Culture Day (Bunka no Hi) is a national holiday held annually in Japan on November 3 for the purpose of promoting culture, the arts, and academic endeavor. Festivities typically include art exhibitions, parades, and award ceremonies for distinguished artists and scholars.
Celebration Date
3rd November
Also Knows
Bunka no Hi
Holiday Type
National Holiday
History of Culture Day
Culture Day, otherwise famous as Bunka no hi, a day to honour traditional Japanese culture and promote the love of freedom and peace that enshrined in the Japanese constitution. Culture Day was first held in 1948, to commemorate the announcement of the post-war Japanese constitution on November 3, 1946. November 3 was first celebrated as a national holiday
in 1868, when it called Tencho-setsu, a holiday held in honor of the birthday of the reigning Emperor. Following Meiji’s death in 1912, November 3 ceased to a holiday until 1927. When his birthday given its own specific holiday, known as Meiji-setsu. This subsequently discontinued with the announcement of Culture Day in 1948.
Culture Day Celebration
Bunka no Hi, marked by various festivities and events ranging from art exhibitions. Parades to prestigious award ceremonies for distinguished artists and scholars. Many of which arranged by local governments. Many people visit art, historical or science museums. The majority of which will have free admissions on November 3. Art and historical museums often organize special exhibitions. Featuring a particular period in Japanese history. As Culture Day exists to promote the arts and various fields of academic endeavor. Local and prefectural governments typically choose this day to hold art exhibits, culture festivals, and parades.
For example, Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture holds the annual Feudal Lord’s Parade (Hakone Daimyō Gyōretsu) to exhibit Edo period clothing and costumes. It is common for universities to present new research and projects on Culture Day.[citation needed] Primary and secondary schools often have a “culture festival” on or near this day. Strangely enough, November 3 always seems to be blessed with fine weather. Even when it’s cloudy or rainy on the day before or after.
For 32 years between 1965 and 1996. There have been only three rainy days on November 3 in Tokyo, according to Japan’s Meteorological Agency. The agency has a list of days that always seem to feature certain kinds of weather. And November 3 is one such day for clear skies.
