Golden Week is the unofficial and affectionate name for a period that sees a succession of public holidays in Japan, falling at the end of April and running into May.
As its name suggests, the period is a treasured one in Japan, with many people taking advantage of a total of four public days for a holiday. Additionally, many will also take additional time off work on the days in between the official holidays to give them an even longer period of rest.
The Japanese name gōruden uiiku is an example of foreign loan words which have been absorbed into Japanese and then combined or modified to form a new phrase not itself drawn from the source language. While the origin of the phrase within Japan is disputed, with theories ranging from a source in gōruden taimu (golden time, the period of peak radio listening) to the bumper cinema audiences that the holidays generated in the 1950s, what is clear is that a new phrase was required to mark out this 20th Century innovation in leisure time.
The days of Golden Week
While the concentration of days off is what marks this period out in Japan, each of the days has its own name and history, though only one has long historical roots. The holidays are: Shōwa Day (29 April), Constitution Memorial Day (3 May), Greenery Day (4 May), and Children’s Day (5 May).
Kodomo no hi, or Children’s Day, marks the culmination of the week and of all the days has the longest history of cultural significance. Though only made a public holiday in 1948, the day grew from an existing tradition of tango no sekku, or Boy’s Day, which had been marked for centuries. Today, the day celebrates all children and their happiness and success. To mark the occasion, carp-shaped streamers called koinobori are often hung outside homes, with miniature warrior dolls or suits of samurai armour also displayed inside.
A gallery of 1 item.
Shōwa no hi, or Shōwa Day, marks the birthday of Emperor Shōwa (1901-1989), known as Hirohito during his lifetime. The day underwent several changes following the death of the Emperor and also some controversy, given the period of his reign included Japan’s military and colonial expansion, the Second World War and Japan’s eventual defeat. In its current form it is officially intended to encourage reflection on that period of the country’s history.
Midori no hi, or Greenery Day, in fact grew out of the original holiday to mark the birthday of Emperor Shōwa, which was for a period renamed in recognition of the Emperor’s interest in nature and then moved to become a new public holiday on 4 May.
Kenpō kinenbi, or Constitutional Memorial Day, commemorates Japan’s constitution which was established during the American occupation following the Second World War.
How Golden Week is celebrated
Golden Week can be compared to but also contrasted with the New Year period, when many Japanese families gather, often returning to their hometowns if they live apart, and Obon, the annual Buddhist festival commemorating one’s ancestors. All three are significant opportunities for rest and see large numbers of people travelling long distances. However, less closely intertwined with religious and spiritual practices, the Golden Week period acts most significantly as a straightforward break for employees and students, with fewer obligations and fewer formal traditions involved.
A gallery of 1 item.
While every full-time worker in Japan is entitled to at least ten days of paid holiday each year, Japanese employees – particularly younger employees – can be reluctant to use their annual leave.
Keina, a full-time accountant, explains this hesitancy, and her gratitude for periods like Golden Week:
“Even though every employee is entitled by law to paid time off, the expectation is that you won’t use any of these days. If I can, I like to take Golden Week as an opportunity to go abroad or travel further afield.”
Golden Week, then, becomes an important time during the working year in which employees are provided a brief hiatus from the often considerable strain of the country’s working culture. However, as a consequence of this nationally enshrined break, Golden Week is known for being an especially busy time for travel throughout the country.
Alina, an editorial content creator, explains the effects that Golden Week has on her home city of Tokyo:
“I try not to travel during Golden Week, as I know it’s going to be crowded. I try not to visit anywhere that I know will be overrun with crowds, and try to spend time at home with my family.”
Echoing this sentiment, Solene, a Tokyo-based photographer, agrees that Golden Week is an excellent opportunity to rest, recuperate and enjoy private time. She also notes a subtle shift in the national mood:
“I feel like people are nicer during Golden Week; they’re usually a little less stressed and more friendly. People smile at you in the street.”
Though a relatively modern invention, Golden Week has established itself alongside other more religiously rooted holiday periods as an essential pause in the rush of people’s hectic schedules. Golden Week’s distinct identity allows individuals the opportunity to take the time however they may see fit, with family, friends, or simply recuperating individually.