By Lindsay Wong
November 3rd is Japanese Culture Day and is celebrated across the country. It is a national holiday to promote the rich culture, arts and traditions that Japan has to offer. During this time, people engage in numerous cultural activities, some of which have roots from centuries ago. But most of all, it’s the perfect day to learn about Japanese culture and fully appreciate the arts.
The third of November marks the Meiji (1868-1912) Emperor’s birthday. His birthday was originally celebrated, but this changed in the post-war period with the new establishment of the 1946 constitution. The government no longer wanted to have a national holiday linked to the emperor. Thus, they rebranded November 3rd as Culture Day and vowed to promote cultural prosperity based on freedom and peace, especially after the regret of World War 2. This new celebration would promote artistic and cultural values.
Today, Japanese Culture Day is celebrated with various festivities and events that anyone can access. These include art exhibitions, parades, award ceremonies for recognized artists or scholars, special exhibitions focused on a particular period of Japanese history and more. Many museums have free admission only on this particular day to encourage people to immerse themselves in Japanese art and culture. In some cities like Hakone, there is a procession (organized by the tourism association) in which people dress up as samurai and princesses from the Edo period. The Order of Culture Award Ceremony also takes place on this day, which recognizes and celebrates public figures who have made significant contributions in the areas of art, science, literature, sports and technology.
Attending an international school in Japan meant that we didn’t have the same school holidays as local schools, but in elementary, we spent our time celebrating Japanese Culture Day rather than holding our typical lessons. As a child, I looked forward to November 3rd because we learned about different aspects of Japanese culture and took part in enjoyable and exciting activities. If not for Japanese Culture Day, my interest in Japanese arts would have occurred later in my life. Celebrating exposed me to many Japanese folktales, food (like the art of making soba (buckwheat noodles)), martial arts, and traditional songs and instruments (including the koto). We also made origami (paper folding), participated in the tea ceremony, and pounded mochi (rice cakes) before eating them.
Although it’s possible to learn about Japanese culture at any time, having a dedicated day for all these activities was a valuable opportunity. Japan truly has such a rich culture and learning about the traditions and arts can be an endless process because of everything it has to offer.
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