Japan's Keiro no Hi can be traced back as far as 1947, but it became increasingly popular around the country and was declared a national holiday in 1966. Originally it occurred every September 15, but beginning in 2003 it was changed to the third Monday in September in order to offer a long weekend.
Keiro No Hi Traditions
The holiday is born out of a traditional Confucian value of respect for one's elders. In some neighborhoods, volunteers deliver free lunches around the area to elderly neighbors and friends. Smaller villages often hold "keirokai" ceremonies in which schoolchildren and young people sing and dance as part of a celebration for their elders, that also includes a free lunch, tea and dessert for the attendees.
Because Respect for the Aged Day now creates a long weekend in Japan, one growing tradition is to travel with family. Spending time over meals with elder family members is also a common way to celebrate. Children old and young often give gifts to their parents and grandparents, and some families spend time praying for the health of their elders.
Respect for the Aged Day Also Important Time to Reflect
Most media companies dedicate a majority of their coverage to the elderly on Keiro no Hi. They focus primarily on stories about the contributions certain elderly men and women have made to the country. Special features on television and in print highlight Japan's oldest living citizens.
Political discussions often refocus at this time every year on the needs of Japanese seniors. Issues like nursing home living, welfare, and geriatric health make their way into the pubic sphere. Of particular interest in recent years has been what the term "elderly" means. As the Japanese population grows older and lives longer, and as less children are being born, the elderly population has begun to outgrow its own holiday. Some villages have even changed their celebrations to honor men and women over 65 instead of the previous 60.
What the West Could Learn from Japan's Holiday for the Elderly
Keiro no Hi is a much more serious holiday to the Japanese than any Grandparent's Day celebrated elsewhere. Japan honors its aged citizens through volunteer work, travel, gift-giving and political activity for the betterment of its senior citizens. It also promotes a concern for long-term health, both as an individual and as a society.
More importantly, Japan shows through this relatively new tradition its respect for the wisdom, memories and contributions that the elderly offer any society. Respect for the Aged Day encourages young people to view old age as honorable, rather than taboo and something to be avoided. Westerners could benefit greatly from similar priorities, particularly as the population grows increasingly older.
