JAPANESE CALENDAR

Since January 1, 1873, Japan has used the Gregorian calendar, with local names for the months and mostly fixed holidays. Before 1873, a lunisolar calendar was in use, which was adapted from the Chinese calendar.

Contents

Years

Months

Subdivisions of the month

Days of the month

National holidays

Timeline of changes to the national holidays

Seasonal days

24 Sekki

Zassetsu

Seasonal festivals

''Rokuyō''

April 1

See also

External links

Years

Since the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, three different systems for counting years have or had been used in Japan:

★ The Western Anno Domini (Common Era) (西暦, ''seireki'') designation

★ The Japanese era name (年号, ''nengō'') based on the reign of the current emperor, the year 2007 being Heisei 19

★ The imperial year (皇紀, ''kōki'') based on the mythical founding of Japan by Emperor Jimmu in 660 BCE.
Of these three, the first two are still in current use, in the following link [1] you have a convenient converter between the two; the imperial calendar was used from 1873 to the end of World War II.

Months

The modern Japanese names for the months literally translate to "first month", "second month", and so on. The corresponding number is combined with the suffix -gatsu (month):

★ January - 一月 (ichigatsu)

★ February - 二月 (nigatsu)

★ March - 三月 (sangatsu)

★ April - 四月 (shigatsu)

★ May - 五月 (gogatsu)

★ June - 六月 (rokugatsu)

★ July - 七月 (shichigatsu)

★ August - 八月 (hachigatsu)

★ September - 九月 (kugatsu)

★ October - 十月 (jūgatsu)

★ November - 十一月 (jūichigatsu)

★ December - 十二月 (jūnigatsu)
In addition, every month has a traditional name, still used by some in fields such as poetry; of the twelve, ''shiwasu'' 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 ''yayoi'' and ''satsuki'', do double duty as given names (for women). These month names also appear from time to time on jidaigeki, contemporary television shows and movies set in the Edo period or earlier.
The name of month: (pronunciation, literal meaning)

★ January - 睦月 (mutsuki, affection month)

★ February - 如月 or 衣更着 (kisaragi or kinusaragi, changing clothes)

★ March - 弥生 (yayoi, new life; the beginning of spring)

★ April - 卯月 (uzuki, u-no-hana month; the u-no-hana is a flower, genus Deutzia)

★ May - 皐月 or 早月 or 五月(satsuki, fast month)

★ June - 水無月 (minatsuki or minazuki, month without water — the ''na'' is actually a possessive particle and the 無 character is ateji)

★ July - 文月 (fumizuki, book month)

★ August - 葉月 (hazuki, leaf month)

★ September - 長月 (nagatsuki, long month)

★ October - 神無月 (kaminazuki or kannazuki, month without gods), 神有月 or 神在月 (kamiarizuki, month with gods – used only in Izumo province, where all the gods are believed to gather in October for an annual meeting at the Izumo Shrine).

★ November - 霜月 (shimotsuki, frost month)

★ December - 師走 (shiwasu, priests run; it is named so because priests are busy making end of the year prayers and blessings.)

Subdivisions of the month

Japan uses a seven-day week, aligned with the Western calendar. The seven day week, with names for the days corresponding directly to those used in Europe, was brought to Japan around 800 AD. The system was used for astrological purposes and little else until 1876, shortly after Japan officially adopted the Western calendar. Fukuzawa Yukichi was a key figure in the decision to adopt this system as the source for official names for the days of the week. The names come from the five visible planets, which in turn are named after the five Chinese elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water), and from the moon and sun (yin and yang).

Japanese	Romanization	Element	Western name
日曜日	nichiyōbi	Sun	Sunday
月曜日	getsuyōbi	Moon	Monday
火曜日	kayōbi	Fire	Tuesday
水曜日	suiyōbi	Water	Wednesday
木曜日	mokuyōbi	Wood	Thursday
金曜日	kin'yōbi	Metal/Gold	Friday
土曜日	doyōbi	Earth	Saturday

Japan also divides the month roughly into three 10-day periods. Each is called a ''jun'' (旬). The first is ''jōjun'' (上旬); the second, ''chūjun'' (中旬); the last, ''gejun'' (下旬). 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."

