August 8
Fall	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	August 9 – November 7
Winter	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	November 8 – February 4

However, there is also a traditional system of , consisting of each divided into three sets of five days, and with specially-named days or indicating the start and end of each. This system was adapted from the Chinese in 1685 by court astronomer Shibukawa Shunkai, rewriting the names to better match the local climate and nature in his native Japan. Each kō has traditional customs, festivals, foods, flowers and birds associated with it:

The 24 sekki

Microseason number	Traditional dates	Japanese name	Romanization	English meaning
1	February 4–8		Template:Tlit	The east wind melts the thick ice.
2	February 9–13		Template:Tlit	Bush warblers sing in the countryside.
3	February 14–18		Template:Tlit	Ice cracks, allowing fish to emerge.
4	February 19–23		Template:Tlit	Rain falls, moistening the soil.
5	February 24–28		Template:Tlit	Mist lies over the land.
6	March 1–5		Template:Tlit	Trees and plants put forth buds.
7	March 6–10		Template:Tlit	Hibernating insects emerge.
8	March 11–15		Template:Tlit	Peach trees begin to bloom.
9	March 16–20		Template:Tlit	Cabbage whites emerge from their cocoons.
10	March 21–25		Template:Tlit	Sparrows begin building their nests.
11	March 26–30		Template:Tlit	Cherry blossoms begin to bloom.
12	March 31 – April 4		Template:Tlit	Thunder rumbles far away.
13	April 5–9		Template:Tlit	Swallows return from the south.
14	April 10–14		Template:Tlit	Wild geese fly north.
15	April 15–19		Template:Tlit	Rainbows begin to appear.
16	April 20–24		Template:Tlit	Reeds begin to sprout.
17	April 25–29		Template:Tlit	Rice seedlings grow.
18	April 30 – May 4		Template:Tlit	Peonies bloom.
19	May 5–9		Template:Tlit	Frogs begin croaking.
20	May 10–14		Template:Tlit	Worms wriggle to the surface.
21	May 15–20		Template:Tlit	Bamboo shoots sprout.
22	May 21–25		Template:Tlit	Silkworms feast on mulberry leaves.
23	May 26–30		Template:Tlit	Safflowers bloom in abundance.
24	May 31 – June 5		Template:Tlit	Barley ripens, ready to be harvested.
25	June 6–10		Template:Tlit	Praying mantises hatch and come forth.
26	June 11–15		Template:Tlit	Fireflies fly out from moist grass.
27	June 16–20		Template:Tlit	Plums ripen, turning yellow.
28	June 21–26		Template:Tlit	Prunella flowers wither.
29	June 27 – July 1		Template:Tlit	Irises bloom.
30	July 2–6		Template:Tlit	Crowdipper sprouts.
31	July 7–11		Template:Tlit	Warm winds blow.
32	July 12–16		Template:Tlit	Lotuses begin to bloom.
33	July 17–22		Template:Tlit	Young hawks learn to fly.
34	July 23–28		Template:Tlit	Paulownia trees begin to produce seeds.
35	July 29 – August 2		Template:Tlit	The ground is damp, the air hot and humid.
36	August 3–7		Template:Tlit	Heavy rains fall.
37	August 8–12		Template:Tlit	Cool winds blow.
38	August 13–17		Template:Tlit	Evening cicadas begin to sing.
39	August 18–22		Template:Tlit	Thick fog blankets the land.
40	August 23–27		Template:Tlit	Cotton bolls open.
41	August 28 – September 1		Template:Tlit	The heat finally relents.
42	September 2–7		Template:Tlit	Rice ripens.
43	September 8–12		Template:Tlit	White dew shimmers on the grass.
44	September 13–17		Template:Tlit	Wagtails begin to sing.
45	September 18–22		Template:Tlit	Swallows return to the south.
46	September 23–27		Template:Tlit	Thunder comes to an end.
47	September 28 – October 2		Template:Tlit	Insects close up their burrows.
48	October 3–7		Template:Tlit	Fields are drained of water.
49	October 8–12		Template:Tlit	Wild geese begin to fly back.
50	October 13–17		Template:Tlit	Chrysanthemums bloom.
51	October 18–22		Template:Tlit	Crickets chirp by the door.
52	October 23–27		Template:Tlit	Frost begins to form.
53	October 28 – November 1		Template:Tlit	Drizzling rain falls gently.
54	November 2–6		Template:Tlit	Maple leaves and ivy turn yellow.
55	November 7–11		Template:Tlit	Sasanqua camellias begin to bloom.
56	November 12–16		Template:Tlit	The land begins to freeze.
57	November 17–21		Template:Tlit	Daffodils bloom.
58	November 22–26		Template:Tlit	Rainbows disappear.
59	November 27 – December 1		Template:Tlit	The north wind blows leaves off the trees.
60	December 2–6		Template:Tlit	Tachibana citrus trees begin to turn yellow.
61	December 7–11		Template:Tlit	The skies stay cold as winter arrives.
62	December 12–16		Template:Tlit	Bears hide away in their dens to hibernate.
63	December 17–21		Template:Tlit	Salmon swim upstream en masse.
64	December 22–26		Template:Tlit	Prunella sprouts.
65	December 27–31		Template:Tlit	Deer shed their antlers.
66	January 1–4		Template:Tlit	Barley sprouts under the snow.
67	January 5–9		Template:Tlit	Parsley thrives.
68	January 10–14		Template:Tlit	Springs once frozen flow once more.
69	January 15–19		Template:Tlit	Cock pheasants begin to call.
70	January 20–24		Template:Tlit	Butterburs put forth buds.
71	January 25–29		Template:Tlit	Mountain streams gain a cover of thick ice.
72	January 30 – February 3		Template:Tlit	Hens begin to lay eggs.

