Happy Constitution Memorial Day! Many Japanese workers get about a week off around the end of April and beginning of May. This is because there is cluster of national holidays during this time.
The week starts on April 29, a national holiday that used to be celebrated as the birthday of Emperor Showa, who passed away in 1989. It is now celebrated as Showa Day, a day to allow people to think back on the hardship and recovery of the Showa period and to ponder the future of Japan.
May 3 is Constitution Memorial Day. The present Constitution of Japan came into effect on this day in 1947. May 5 is Children’s Day, set aside to pray for the healthy growth and happiness of boys and girls.
