The Happy Monday System (ハッピーマンデー制度, Happī Mandē Seido) is a set of modifications to Japanese law in 1998[1] and 2001[2] to move a number of public holidays in Japan to Mondays, creating three-day weekends for those with five-day work weeks. It is the Japanese equivalent of the 1968 Uniform Monday Holiday Act in the United States.
| Date | Moved to Monday | English name | Local name | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | No | New Year's Day | 元日 | Ganjitsu |
| January 15 | Since 2000 | Coming of Age Day | 成人の日 | Seijin no hi |
| February 11 | No | National Foundation Day | 建国記念の日 | Kenkoku kinen no hi |
| February 23 | No | The Emperor's Birthday | 天皇誕生日 | Tennō tanjōbi |
| March 20 or March 21 | No | Vernal Equinox Day | 春分の日 | Shunbun no hi |
| April 29 | No | Shōwa Day (Hirohito's Birthday) | 昭和の日 | Shōwa no hi |
| May 3 | No | Constitution Memorial Day | 憲法記念日 | Kenpō kinenbi |
| May 4 | No | Greenery Day | みどりの日 | Midori no hi |
| May 5 | No | Children's Day | こどもの日 | Kodomo no hi |
| July 20 | Since 2003 | Marine Day | 海の日 | Umi no hi |
| August 11 | No | Mountain Day | 山の日 | Yama no hi |
| September 15 | Since 2003 | Respect for the Aged Day | 敬老の日 | Keirō no hi |
| September 22 or September 23 | No | Autumnal Equinox Day | 秋分の日 | Shūbun no hi |
| October 10 | Since 2000 | Sports Day | スポーツの日 | Supōtsu no hi |
| November 3 | No | Culture Day | 文化の日 | Bunka no hi |
| November 23 | No | Labor Thanksgiving Day | 勤労感謝の日 | Kinrō kansha no hi |