Japanese calendar facts for kids

Jōkyō calendar published in 1729. This calendar is on display at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo, Japan.

The Japanese calendar has used different official and unofficial systems over time. Today, Japan uses the Gregorian calendar, which is the one most of the world uses. They also use a special system called the Japanese era name system. This system names years based on the reign of the current emperor.

History of the Japanese Calendar

The first calendar system came to Japan from Korea around the middle of the 500s. This was a lunisolar calendar, similar to the Chinese calendar. It used both the sun and the moon to keep track of dates.

For a long time, Japan used different ways to calculate its calendar based on Chinese methods. From 1685, they even developed their own Japanese versions of these methods.

However, in 1873, Japan made a big change. This was part of a time called the Meiji period, when Japan was modernizing quickly. They decided to switch to the solar Gregorian calendar. This calendar only uses the sun's movement to track dates.

Because of this change, the old Chinese calendar is not really used in Japan anymore. Celebrations like the Lunar New Year are mostly observed by Chinese and other Asian communities living in Japan.

Yearly Holidays in Japan

The Japanese calendar has many yearly holidays and traditional events. Some of these holidays help to keep old customs alive.

Flags shaped like koi fish (koinobori) are often seen on Children's Day.

This colorful picture on a subway station wall in Tokyo celebrates Hazuki, which is the eighth month.

The names and dates of some of Japan's national holidays have changed over the years. Here are some of the main ones:

Related pages

• Japanese Imperial year
• Japanese era names

Images for kids

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  A Japanese Calendar made from a woodcut in 1867.

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  A short version of the Calendar from 1873.

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  A calendar from 1907.

See also

In Spanish: Calendario japonés para niños