05: Showa Day ( April 29th )
Until 1988, April 29th was celebrated as the birthday of Emperor Hirohito, who ruled Japan from 1926 until 1989 during the Showa Period. After he passed away in January of 1989, April 29th became known as “Greenery Day” (みどりの日,Midori no Hi). In order to avoid using the war-time Emperor’s name and creating a controversy, the day was associated with nature, something the Emperor was very fond of. His anniversary became a day to spend with nature and enjoy the beauty of it.
However, from 2007 Greenery Day, being a day to celebrate nature, will be held on May 4th. April 29th will be named “Showa Day” (昭和の日 Showa no Hi), becoming a official holiday to remember the late Emperor.
Emperor Hirohito became a symbol of Japan because of the new Japanese Constitution he promulgated on May 3rd, 1947. But because of his involvement in World War II many people have mixed feelings about him. Some find the decision to re-introduce Showa Day controversial, saying that it could raise anti-Japanese sentiment in Japan's neighbouring countries that still have hostile feelings for Japan's expansionist policies during World War II.
April 29th is also very well known as the beginning of “Golden Week,” a week when many Japanese households go on holiday.
