| Marine Day | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Official name | 海の日 (Umi no Hi) |
| Observed by | Japan |
| Type | Public |
| Significance | Honors the blessings of the oceans and economic prosperity of maritime Japan |
| Celebrations | Families may visit beaches, swim, snorkel, surf, or dive. National aquariums host special water-related events. |
| Date | Third Monday in July |
| 2023 date | July 17 |
| 2024 date | July 15 |
| 2025 date | July 21 |
| 2026 date | July 20 |
| Frequency | annual |
Marine Day (海の日, Umi no Hi), also known as "Ocean Day" or "Sea Day", is a public holiday in Japan usually celebrated on the third Monday in July. The purpose of the holiday is to give thanks for the ocean's bounty and to consider the importance of the ocean to Japan as a maritime nation.[1]
Many people take advantage of the holiday and summer weather to take a beach trip. Other ocean-related festivities are observed as well.[2] The date roughly coincides with the end of the rainy season (梅雨 tsuyu) in much of the Japanese mainland.[citation needed]
In 2020, the holiday was observed on Thursday, July 23, a one-time move that was made as a special accommodation to support the opening of the Tokyo Olympics. Due to the postponement of the Olympics, the 2021 date was moved to July 22, also on Thursday as a one-time holiday.[3][4]
- ^ 国民の祝日について (in Japanese). Cabinet Office, Government of Japan. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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2021 changeswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "東京五輪、開会式前後が４連休に 閉会式前後は３連休：朝日新聞デジタル". 朝日新聞デジタル (in Japanese). Retrieved July 14, 2019.