Recommended for seniors! Liven up your event with a Respect-for-the-Aged Day quiz!

crane

The crane (tsuru) is regarded as a symbol of longevity in Japan and East Asia. Because of its long lifespan and graceful appearance, it embodies wishes for health, happiness, and a long life. It is an auspicious bird often used in celebrations and decorations.

Day of Hijiki

In 1984, the Mie Prefecture Hijiki Cooperative designated September 15 as Hijiki Day. Hijiki is a food rich in iron, calcium, and dietary fiber, and is enjoyed as a health food. There is a reason September 15 was chosen. Reflecting the idea that it is important to live a long and healthy life in an aging society, the day embodies the wish: “We hope people will eat more hijiki and become healthier.”

prosperity

The folding fan used for longevity celebrations has the meaning of “prosperity” and “happiness spreading,” because when opened it takes on a shape that widens toward the end. Giving one expresses the wish for continued health and increasing happiness in the future.

Koki refers to the celebration of turning 70. Its origin comes from a line in a poem by the Chinese poet Du Fu: “In all antiquity, a person reaching seventy was rare.” In the past, living to 70 was very uncommon, which is why it was named so. Today, with longer average lifespans, many people remain very active at 70, but it is still celebrated as a milestone in life.

Autumnal Equinox Day

In Japan, the holiday that comes just before Respect for the Aged Day is the Autumnal Equinox Day. It falls around September 23 each year and is a day to honor nature and cherish living things. Respect for the Aged Day is on the third Monday of September, following the equinox, creating a consecutive set of autumn holidays and events.

rice bran

The celebration for reaching the age of 88 is called “beiju.” When the kanji character for “rice” (米) is broken down, it looks like “eight, ten, eight” (八・十・八), which is why the celebration for 88 years old came to be called “beiju.” In Japan, there are names for each milestone in celebrating longevity, and beiju is one of them, celebrated in a grand manner.

September 15

Respect for the Aged Day used to be on a fixed date, September 15. However, since 2003 it has been moved to the third Monday of every September. The reason is the launch of Japan’s “Happy Monday” system, which promotes longer weekends. By placing Respect for the Aged Day on a Monday, it creates a three-day weekend with Saturday and Sunday.