Zassetsu

is a collective term for special seasonal days within the 24 sekki.

Date	Kanji	Romaji	Comment
February 3	Template:Category handler	[[Setsubun|Template:Tlit]]	The eve of Risshun by one definition.
March 18 – March 24	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	The seven days surrounding Shunbun.
Vernal equinox day	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	In Shinto. Template:Nihongo krt in Buddhism.
May 2	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	Literally meaning 88 nights (since Risshun).
June 11	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	Literally meaning entering tsuyu.
July 2	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	One of the 72 Kō. Farmers take five days off in some regions.
July 15	Template:Category handler	[[Chugen|Template:Tlit]]	Officially July 15. August 15 in many regions (Tsuki-okure).
July 20	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	Custom of eating eel on this day.
September 1	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	Literally meaning 210 days (since Risshun).
September 11	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	Literally meaning 220 days.
September 20 – September 26	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	The seven days surrounding Shūbun.
Autumn equinox	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	In Shinto. Template:Nihongo krt in Buddhism.

Shanichi dates can vary by as much as 5 days. Chūgen has a fixed day. All other days can vary by one day.

Many zassetsu days occur in multiple seasons:

• refers to the 18 days before each season, especially the one before fall which is known as the hottest period of a year.
• is the seven middle days of spring and autumn, with Shunbun at the middle of the seven days for spring, Shūbun for fall.
• is the day closest to Shunbun (middle of spring) or Shūbun (middle of fall), which can be as much as 5 days before to 4 days after Shunbun/Shūbun.

The term originally referred to the eves of , , , and ; however, it now only refers to the day before Template:Tlit.

Months

File:ShinOchaEkiMuralHachigatsu8540.jpg

This mural on the wall of Shin-Ochanomizu subway station in Tokyo celebrates , the eighth month.

As mentioned above, the Japanese calendar used to be based on an adaptation of the Chinese lunar calendar, which begins 3 to 7 weeks later than the Gregorian. In other words, the Gregorian "first month" and the Chinese "first month" do not align, which is important in historical contexts.

The "traditional names" for each month, shown below, are still used by some in fields such as poetry; of the twelve, is still widely used today. The opening paragraph of a letter or the greeting in a speech might borrow one of these names to convey a sense of the season. Some, such as and , do double duty as given names (for women). These month names also appear from time to time on , contemporary television shows and movies set in the Edo period or earlier.

The Japanese names for the modern Gregorian months literally translate to "first month", "second month", and so on. The corresponding number is combined with the suffix Template:Nihongo krt. The table below uses traditional numerals, but the use of Western numerals (Template:Category handler, Template:Category handler, Template:Category handler, etc.) is common.

