National Foundation Day (Japan)

This article is about the Japanese holiday. For the South Korean holiday, see National Foundation Day (Korea).

National Foundation Day
A mikoshi is carried during a parade
Official nameKenkoku Kinen no Hi (建国記念の日)
Observed byJapan
TypePublic
SignificanceCelebrates the founding of the nation
CelebrationsFamily reunions, parades, concerts
Date11 February
FrequencyAnnual

National Foundation Day (建国記念の日, Kenkoku Kinen no Hi) is an annual public holiday in Japan annually held on the 11th February, celebrating the foundation of Japan, enforced by a specific Cabinet Order set in 1966.[1][2] 11 February is the accession date of the legendary first Emperor of Japan, Emperor Jimmu at Kashihara-gū, converted into Gregorian calendar of 660 BC[3] which is written in Kojiki and chapter 3 of Nihon Shoki.[4] Coincidentally, 11 February 1889 is the day of the promulgation of the Meiji Constitution.[5][6][4]

  1. ^ "建国記念の日となる日を定める政令" [Cabinet Order to set the date of National Foundation Day]. Wikisource.org. 12 May 2019. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2020. 1966 Cabinet Order No. 376, Promulgation: December 9, 1966, Enforcement: December 9, 1966, The first application example is February 11, 1967.
  2. ^ "「国民の祝日」について" [About "national holiday"]. Cabinet Office (Japan). Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Japan's National Foundation Day". education.nationalgeographic.org. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference tajima-express was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference ndl was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference meijicon was invoked but never defined (see the help page).