Days of the month

Each day of the month has a semi-systematic but irregularly formed name:

1	一日	tsuitachi (sometimes ''ichijitsu'')	17	十七日	jūshichinichi
2	二日	futsuka	18	十八日	jūhachinichi
3	三日	mikka	19	十九日	jūkunichi
4	四日	yokka	20	二十日	hatsuka (sometimes ''nijūnichi'')
5	五日	itsuka	21	二十一日	nijūichinichi
6	六日	muika	22	二十二日	nijūninichi
7	七日	nanoka	23	二十三日	nijūsannichi
8	八日	yōka	24	二十四日	nijūyokka
9	九日	kokonoka	25	二十五日	nijūgonichi
10	十日	tōka	26	二十六日	nijūrokunichi
11	十一日	jūichinichi	27	二十七日	nijūshichinichi
12	十二日	jūninichi	28	二十八日	nijūhachinichi
13	十三日	jūsannichi	29	二十九日	nijūkunichi
14	十四日	jūyokka	30	三十日	sanjūnichi
15	十五日	jūgonichi	31	三十一日	sanjūichinichi
16	十六日	jūrokunichi

''Tsuitachi'' is a worn-down form of ''tukitachi,'' which means the first of the month. In the traditional calendar, the thirtieth was the last day of the month, and its traditional name, 晦日 ''misoka'', survives (although ''sanjūnichi'' is far more common, and is the usual term). The last day of the year is 大晦日 ''ōmisoka'' (the ''big thirtieth day''), and that term is still in use.

National holidays

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.

Date	English name	Local name	Romanization
January 1	New Year's Day	元日	''Ganjitsu''
2nd Monday of January	Coming-of-age Day	成人の日	''Seijin no hi''
February 11	National Foundation Day†	建国記念の日	''Kenkoku kinen no hi ''
March 20 or March 21	Vernal Equinox Day	春分の日	''Shunbun no hi''
April 29	Shōwa Day ★	昭和の日	''Shōwa no hi''
May 3	Constitution Memorial Day ★	憲法記念日	''Kenpō kinenbi''
May 4	Greenery Day ★	みどりの日	''Midori no hi''
May 5	Children's Day ★	子供の日	''Kodomo no hi''
3rd Monday of July	Marine Day	海の日	''Umi no hi''
3rd Monday of September	Respect for the Aged Day	敬老の日	''Keirō no hi''
September 23 or September 24	Autumnal Equinox Day	秋分の日	''Shūbun no hi''
2nd Monday of October	Health-Sports Day	体育の日	''Taiiku no hi''
November 3	Culture Day	文化の日	''Bunka no hi''
November 23	Labour Thanksgiving Day	勤労感謝の日	''Kinrō kansha no hi''
December 23	The Emperor's Birthday	天皇誕生日	''Tennō tanjōbi''

† Traditional date on which according to legend Emperor Jimmu founded Japan in 660 BC.

★ Part of Golden Week

Timeline of changes to the national holidays

★ '1948' - The following national holidays were introduced: New Year's Day, Coming-of-Age Day, Constitution Memorial Day, Children's Day, Autumnal Equinox Day, Culture Day, Labour Thanksgiving Day.

★ '1966' - Health and Sports Day was introduced in memory of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Vernal Equinox Day was also introduced.

★ '1985' - Reform to the national holiday law made May 4, sandwiched between two other national holidays also a holiday.

★ '1989' - After Emperor Showa died on January 7, the Emperor's Birthday became December 23 and Greenery Day took place of the former Emperor's birthday.

