Shōwa Day
A day to reflect on the turbulent Showa era and think about the future of the nation
Showa no Hi (Showa Day) is a national holiday celebrated on April 29th. Its purpose is "to reflect on the turbulent Showa era, which achieved recovery, and to think about the nation's future." It marks the beginning of the Golden Week holidays.
Evolution of the Holiday
April 29th was originally the birthday of Emperor Showa. After his passing in 1989, the date was kept as a holiday to preserve the Golden Week period. Because the Emperor was a renowned marine biologist who loved nature, the holiday was initially renamed "Greenery Day."
However, to ensure the historical memory of the Showa era was preserved, the law was changed in 2007. April 29th was renamed "Showa Day," and "Greenery Day" was moved to May 4th.
The Showa Era (1926-1989)
The Showa era was the longest and most dramatic period in modern Japanese history, encompassing the devastation of World War II, the post-war reconstruction, the rapid economic miracle, and the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.