File:Japanese calendar december.jpg

A Japanese calendar from 2011 depicting the month of December,

English name	Common Japanese name	Traditional Japanese name
January	Template:Nihongo krt	.
February	Template:Nihongo krt	or .
March	Template:Nihongo krt	.
April	Template:Nihongo krt	. The is a flower, of the genus .
May	Template:Nihongo krt	or .
June	Template:Nihongo krt	. The Template:Category handler character, which normally means "absent" or "there is no", is here, and is only used for the na sound. In this name the na is actually a possessive particle, so means "month of water", not "month without water", and this is in reference to the flooding of the rice fields, which require large quantities of water.
July	Template:Nihongo krt	.
August	Template:Nihongo krt	. In old Japanese, the month was called (Template:Tlit, or "month of falling leaves").
September	Template:Nihongo krt	.
October	Template:Nihongo krt	Template:Tlit or . The Template:Category handler character, which normally means "absent" or "there is not", was here probably originally used as an ateji for the possessive particle , so may have originally meant "month of the gods", not "month without gods" (), similarly to , the "month of water". However, by what may be false etymology, the name became commonly interpreted to mean that, because in that month all the Shinto kami gather at Izumo shrine in Izumo Province (modern-day Shimane Prefecture), there are no gods in the rest of the country. Thus in Izumo Province, the month is called Template:Tlit ( or , "month with gods"). Various other etymologies have also been suggested from time to time.
November	Template:Nihongo krt	.
December	Template:Nihongo krt	. This is in reference to priests being busy at the end of the year for New Year's preparations and blessings.

Division of the month

Week

Japan uses a seven-day week, aligned with the Western calendar. The seven-day week, with names for the days corresponding to the Latin system, was brought to Japan around AD 800 with the Buddhist calendar. The system was used for astrological purposes and little else until 1876.

Much like in multiple European languages, in which the names for weekdays are, partially or fully, based on what the Ancient Romans considered the seven visible planets, meaning the five visible planets and the sun and the moon, in The Far East the five visible planets are named after the five Chinese elements (metal, wood, water, fire, earth.) On the origin of the names of the days of the week, also see East Asian Seven Luminaries.

Japanese	Romanization	Element (planet)	English name
Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	Sun	Sunday
Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	Moon	Monday
Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	Fire (Mars)	Tuesday
Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	Water (Mercury)	Wednesday
Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	Wood (Jupiter)	Thursday
Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	Metal (Venus)	Friday
Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	Earth (Saturn)	Saturday

Sunday and Saturday are regarded as "Western style take-a-rest days". Since the late 19th century, Sunday has been regarded as a "full-time holiday", and Saturday a . These days have no religious meaning (except the less than 1% who are Christian or Jewish). Many Japanese retailers do not close on Saturdays or Sundays, because many office workers and their families are expected to visit the shops during the weekend. Monday is traditionally the first day of the week.

10-days ()

Japanese people also use 10-day periods called . Each month is divided into two 10-day periods and a third with the remaining 8 to 11 days:

• The first (from the 1st to the 10th) is
• The second (from the 11th to the 20th),
• The last (from the 21st to the end of the month), .

These are frequently used to indicate approximate times, for example, "the temperatures are typical of the jōjun of April"; "a vote on a bill is expected during the gejun of this month". The magazine Kinema Junpo was originally published once every jun (i.e. three times a month).

Days

The list below shows dates written with traditional numerals, but use of Arabic numerals (Template:Category handler, Template:Category handler, Template:Category handler, etc.) is extremely common in everyday communication, almost the norm.

1. Template:Nihongo krt
2. Template:Nihongo krt
3. Template:Nihongo krt
4. Template:Nihongo krt
5. Template:Nihongo krt
6. Template:Nihongo krt
7. Template:Nihongo krt
8. Template:Nihongo krt
9. Template:Nihongo krt
10. Template:Nihongo krt
11. Template:Nihongo krt
12. Template:Nihongo krt
13. Template:Nihongo krt
14. Template:Nihongo krt, Template:Tlit
15. Template:Nihongo krt
16. Template:Nihongo krt
17. Template:Nihongo krt
18. Template:Nihongo krt
19. Template:Nihongo krt, Template:Tlit
20. Template:Nihongo krt
21. Template:Nihongo krt
22. Template:Nihongo krt
23. Template:Nihongo krt
24. Template:Nihongo krt, Template:Tlit
25. Template:Nihongo krt
26. Template:Nihongo krt
27. Template:Nihongo krt
28. Template:Nihongo krt
29. Template:Nihongo krt, Template:Tlit
30. Template:Nihongo krt
31. Template:Nihongo krt

Each day of the month has a semi-systematic name. The days generally use kun (native Japanese) numeral readings up to ten, and thereafter on (Chinese-derived) readings, but there are some irregularities.

Tsuitachi is a worn-down form of , literally "calendar month start". The last day of the month was called tsugomori, which means "moon hidden". This classical word comes from the tradition of the lunisolar calendar.

