«Remember the day of the founding of the state, cultivate a country-loving heart» — this is the slogan motto defined for the Day of the Founding of the State (Japanese. ⁇ On national holidays«の日, Kenkoku Kinen no Hee) by law.
The holiday is celebrated in Japan annually on February 11 and is a national day off.
The Book of Japanese History, which chronicles the state since the Nara period (710—794), states that the day of the founding of the Japanese state is considered to be the day of the ascension to the throne of the first emperor of Japan — Jimmu. Translated into the Gregorian calendar, this date became February 11, 660 BC.
Despite the fact that the existence of Jimmu was not a reliable historical fact, this event was chosen in order to emphasize both in Japan itself and abroad the legitimate power of the government, concentrated at that time in the hands of the emperor.
The first emperor of Japan has reign dates: 660—585 BC, and his name opens a long list of rulers of Japan.
The founding day of the state was officially included in the list of national holidays in Japan in 1966, and came into force in 1967.
In political circles, the attitude towards the name is ambiguous; until now, supporters and opponents of the official name of this holiday periodically gather and discuss a problem that haunts certain sections of society. The insignificance of such debates, however, does not affect the presence of the holiday in the Japanese calendar.
For the most part, the Japanese are — patriots of their country, but they, naturally, are indifferent to the political coloring of the holiday. If the holiday falls in the middle of the week, then the Japanese spend it in families, with parents, friends, devoting the winter day to sports, travel or other hobbies.