View source for Greenery Day

{{Short description|Public holiday in Japan}}
{{distinguish|Green Day}}
{{Expand Japanese|みどりの日}}
{{Refimprove|date=May 2009}}
{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name  = Greenery Day
|type          = [[public holidays in Japan|Public]]
|image         = 
|imagesize     = 250px
|caption       = 
|official_name = {{nihongo|みどりの日|Midori no Hi}}
|nickname      = 
|observedby    = [[Japan]]
|litcolor      = 
|significance  = to commune with [[nature]] and to be thankful for blessings.
|date          = May 4
|scheduling    = same day each year
|duration      = 1 day
|frequency     = Annual
|celebrations  = 
|observances   = 
|relatedto     = [[Golden Week (Japan)]], [[World Environment Day]]
}}
[[File:Greenery_day_bus_flags_2024_May_04_03-37PM.jpeg|thumb|A bus decorated with two flags in celebration of Greenery Day, 2024]]
The present observation of {{nihongo|'''Greenery Day'''|みどりの日|Midori no Hi}} as a [[public holiday in Japan]] stems from the celebration of the birthday of the Emperor Shōwa ([[Hirohito]], who lived from 1901 to 1989) on April 29 every year during the [[Shōwa era]] (1926–1989). In 1989, following the ascension of the Emperor [[Akihito]] to the [[Chrysanthemum Throne]], the name of the holiday was changed from "Birthday of the Emperor" to "Greenery Day".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2282.html |title=Golden Week |publisher=Japan-guide.com |date=2009-05-13 |access-date=2010-02-05}}</ref> Officially, as its name suggests, it is a day to commune with [[nature]] and to be thankful for blessings. The day was renamed to "Greenery Day" to acknowledge the controversial wartime emperor's love for [[plant]]s without directly mentioning his name.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4543461.stm |title='Japan names day after Hirohito |publisher=BBC News |date=2005-05-13 |access-date=2012-12-10}}</ref> However, in practice it is seen as just another day that expands the [[Golden Week (Japan)|Japanese Golden Week]] vacation.

In 2007, Greenery Day moved to May 4, and April 29 was changed to Shōwa Day in accordance with a 2005 revision of the law pertaining to public holidays. The Showa Emperor reigned for 62 years and 2 weeks. On May 3, 1947, he became a symbol of Japan by the new [[Constitution of Japan|constitution of the country]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Years !!	April 29 !!	May 4
|-
| before 1988 || The Emperor's Birthday || Non-holiday
|-
| 1988 || The Emperor's Birthday || National day of rest
|-
| 1989–2006 || Greenery Day || National day of rest
|-
| 2007– || Showa Day || Greenery Day
|}

==See also==
* [[Golden Week (Japan)]]
* [[World Environment Day]]

==References==
<references/>

{{Japan Holidays}}
[[Category:Public holidays in Japan]]
[[Category:Festivals in Japan]]
[[Category:May observances]]
[[Category:Forestry events]]
[[Category:1989 establishments in Japan]]