Respect for the Aged Day

There are over 80,000 people over 100 years old in Japan now and more than 88% of those are women. Keiro no hi is written in Japanese as 敬老の日, which directly translates into “Respect for the Aged Day.” Keiro No Hi originated in a small village called Nomadani-mura (known as Taka-cho today) in the Hyogo Prefecture. The village hosted an “old folks gathering” on September 15, 1947. It is said that the date was selected in September because the weather was fairly moderate and farmers were less busy. Today, we’re celebrating Japan’s elderly population.

Much as filial piety is considered a big deal in Japan, Keiro no Hi (Respect for the Aged Day) is surprisingly a relatively new holiday. As the name implies, this holiday is a day to stop for a moment and reflect on how the older generations have paved the way for us. Those we celebrate can be relatives or people in the neighborhood, or just the elderly in general. It’s also a good time to show compassion for those older than us.