Green Day in Japan (04/05)

On May 4, Japan celebrates Green Day or, as is sometimes translated, Green Spaces Day. Until 2007, it was celebrated on April 29. «Natural» the name of the holiday is associated with the name of Emperor Showa and his deep love for wildlife.

Emperor Showa (His Majesty's secular name — Hirohito. The eternal title of Emperor Showa was obtained after his death), the eldest son of Emperor Taisho, was born in Tokyo on April 29, 1901. After the passing of Emperor Taisho on December 25, 1926, the Crown Prince was officially proclaimed the 124th Emperor of Japan. After World War II, in accordance with the Japanese Constitution, the emperor was positioned as a symbol of the state and the unity of the people. Until his death in 1989, he symbolized the longest period of Japanese history, the — Showa period (1926–1989).

Despite the lack of real power, the emperor led an extremely active social life, received foreign ambassadors and high delegations from abroad, paid return visits, took part in scientific conferences, and traveled around Japan. His trips became especially numerous after World War II, when he made every effort to morally maintain the spirit of the affected families.

An interesting fact is that during such trips of the emperor around the country, spring tree planting festivals and autumn sports festivals were organized. And the emperor devoted those short hours when the business schedule allowed to the study of marine biology, both plants and animals, and published numerous works in this scientific field.

At the beginning of May, the country is truly buried in greenery and flowers (Photo: SRLee Photo Traveler, licensed from Shutterstock.com)

During Emperor Hirohito's lifetime, his birthday was a holiday and was listed in the Japanese calendar simply as the Emperor's Birthday. After his death, his birthday remained a national holiday, but was officially renamed Green Day.

But over the years, the meaning of Green Day for new generations began to erase, and the opinion of the people of Japan themselves regarding this holiday was divided. Therefore, as a result of changes in the law «On National Holidays, since 2007, April 29 in Japan has become Showa Day, which is still a holiday and a day off, and Green Day has been moved to May 4.

It is possible that Green Day — is the only national holiday in the world, when relaxing on which the Japanese do not attach importance to its meaning. Without attaching much importance or accuracy to the date. But even if we do not associate the name of the holiday with the name of Emperor Showa, we can say with confidence that the «green» name perfectly conveys the atmosphere of late spring in Japan. At the beginning of May, the country is truly buried in greenery and flowers. Official data reports that forest and park areas occupy 70% of Japan's territory.

Forest and park areas occupy 70% of Japan's territory (Photo: Ilya D. Gridnev, licensed from Shutterstock.com)

By this day, luxurious white and pink cherry trees had already bloomed both in the ancient capital of Japan, Kyoto, and in the current metropolis of — Tokyo. Residents of the northern prefectures of the island of Honshu and residents of the island of Hokkaido admire cherry blossoms in early May. The Japanese love this sunny time of year very much and will certainly take advantage of the blessed opportunity to relax with the whole family or friendly group in the park, by the sea, in the mountains or in hot springs.

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