Respect for the Aged Day
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Respect for the Aged Day (“Keirō no Hi”) is a national public holiday in Japan, celebrated on the third Monday of September. Respect for the Aged Day originated in the town of Taka, Japan in 1947; it was originally called Old Folks Day (“Toshiyori no Hi”) and observed on September 15. As the holiday became more popular across Japan, the government declared it a national public holiday in 1966. In 2003 Respect for the Aged Day was shifted to its current date under Japan’s “Happy Monday System”—an attempt to give people more extended weekends.
Respect for the Aged Day honors the contributions made to society by those who are now elderly—especially as Japan’s total population declines and its elderly population increases. Though the criteria for who’s considered elderly differs between local governments, governments typically give gifts to those who reach milestone ages—70, 80, 90, and even 100.
Many people take advantage of the four-day weekend (the following day is another Japanese holiday, Autumnal Equinox Day) to travel home to their families and visit their elderly parents and grandparents. Nursing homes and care facilities may arrange special events, such as dance performances and other entertainment, to honor elderly residents on Respect for the Aged Day. Local organizations may also provide free bento box lunches to the elderly. Schools often invite elderly grandparents to see their grandchildren, with many students writing letters of thanks to the elderly. Some TV stations invite the elderly on to share their wisdom, or host special shows in honor of the elderly population of Japan.
How to prepare:
Our offices will be closed for Respect for the Aged Day on [insert date]. Please be sure to turn on your out-of-office message prior to the holiday.
How to observe Respect for the Aged Day
Respect for the Aged Day is a celebration of Japan’s elders. Here are some ideas for how to celebrate the holiday:
- Spend time with the elderly people in your life
- Donate to a charity that serves the elderly population
- Volunteer at an elder-centric organization