★ '2000, 2003' - Happy Monday System (ハッピーマンデー制度 Happī Mandē Seido) moved several holidays to Monday. Starting with 2000: Coming-of-Age Day (formerly January 15), and Health and Sports Day (formerly October 10). Starting with 2003: Marine Day (formerly July 20), and Respect for the Aged Day (formerly September 15).

★ '2005, 2007' - According to a May 2005 decision, starting with 2007 Greenery Day will be moved from April 29 to May 4 replacing a that existed after 1985 reform, while April 29 will be known as Shōwa Day.

★ '2009' - September 22 may become sandwiched between two holidays, which would make this day a national holiday.

Seasonal days

Some days have special names to mark the change in seasons. The 24 Sekki (二十四節気 ''Nijūshi sekki'') are days that divide a year in the Lunisolar calendar into twenty four equal sections. Zassetsu (雑節) is a collective term for the seasonal days other than the 24 Sekki. 72 Kō (七十二候 ''Shichijūni kō'') days are made from dividing the 24 Sekki of a year further by three. Some of these names, such as Shunbun, Risshū and Toji, are still used quite frequently in everyday life in Japan.

24 Sekki

★ Risshun (立春): February 4 - Beginning of spring

★ Usui (雨水): February 19

★ Keichitsu (啓蟄): March 5 - awakening of hibernated (insects)

★ Shunbun (春分): March 20 - Vernal equinox, middle of spring

★ Seimei (清明): April 5

★ Kokuu (穀雨): April 20

★ Rikka (立夏): May 5 - Beginning of summer

★ Shōman (小満): May 21

★ Bōshu (芒種): June 6

★ Geshi (夏至): June 21 - Summer solstice, middle of summer

★ Shōsho (小暑): July 7 - Small heat

★ Taisho (大暑): July 23 - Large heat

★ Risshū (立秋): August 7 - Beginning of autumn

★ Shosho (処暑): August 23

★ Hakuro (白露): September 7

★ Shūbun (秋分): September 23 - Autumnal equinox, middle of autumn

★ Kanro (寒露): October 8

★ Sōkō (霜降): October 23

★ Rittō (立冬): November 7 - Beginning of winter

★ Shōsetsu (小雪): November 22 - Small snow

★ Taisetsu (大雪): December 7 - Large snow

★ Tōji (冬至): December 22 - Winter solstice, middle of winter

★ Shōkan (小寒): January 5 - a.k.a. 寒の入り (''Kan no iri'')

★ Daikan (大寒): January 20
Days can vary by ±1 day. See also: Jieqi.

Zassetsu

Day	Kanji	Romaji	Comment
January 17	冬の土用	Fuyu no doyō
February 3	節分	Setsubun	The eve of Risshun by one definition.
March 21	春社日	Haru shanichi	Also known as 春社 (''Harusha'', ''Shunsha'').
March 18 - March 24	春彼岸	Haru higan	The seven days surrounding Shunbun.
April 17	春の土用	Haru no doyō
May 2	八十八夜	Hachijū hachiya	Literally meaning 88 nights (since Risshun).
June 11	入梅	Nyūbai	Literally meaning entering tsuyu.
July 2	半夏生	Hangeshō	One of the 72 Kō. Farmers take five days off in some regions.
July 15	中元	Chūgen	Sometimes considered a Zassetsu.
July 20	夏の土用	Natsu no doyō
September 1	二百十日	Nihyaku tōka	Literally meaning 210 days (since Risshun).
September 11	二百二十日	Nihyaku hatsuka	Literally meaning 220 days.
September 20 - September 26	秋彼岸	Aki higan
September 22	秋社日	Aki shanichi	Also known as 秋社 (''Akisha'', ''Shūsha'').
October 20	秋の土用	Aki no doyō

Shanichi days can vary as much as ±5 days.
Chūgen has a fixed day. All other days can vary by ±1 day.
Many zassetsu days occur on multiple seasons:

★ Setsubun (節分) refers to the day before each season, or the eves of Risshun, Rikka, Rishū, and Rittō; especially the eve of Risshun.

