Japanese Holiday in August

In Japan, the Mountain Day and Obon holidays are currently taking place. Obon is a traditional Buddhist practice that involves respecting one’s ancestors. Typically held in August, families gather to visit their relatives’ graves, clean the sites, and provide food and incense offerings to their loved ones. The celebration includes the Bon-Odori dance, a vital cultural event in Japan. Then, what is Mountain Day?

Obon holidays

Historically, the Obon holidays on August 13 to 15 were widely observed. Nowadays, people opt to take a summer holiday by taking three or five days off during August. Instead of taking consecutive days off, individuals now take days off rotating to minimize disruptions to their company’s workflow. Moreover, people prefer to avoid peak travel seasons and crowded hometowns when returning home.

Mountain Day

Mountain Day is a national holiday established in Japan on August 11. The government officially recognised it through an amendment to the “Act on National Holidays” in 2014, which took effect in 2016. Today, many people in Japan celebrate Mountain Day each year.

There were suggestions to hold it on the first Monday of June or August 12th, but the latter was discarded due to the JAL plane crash and the need to avoid turning a day of mourning into a national holiday. Consequently, August 11 was chosen as the date for its establishment.

Why was the Mountain Day established?

According to reports, Yamanashi prefecture and other regions celebrated Mountain Day independently after Marine Day was established in 1995. Eventually, a composer who played a key role in establishing Marine Day questioned, “Why wasn’t a day dedicated to mountains?” This inquiry led to the creation of Mountain Day.

The meaning of Mountain Day

As per the “Regarding National Holidays” document from the Cabinet Office, Mountain Day is celebrated to appreciate mountains and their blessings. With around 70% of Japan’s land occupied by mountains, the country has a strong connection with nature. Therefore, Mountain Day is a significant occasion to express gratitude for the mountains’ positive impact on people’s lives.