Marine Day in Japan 2023: Marine Day is celebrated in Japan on the third Sunday of July, which is July 17 this year. Marine Day is a Japanese national festival celebrating the bounty of the ocean. Due to the fact that Japan is a maritime nation, the country and its people depend significantly on the ocean. On this day, many Japanese visit the shore and partake in ocean-related festivities. Marine Day, also known as ‘Umi no hi,’ generally coincides with Japan’s mainland monsoon season. Due to the 2020 and 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, the Marine Day date was shifted in 2020 and 2021. The Marine Day date is scheduled to return to its regular schedule in 2022.
Japan expresses its devotion to the oceans and seas on Marine Day, also known as “Sea Day.” In Japan, Marine Day only became a national holiday in 1996. It has been observed on the third Monday of July since 2003.
Prior to 1996, Marine Memorial Day was known as Marine Memorial Day and was not a federal holiday. Water is an absolute necessity for our survival. Therefore, we should be appreciative of our oceans, lakes, and rivers. Taking the time to consciously practise gratitude can reportedly make us happier, lower our blood pressure, and have other benefits. Japan is the only nation in the globe to celebrate an ocean blessing holiday.
HISTORY OF MARINE DAY IN JAPAN
Communications Minister Shozo Murata instituted the day in 1941 to honour the Meiji Emperor’s 1876 voyage aboard the iron steamship Meiji Maru, which was constructed in Scotland in 1874. The excursion included a journey across the Tohoku region, embarking on a lighthouse boat in Aomori, and momentarily stopping in Hakodate before returning to Yokohama on July 20, that year. It was not a national holiday, however, until 1995, when it became the first summer holiday. The day was also established as a festival to express gratitude for the sea’s benefits, recognise its significance, and pray for the success of Japan as a maritime nation.
First declared by Communications Minister Shozo Murata in 1941, the day was originally known as Marine Memorial Day. The purpose of this day was to honour the Meiji emperor and his 1876 voyage aboard the iron steamship Meiji Maru. The emperor had circumnavigated the Tohoku region by ship. In 1995, Marine Memorial Day was declared a national holiday and became the first summertime holiday. The holiday was relocated to the third Monday of July in 2003 as part of the ‘Happy Monday’ revisions to holidays, which established extended weekends for the majority of Japan’s public holidays. It was the first summer vacation on the Japanese calendar, which also marked the end of the rainy season. Consequently, it is a popular time to visit beaches and engage in a variety of water activities.
Marine Day is a significant festival in Japan. Why? Perhaps this is a result of Japan’s profound relationship with the land and water, both of which play a significant role in Shintoism. Due to the fact that Japan consists of roughly 6,000 small islands, the majority of us can readily experience the recreational and health benefits of water. Marine Day is one of several holidays celebrating environment, along with Greenery Day and Mountain Day.
A secondary purpose of the holiday was to convey gratitude for the gifts of the sea and to pray for the prosperity of Japan. It is considered the legitimate beginning of summer for students, and the three-day weekend allows families to spend time together while celebrating. Families visit beaches on this day to bathe, snorkel, surf, or simply spend time on the shore. People also partake in activities such as mud-ball throwing, which aids in the breakdown and elimination of marine grime. Additionally, a number of aquariums across the nation host water-related events.
As an island nation, Japan’s culture, history, society, and identity are intricately intertwined with the ocean. In Japan, marine resources have been extensively utilised. Most palatable marine species have played an important role in Japanese culture. According to archaeological evidence, fish and crustaceans comprised the majority of the diet of Japan’s earliest inhabitants.
5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT JAPAN
It encompasses more than 70% of the planet.
Given that the ocean covers such a large portion of the planet’s surface, it is evident how vital these marine areas are to the planet and how much remains to be discovered.
Aquatic life constitutes the vast majority
The oceans are home to an astounding 94% of all species on Earth.
5 per cent of the ocean has been mapped.
According to the Ocean Service, only about 5 percent of the world’s waters have been explored.
The longest mountain range is submerged.
The world’s longest mountain range, the Mid-Ocean Ridge, is nearly entirely submerged beneath the sea, spanning over 40,389 miles.
Marine vegetation generate over 70% of the oxygen
An estimated 70% to 80% of the oxygen we breathe is produced by marine plants, which are almost exclusively composed of marine algae.
WHY MARINE DAY IN JAPAN IS IMPORTANT
Water is an absolute necessity for human survival. All of us should be grateful for the oceans, lakes, and rivers we have.
Villagers celebrate the festival by casting purifying balls of dried mud into the lake. The presence of efficient microorganisms (E.M.) aids in the elimination of hazardous substances from the seafloor.
In addition to throwing E.M. mudballs into the water on Marine Day to remove muck and slime, other communities hold beach repair programmes on this day. Their contributions encourage the public to protect the environment and preserve natural resources.
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Marine Day in Japan 2023: DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | July 18 | Monday |
| 2023 | July 17 | Monday |
| 2024 | July 15 | Monday |
| 2025 | July 21 | Monday |
| 2026 | July 20 | Monday |
