Culture Day
文化の日
Every year on November 3rd Japan celebrates a national holiday
called 文化の日 (Bunka no hi),
Culture
Day. This national holiday originated on November 3rd 1948
to commemorate the announcement of the post-war Japanese
constitution on November 3rd 1946. Its current practice however,
greatly differs from its original intentions.We begin in the year
1852 on November 3rd, when Japanese
Emperor Meiji (明治天皇) was born and given the
name of
Mutsuhito.
Japan at the time was very isolated, feudal and had not yet entered
its industrial era which was at the time ruled by the Tokugawa
shogunate. Mutsuhito was enthroned on September 12th 1868 (only
15-years old) and became Emperor Meiji, later to be known as
Meiji the Great or
Meiji-tatei (明治大帝), literally translated to
the enlightened ruler.
Emperor Meiji had radically changed Japan by implementing a new
school system, adoption of the cabinet system of government,
promulgation of the Meiji Constitution, and led the modernization
of Japan. The modernization was greatly influenced by Western
powers by delegating resources to fields of science, education, and
technology.
Emperor Meiji was very well liked revered by many and was and
considered almost like a god by some. However, despite his likeness
by the masses, his ideals were against traditional values such as
the Samurai ways and as a result there were many complications and
civil unrest.
In 1889 the
Constitution of the Empire
of Japan (
Meiji Constitution) was established and
became the fundamental law of the state. In 1868, on the same year
which Emperor Meiji ascended the throne, November 3rd became a
national holiday known as "
The
Emperor’s Birthday".
On July 30th 1912, Emperor Meiji passed away and the Emperor’s
Birthday changed date to its successor’s birthday as is tradition.
However a special holiday dedicated in Emperor Meiji’s honor known
as
Meiji-setsu (明治節) was
celebrated from 1927 until culture day was founded in 1948.
Moving forward to February 11th 1937, the
Order of Culture (文化勲章) was established
which awards exceptional individuals in Art, Literature or Culture.
Award recipients also receive an annuity for life and the
Badge of the Order which is a
gold medal which bares the three crescent-shaped jades as seen
below.
The Emperor himself presents the award during a ceremony on Culture
Day, November 3, which takes place in the Imperial Palace. Nearly a
decade later on November 3rd 1946, the announcement of the
Post-War Japanese constitution
(戦後憲法
or Sengo Kenpou) was made but was only enacted months
later on May 3rd 1947.
Constitutional Memorial day
(憲法記念日
or Kenpou Kinenbi) is celebrated not on November 3rd
but on May 3rd of every year during
Golden Week. Culture day in Japan is also a
day to promote academic fields and endeavors through exhibits,
culture festivals, and parades. It is a day to learn about the
history and culture of Japan, period clothing, calligraphy, and
just about anything that makes Japan so unique.
While it may seem that the Meiji-setsu was merely renamed to
Culture Day, there are no relations between the two as they only
share the same day by coincidence.