Respect for the Aged Day

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Respect for the Aged Day (敬老の日, Keirō no Hi^?) is a Japanese holiday celebrated annually to honor elderly citizens. A national holiday since 1966, this used to be held on September 15. In 2000, Japan implemented the Happy Monday System (ハッピーマンデー制度, Happī Mandē Seido^?) which moved a number of national holidays to Mondays. Beginning in 2003, Respect for the Aged Day is held on the third Monday of September. In 2006, the holiday was held on September 18, 2006.

This national holiday traces its origins to 1947, when a town proclaimed September 15 as Old Folks' Day. Its popularity spread nationwide, and in 1966 it took its present name and status. Annually, Japanese media take the opportunity to feature the elderly, reporting the population and highlighting the oldest people in the country.