The 30th was also traditionally called misoka, just as the 20th is called hatsuka. Nowadays, the terms for the numbers 28–31 plus nichi are much more common. However, misoka is much used in contracts, etc., specifying that a payment should be made on or by the last day of the month, whatever the number is. New Year's Eve is known as , and that term is still in use.

As mentioned below, there is traditional belief that some days are lucky (kichijitsu) or unlucky. For example, there are some who will avoid beginning something on an unlucky day.

Holidays and other notable days

April 1

The first day of April has broad significance in Japan. It marks the beginning of the government's fiscal year. Many corporations follow suit. In addition, corporations often form or merge on that date. In recent years, municipalities have preferred it for mergers. On this date, many new employees begin their jobs, and it is the start of many real-estate leases. The school year begins on April 1.

Rokuyō

The are a series of six days calculated from the date of Chinese calendar that supposedly predict whether there will be good or bad fortune during that day. The rokuyō are commonly found on Japanese calendars and are often used to plan weddings and funerals, though most people ignore them in ordinary life. The rokuyō are also known as the . In order, they are:

Kanji	Romanization	Symbol	Meaning
Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	◐	Good luck before noon, bad luck after noon. Good day for beginnings (in the morning).
Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	🆮	Your friends may be "drawn-in" towards good and evil. Funerals are avoided on this day (tomo = friend, biki = pull, thus a funeral might pull friends toward the deceased). Typically crematoriums are closed this day. But, for instance, weddings are fine on this day.
Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	◑	Bad luck before noon, good luck after noon.
Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	●	Symbolizes the day Buddha died. Considered the most unlucky day. Weddings are best avoided. Some Shinto shrines close their offices on this day.
Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	$\circ$	The most lucky day. Good day for weddings and events like shop openings.
Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit	🟚	The hour of the horse (11 am to 1 pm) is lucky. The rest is bad luck.

The rokuyō days are easily calculated from the Japanese lunisolar calendar. The first day of the first month is always senshō, with the days following in the order given above until the end of the month. Thus, the 2nd day is tomobiki, the 3rd is senbu, and so on. The 1st day of the 2nd month restarts the sequence at tomobiki. The 3rd month restarts at senbu, and so on for each month. The latter six months repeat the patterns of the first six, so the 1st of the 7th is senshō, the 1st of the 12th is shakkō and the moon-viewing day on the 15th of the 8th is always butsumetsu.

This system did not become popular in Japan until the end of the Edo period. The symbols largely fell out of use in the Meiji period, but are still sometimes seen. They are iconic, with black for bad luck and white for good, when arranged from right to left in vertical text.

National holidays

File:Koinobori4797.jpg

Koinobori, flags decorated like koi, are popular decorations around Children's Day.

After World War II, the names of Japanese national holidays were completely changed because of the secular state principle (Article 20, The Constitution of Japan). Although many of them actually originated from Shinto, Buddhism and important events relating to the Japanese imperial family, it is not easy to understand the original meanings from the superficial and vague official names.

Notes: Single days between two national holidays are taken as a bank holiday. This applies to May 4, which is a holiday each year. When a national holiday falls on a Sunday the next day that is not a holiday (usually a Monday) is taken as a holiday.

Japanese national holidays

Date	English name	Official name	Romanization
January 1	New Year's Day	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit
Second Monday of January	Coming of Age Day	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit
February 11	National Foundation Day†	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit
February 23	The Emperor's Birthday	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit
March 20 or 21	Vernal Equinox Day	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit
April 29	Shōwa Day*	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit
May 3	Constitution Memorial Day*	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit
May 4	Greenery Day*	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit
May 5	Children's Day*	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit
Third Monday of July	Marine Day	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit
August 11	Mountain Day	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit
Third Monday of September	Respect for the Aged Day	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit
September 22 or 23	Autumnal Equinox Day	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit
Second Monday of October	Sports Day	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit
November 3	Culture Day	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit
November 23	Labour Thanksgiving Day	Template:Category handler	Template:Tlit

