Experience new festivals, new celebrations, and a new culture by applying for resort jobs in Japan.
Holidays in Japan are often very different from those held in the Western world. You can experience them first hand by living and working in Japan on a Working Holiday.
The Japanese New Year’s celebration is held on January 1st. Most businesses in Japan are closed from December 29th through January 3rd so workers can celebrate the New Years holiday with family and friends. People often go back to their hometowns and gather with their families. There are rarely any large fireworks displays or all-night partying as there is in many Western countries. Children also receive money from their parents and other relatives on New Years day. In many ways a Japanese New Year it is a lot more like a Western Christmas than a Western New Year.
The holiday known as the ‘Coming of Age Day’ is celebrated to honor citizens who have reached the age of 20. Cities and towns host ceremonies, and there are parties across the country each year. The holiday falls on the second Monday of January. The original yearly celebration date was January 15th, but it’s celebration on the second Monday of the month came into effect in the year2000.
The holiday known as ‘National Foundation Day’ was first recognized by the government in 1966 and was first celebrated in 1967. The holiday occurs on February 11th and is meant to encourage celebration of the founding of Japan.
The Japanese government in 1948 established Labor Thanksgiving Day. It is celebrated each year on November 23rd. The celebration is used to praise labor, celebrate production, and to give thanks to one another for their hard work. Prior to 1948, November 23rd was celebrated as an imperial harvest festival known as Niiname-sai.
Since 1868 the Emperor’s Birthday’s birthday has been celebrated as a national holiday in Japan. Currently it is celebrated on December 23rd to honor the birthday of the current Emperor, Emperor Akihito. He succeeded Emperor Hirohito. While Hirohito was Emperor, the holiday occurred on April 29th.Emperor Hirohito died in 1989. This celebration was first known as Tencho-setsu and is now known as Tenno tanjobi. The name change occurred in 1948 by decree of the Japanese government.
Perhaps the most awaited holiday of the yearly calendar is Golden Week. Many Japanese and foreigners working in Japan use Golden Week to travel either within Japan, or abroad. Golden Week is special because within seven days, there are four national holidays. When the weekend falls into place nicely with the four national holidays, it becomes one of the three longest and busiest holiday periods in Japan – the others being New Years and Obon.
Some other common Japanese holidays include Health and Sports Day,Culture Day, Autumnal Equinox Day, Respect for the Aged Day, Children’s Day,Greenery Day, Constitution Memorial Day and Vernal Equinox Day.
To experience the holidays, festivals, and all Japan has to offer, apply online now for resort work in Japan.