Today Google Showing Doodle for Respect for the Aged Day.
Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Tokyo-based guest artist Tatsuro Kiuchi, commemorates Respect for the Aged Day (敬老の日 or Keiro no Hi), an annual Japanese holiday dedicated to the country’s elderly community.
Respect for the Aged Day, or Keiro-no-Hi, is a national public holiday in Japan. As the name suggests, it’s a day to honor and respect the country’s elderly citizens. It is held on the third Monday of September each year. This year it falls on September 21st.
Japan is one of only two nations with a public holiday that honors older citizens, and it has much to celebrate. The archipelago is home to the world’s largest percentage of people aged 65 and above–over 28% according to recent statistics.
Of that group, more than 70,000 people are over 100 years old, including the world’s oldest living person who turned 117 this year.
Happy Respect for the Aged Day, Japan!
Read on to find out more about this holiday and what you can do to celebrate.
Today Japan celebrates its elders, the men and women who paved the way for their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to leave their mark on society. Communities across the country will gather to enjoy musical performances and offer their elders gifts like bento boxes, flowers, and handmade crafts.
Study the History
In 1947, a small town in Hyōgo Prefecture now known as Taka proclaimed September 15th to be Old Folks’ Day (Toshiyori no Hi). Over the years, the holiday’s popularity spread to every corner of the country. By 1966 it was proclaimed a national public holiday, and was still celebrated on September 15th. Beginning in 1998, Japan began introducing the Happy Monday System. This system attempted to move public holidays to Mondays so that people with the usual 9-to-5, Monday-to-Friday job could have more three-day weekends. Respect for the Aged Day was moved to the third Monday of September beginning in 2003.
On this Day People Ganerally Assist the Elderly, Learn About Aging as well as Connect with their Parents and Grandparents.
Assist the Elderly
On Respect for the Aged Day, organizations and companies will have special events to help the elderly living in their community. Who qualifies as ‘elderly’ can vary depending on location, but generally it is for those aged 65 and up. Volunteers organize free bento lunch deliveries, or distribute special hampers that contain basic necessities like soap and toothpaste. If you don’t have an opportunity to volunteer, be sure to be extra kind towards any elderly citizens you come across on Keiro-no-Hi.
Learn About Aging
Television stations will take the opportunity to air special programming related to aging and the elderly community. Japan has a very high population of centenarians – people who are over one hundred years old. Many of them will be featured on shows and in the news to talk about their experiences and their opinions on aging. What better way to get healthy living tips than to learn from someone who has been practicing them for over a century, with great results?
Connect with Your Parents and Grandparents
If you have grandparents or elderly parents, make the day extra special for them by taking them out for a meal or simply by spending time together. Even if you can’t be together in person, you can still give them a call and let them know how much you care. Respect for the Aged Day is all about respecting and appreciating your elders, and that’s really the best way to celebrate.
Today Japan celebrates its elders, the men and women who paved the way for their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to leave their mark on society. Communities across the country will gather to enjoy musical performances and offer their elders gifts like bento boxes, flowers, and handmade crafts.