Timeline

• 1948: The following national holidays were introduced in the : New Year's Day, Coming-of-Age Day, Constitution Memorial Day, Children's Day, Autumnal Equinox Day, Culture Day, and Labor Thanksgiving Day.
• 1966: A supplementary provision to create Health and Sports Day was introduced in memory of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Vernal Equinox Day, National Foundation Day and Respect for the Aged Day were also introduced.
• 1985: Reform to the national holiday law made days like May 4, sandwiched between two other national holidays, a .
• 1989: After the Shōwa Emperor died on January 7, his birthday, April 29, was renamed Greenery Day and The Emperor's Birthday (observed as a national holiday since 1868) moved to December 23 for the succeeding Akihito.
• 1995: Reform to the national holiday law added Marine Day, to be celebrated July 20.
• 2000, 2003: moved several holidays to Monday. Starting with 2000: Coming-of-Age Day (formerly January 15, now the second Monday in January) and Health and Sports Day (formerly October 10, now the second Monday in October). Starting with 2003: Marine Day (formerly July 20, now the third Monday in July) and Respect for the Aged Day (formerly September 15, now the third Monday in September).
• 2005, 2007: April 29 was renamed Shōwa Day, and May 4, previously a , became the new Greenery Day.
• 2014: Mountain Day was established as a new holiday, to be observed starting 2016
• 2019: Akihito's birthday is December 23; however, he abdicated April 30, 2019, in favor of his son Naruhito, which moved the "Emperor's Birthday" holiday to February 23. Because the transition happened before Akihito's birthday but after Naruhito's, the "Emperor's Birthday" holiday was not celebrated that year.
• 2020: The speech given by Naruhito during the New Year was the first given since 2017, when Akihito halted the practice to reduce his workload.
• 2021, 2022: Because of the COVID-19 crisis, Naruhito's New Year's greetings were delivered via a televised speech instead of in-person.
• 2023: The imperial family's New Year's greetings were held publicly for the first time in three years. The Emperor's Birthday on February 23 will also be the first time public celebrations will be held for the occasion since Naruhito's ascension in 2019. The latter events in 2020, 2021 and 2022 had all been cancelled due to concerns over COVID-19.

Seasonal festivals

The following are known as the , also known as . The sekku were made official holidays during Edo period on Chinese lunisolar calendar. The dates of these festivals are confused nowadays; some on the Gregorian calendar, others on "Tsuki-okure".

1. 7th day of the 1st month: Template:Nihongo krt, Template:Nihongo krt held on January 7
2. 3rd day of the 3rd month: Template:Nihongo krt, Template:Nihongo krt held on March 3 or April 3 depending on the area
   • Template:Nihongo krt.
3. 5th day of the 5th month: : mostly held on May 5
   • Template:Nihongo krt, Template:Nihongo krt
   • Boys' Day. Overlaps with the national holiday Children's Day.
4. 7th day of the 7th month: Template:Nihongo krt, Template:Nihongo krt held on July 7 in many areas, but in northern Japan held on August 7 (e.g. in Sendai)
5. 9th day of the 9th month: Template:Nihongo krt, Template:Nihongo krt almost out of vogue today

Not sekku:

• January 1: Japanese New Year
• August 15: Obon – the date is "Tsuki-okure". In central Tokyo, Obon is held on July 15 (the local culture of Tokyo tends to dislike Tsuki-okure custom)
• December 31: Ōmisoka

Customary issues in modern Japan

Gregorian months and the "One-Month Delay"

In contrast to other East Asian countries such as China, Vietnam, Korea and Mongolia, Japan has almost completely forgotten the Chinese calendar. Since 1876, January has been officially regarded as the "first month" even when setting the date of Japanese traditional folklore events (other months are the same: February as the second month, March as the third, and so on). But this system often brings a strong seasonal sense of gap since the event is 3 to 7 weeks earlier than in the traditional calendar. Modern Japanese culture has invented a kind of "compromised" way of setting dates for festivals called Tsuki-okure ("One-Month Delay") or Chūreki ("The Eclectic Calendar"). The festival is celebrated just one solar calendar month later than the date on the Gregorian calendar. For example, the Buddhist festival of Obon was the 15th day of the 7th month. In many places the religious services are held on July 15. However, in some areas, the rites are normally held on August 15, which is more seasonally close to the old calendar. (The general term "Obon holiday" always refers to the middle of August.) Although this is just de facto and customary, it is broadly used when setting the dates of many folklore events and religious festivals. But Japanese New Year is the great exception. The date of Japanese New Year is always January 1.

See also

• East Asian age reckoning
• Jikkan Jūnishi
• List of kigo
• Japanese festivals

External links

• Rokuyo – Lucky and Unlucky Days of the Japanese Calendar in Japanese
• National Diet Library, "The Japanese Calendar"
• The Lunar Calendar in Japan