★ Doyō (土用) refers to the 18 days before each season, especially the one before fall which is known as the hottest period of a year.

★ Higan (彼岸) is the seven middle days of spring and autumn, with Shunbun at the middle of the seven days for spring, Shūbun for fall.

★ Shanichi (社日) is the Tsuchinoe (戊) day closest to Shunbun (middle of spring) or Shūbun (middle of fall), which can be as much as -5 to +4 days away from Shunbun/Shūbun.

Seasonal festivals

The following are known as the five seasonal festivals (節句 ''sekku'', also 五節句 ''go sekku''). The Sekku were made official holidays during Edo era.
# January 7 (1/7) - 人日 (''Jinjitsu''), 七草の節句 (''Nanakusa no sekku'')
# March 3 (3/3) - 上巳 (''Jōshi'', ''Jōmi''), 桃の節句 (''Momo no sekku'')
#: 雛祭り (''Hina matsuri''), Girls' Day.
# Tango (端午): May 5 (5/5)
#
★ 端午の節句 (''Tango no sekku''), 菖蒲の節句 (''Ayame no sekku'')
#
★ Boys' Day. Overlaps with the national holiday Children's Day.
# July 7 (7/7) - 七夕 (''Shichiseki'', ''Tanabata''), 星祭り (''Hoshi matsuri '')
# September 9 (9/9) - 重陽 (''Chōyō''), 菊の節句 (''Kiku no sekku'')
Not Sekku:

★ January 1 - Japanese New Year

★ August 15 - Obon

★ December 31 - Ōmisoka

''Rokuyō''

The ''rokuyō'' (六曜) are a series of six days that predict whether there will be good or bad fortune during that day. The ''rokuyō'' are still commonly found on Japanese calendars and are often used to plan weddings and funerals. The ''rokuyō'' are also known as the ''rokki'' (六輝). In order, they are:

★ 先勝 (''senshō'') - Good luck before noon, bad luck after noon. Good day for beginnings (in the morning).

★ 友引 (''tomobiki'') - Bad things will happen to your friends. Funerals avoided on this day (''tomo'' = friend, ''biki'' = pull, thus a funeral might pull friends toward the deceased).

★ 先負 (''senbu'') - Bad luck before noon, good luck after noon.

★ 仏滅 (''butsumetsu'') - The day Buddha died. Most unlucky day. Weddings best avoided.

★ 大安 (''taian'') - Most lucky day. Good day for weddings.

★ 赤口 (''shakkō'') - The hour of the horse (11 am - 1 pm) is lucky. The rest is bad luck.
The ''rokuyō'' days are easily calculated from the Japanese Lunisolar calendar. Lunisolar January 1st is always ''senshō'', with the days following in the order given above until the end of the month. Thus, January 2nd is ''tomobiki'', January 3rd is ''senbu'', and so on. Lunisolar February 1st restarts the sequence at ''tomobiki''. Lunisolar March 1st restarts at ''senbu'', and so on for each month. The last six months repeat the patterns of the first six, so July 1st = ''senshō'' and December 1st is ''shakkō''.

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. (For more see also academic term)

See also

★ Holidays of Japan

★ Calendar

★ Chinese calendar

★ Japanese era name

★ Jikkan Jūnishi

External links

★ Japanese calendar tables and zodiac signs, in Kanji, Hiragana, Romaji, and English,

★ Japanese calendar history by the National Diet Library

★ The Lunar Calendar in Japan

★ Koyomi no page in Japanese

★ Koyomi no hanashi in Japanese

★ Rokuyō calculator in Japanese

★ Convert Western Years to Japanese Years converts Gregorian calendar years to Japanese Emperor Era years (known as nengo)

★ NengoCalc (Tool for converting Japanese dates into Western equivalents)