Showa no Hi (昭和の日) is the first of 4 national holidays in the space of 7 days that make up Golden Week, held on April 29th to celebrate the birthday of the former emperor of the Showa Era, the Hirohito. This emperor ruled the country from 1926 to 1989, that is, before and after the Second World War, and one of the objectives of this date is to encourage public reflection on the turbulent 63 years of Hirohito’s reign.
- What does the Japanese word Showa mean?
昭 (shou, しょう) means bright, and 和 (wa, わ) means peace. Putting them together means Enlightened Peace.
- Why should Japanese people reflect on the Showa period?
Marcus Garvey once said that (A people without knowledge of their history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots). Much of the 20th century was difficult, not just for the people of Japan, but for many other nations as well.
During Emperor Hirohito’s 63-year rule, Japan witnessed World War II, several coup attempts, its first foreign occupation in history, and the “Japanese economic miracle.”
National Holiday: April 29th, Showa Day.