Japan's Seva Day

One of the "open days" in the Imperial Palace (Kyoto, 8.04.2007)“From now on, I become a human being,” Emperor Hirohito officially declared to the Japanese people. It was 1945. World War II is over and militaristic Japan is defeated. Until then, the Emperor of Japan was God. It was neither a joke nor a metaphor. The Japanese truly believed that their state and their lives were governed by God.

Emperor Hirohito, who became a “mere mortal” until his death in 1989, personified a period of Japanese history called the Showa period. The Showa period is the longest in the history of Japan and marked by many truly unprecedented events. These are World War II, which brought Japan defeat and, at the same time, led to a reassessment of many values by the Japanese; these are the atomic bombings of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, the consequences of which are still not erased from the memory of the Japanese; this is the unprecedented economic growth, industrialization and improvement of life of the Japanese, which led to a significant increase in the birth rate of the population; this is the beginning of television broadcasting in 1953; this is the first Olympic Games in Asia, held in Tokyo in 1964, and then the Olympic Games in Sapporo in 1972.

Emperor Hirohito

During the life of Emperor Hirohito, his birthday was a holiday and was listed in the Japanese calendar simply as "The Emperor's Birthday". After his death, the Emperor received the eternal title of Emperor Shova, and his birthday remained a national holiday, but was officially renamed “Green Day”.

But as the years go by, generations change, and the paradox is that today most Japanese people either do not remember or do not understand the original meaning of Green Day. Many Japanese have not forgotten their Emperor-God, and love and worship him after his death. They wanted to perpetuate the memory of the Emperor with a special day in the country. There were supporters who advocated renaming the holiday in a more logical, understandable and memorable name. Controversial assessments of the importance of Emperor Showa in Japanese history have not played a dominant role, and as a result of changes in the National Holidays Act, April 29 has become “Showa Day” since 2007. This day is still festive and weekend.

Interestingly, April reminds the Japanese of the Emperor not only the birthday of Emperor Shova, which became “Shova Day”. Every year in early April, the Imperial Palace of the ancient capital of Japan, Kyoto, hosts “open days”. Both Japanese from all over the country, and tourists tend to visit the territory of the Imperial Palace and admire the grandeur of the famous architecture and beautiful gardens, at least briefly touch the secrets of the life of the Imperial family. Also in April, the family quietly celebrate the wedding anniversary of the living Emperor Akihito, the son of Emperor Shova, and Empress Michiko.

What happened to Green Day?
Since 2007, this day has successfully moved to May 4. Thus, the Japanese have the legal right to relax and rest during the so-called “golden week”, which since 2007 includes Showa Day on April 29, Constitution Day on May 3, Green Day on May 4 and Children’s Day on May 5.

He was born on April 29, 1901 in Tokyo. The eldest son of Emperor Taisho. After the death of Emperor Taisho on December 25, 1926, the crown prince was officially proclaimed the 124th Emperor of Japan. The ascension ceremony (Sokui no Rei) took place in November 1928 in Kyoto.

** It lasted from 25 December 1926 to 7 January 1989.