November 3 is Japanese Culture Day (bunkano-hi) and is one of the national holidays in Japan. It was the birthday of the Emperor Meiji. The celebration of his birthday was sustained as Culture Day when he passed away. It is also the day the present Japanese Constitution was officially announced in 1946. The Order of Culture Awards ceremony for people who are outstanding contributors to Japanese culture and society is held in the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on this day. The emperor himself presents the awards to the winners.
There are many festivals held around the country to celebrate art and tradition during this time. The Federal Lord's Procession, Hakone Daimyo Gyoretsu, in Hakone is one of them. If you visit Hakone-town on this day, you see a long parade of people wearing historical clothes from the Edo era (about 400 years ago).
November 15 is shichi-go-san which means seven, five, and three in Japanese. This is not a national holiday but a traditional festival for children of seven, five, and three years old. Families visit shrines and pray for their children's healthy growth. Children put on their best clothes such as kimonos, dresses, and suits. They buy chitose-ame (long stick candies), which represents longevity there. If you visit almost any shrine or temple around this day, you see many dressed-up children.
November 23 is Labor Thanksgiving Day called kinro kansha no hi in Japanese. It's a national holiday, so schools and most of businesses in Japan are closed.
Photo: Shizuko Mishima
