Japan Ocean Day

Ocean Day: July 19

Ocean Day is a national holiday in Japan.

Japan’s fate has always been intrinsically linked to the ocean, so it’s little wonder that the people of Japan now celebrate a holiday related to it. Historically, Japan has employed millions of fishermen and at one time lead the world in output of ocean-related products. Even today, Japan remains one of the largest consumers of seafood products in the world. As an ode to its life source, Japan celebrates Ocean Day every year on the third Monday of July.

The holiday should not be confused with World Oceans Day, an observance created by a United Nations resolution at the end of 2008.

History of Ocean Day in Japan

Japan has had its fair share of ocean-related holidays since the early 20th century. On May 27, 1905, Admiral Togo and the Japanese Combined Fleet awarded a humiliating loss to the Russian fleet during the Battle of Tsushima. Afterwards, the people of Japan would informally celebrate Kaigun Kinenbi, “Naval Memorial Day”, on May 27 every year.

However, naval merchants, wanting to foster maritime growth in Japan, called on then Japanese Telecommunication and Transport Minister Shozo Murata to initiate talks of creating a new holiday independent from Kaigun Kinenbi. Eventually in 1941, the Japanese Government agreed to officially enact Marine Memorial Day to be celebrated on July 20, the same day that the Meiji Emperor returned the ship Meiji-Maru to the Port of Yokohama in 1876. According to the Nippon Foundation, the holiday was created with the purpose of “increasing interest in the sea and using it to cultivate a spirit of embracing the world.”

Soon after the end of World War II, Japan’s Naval Memorial Day died off. However, Marine Memorial Day lived on, though not as a public holiday. It was informally observed until 1996, when the Japanese Diet decided to change the name to Ocean Day (also referred to as Marine Day) and made it a national holiday celebrated every July 20.

Four years later, the Japanese Government introduced the idea of “Happy Monday”, a concept embracing the celebration of public holidays as three-day weekends. In 2003, Ocean Day’s observance was changed to conform to the Happy Day policy, and is now celebrated every year on the third Monday of July.

Japan’s Ocean Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

As a national holiday, many Japanese take to the beaches to celebrate Ocean Day. While there are no real traditional customs attached to its observance, Ocean Day typically sees a wide variety of incentives offered to take advantage of the nation’s aquariums and swimming areas. There is also a grand fireworks display held at the Port of Yokohama every year.

Oddly, many Japanese aren’t aware that the observance of Ocean Day is tied to Emperor Meiji’s return to Yokohama. Many Japanese have correlated the opening of the beaches and summer holiday season to Ocean Day itself, leaving behind the old history.

It remains to be seen if the United Nation’s resolution in December 2008 making June 8 of every year World Oceans Day will affect Japan’s celebration of Ocean Day in July. The U.N. observance of World Oceans Day is geared towards a serious recognition of ocean conservation efforts while Japan’s Ocean Day is a much more relaxed celebration.