EMPEROR’S BIRTHDAY
23rd February 2026
Japanese
The Emperor’s Birthday is an annual Public holiday in Japan celebrating the birthday of the reigning Emperor, which is currently 23 February as Emperor Naruhito was born on that day in 1960.
23rd February 2026
Japanese
The Emperor’s Birthday is an annual Public holiday in Japan celebrating the birthday of the reigning Emperor, which is currently 23 February as Emperor Naruhito was born on that day in 1960.
29th April 2026
Japanese
This is a public holiday in Japan and celebrates the birthday of Emperor Hirohito the reigning emperor from 1926-1989. Sho means shining or bright and Wa means peace.
1st January 2026
Japanese
New Year’s Day celebrations in Japan are sometimes extended for up to three days, during which businesses are closed, families spend time together, decorations are put up and the first visit of the year is paid to local Shinto shrines.
3rd February 2025
Japanese
The day for the Bean Scattering ceremony, performed both in homes and in temples.
20th March 2026
Japanese
This is the day of the Spring equinox. As at the autumn equinox, harmony and balance are the themes, sutras are recited, and the graves of relatives are visited.
17th – 23rd March 2026 Higan
20th March 2026 Shun No Hi
20th March 2026 Buddhist
Japanese
The equinoctial week of spring called Higan is known as the week many Japanese visit a grave of one’s ancestors with thanksgiving in March. They visit during the middle three days of this week in the Spring (March) and also in the Autumn (September). See the September entry for more details.
3rd March 2026
Japanese
Clay dolls representing the Emperor and Empress of Japan, reminiscent of the ancient Heian court, are displayed in the home; and offerings of peach blossom, rice-wine and rice-cakes are placed before them, along with miniature multi-coloured sweetmeats. The dolls are intended to carry away any illness afflicting or threatening the daughters of the house. The day is widely celebrated by praying for daughters to grow up to be healthy and dutiful.
Today in Japan some towns sell ‘nagashi-bina’ sets, paper doll pairs designed to be set afloat – already sitting in boats of wood or straw. There may even be a ceremony in which participants dress like the most elaborate hina dolls, and set them afloat.
The Japanese hold ceremonial burnings of many types of objects – needles and umbrellas, dolls and toys, papers, letters, and various other tokens of work accomplished during the year. In some places there is an annual burning of Daruma dolls, which represents the year’s activities. The doll burning ceremony involves some kind of ceremonial cremation, possibly in the hope of conceiving healthy children.
The family lies at the heart of Hinamatsuri, and the health of its daughters is emphasised at this time each year to help ensure the future of the family line. There is an equal emphasis on both the role of the daughter and the respect for and obedience she owes to her parents.
13th -15th August 2026
Japanese (in Tokyo – for rest of Japan, see 13 July)
A Japanese festival when the spirits of the departed are welcomed back home with feasting and dancing. Fires are often lit to illuminate their arrival and departure. Celebrations in rural areas may take place one month earlier.
21st – 25th September 2026 Higan
23rd September 2026 Shun No Hi
23rd September 2026 Buddhist
Japanese
This celebration marks the autumn equinox for Japanese people. As at the spring equinox, harmony and balance are the themes; sutras are recited and the graves of relatives are visited. September 22 is the equinox, the 24-hour period when day and night are the same length, the beginning of Autumn. On this day the sun shines at the equator for 12 hours. On the next day, days begin to become shorter than nights in the Northern Hemisphere.
In the past, the autumnal equinox in Japan was called shuki–koureisai (the autumn festival of the Emperor’s spirits). On this day, the emperor worshipped his ancestors by himself. Nowadays it is called Shuubun-no-hi and is a national holiday. It is the middle day of higan, a seven day period when the people of Japan commemorate their ancestors. Memorial services often take place at Buddhist temples, and many people visit their family’s graves with offerings of rice cakes, flowers, incense sticks, and offer prayers to comfort the spirits of their ancestors. Although Buddhism is common in India and China, these countries have no similar custom.
Higan has Buddhist origins. It literally means the “other side of the river of death”. The two sides of the river represent the worlds of life and death. During these days, Japanese families honour and pray for the repose of their deceased ancestors. This is different from Obon where the spirits of the dead are said to visit the houses of their relatives. At this time of year, living relatives are the ones who visit graves. They clean the tombs and offer prayers and flowers. They also burn incense sticks and offer sweet rice balls called Ohagi.
Higan, for Buddhists, is a good time to focus on the 6 Perfections: Dana (generosity), Sila (virtue), Ksanti (patience), Virya (effort), Dhyana (meditation, also ‘zen’), and Prajna (wisdom). Just as the worlds of death and life are separated by a river, so the Buddhists believe the 6 Perfections will be the bridge to cross from this life to Nirvana.
Japanese
Japanese festival which prepares for the new year by cleansing Shinto home shrines and Buddhist altars. The bells of Buddhist temples are struck 108 times to warn against the 108 evils to be overcome.