Constitution Memorial Day for the year 2024 is celebrated/observed on Wednesday, May 3rd. There are until the next observance.

There is no question that violence and conflict have cost far too many lives, which is why we pause to reflect on life on May 3, Japan’s Constitution Memorial Day. Sociopolitical schisms create much too much loss, regardless of which side of the dispute you are on. Japan’s situation is no different. The country not only inflicted bloodshed on other countries but also suffered greatly in return. Japan awoke one day to the loss of two of its cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, with many families shattered, children orphaned, and family members missing or (assumed) dead. The United States launched repeated atomic bomb attacks on the two cities. Around 226,000 people were murdered, and the vast majority of them were innocent bystanders. After losing a lot of people, Japan gave up in 1945 and made a new constitution with a focus on civilian welfare and peace.

📆 When is Constitution Memorial Day?

This year, Constitution Memorial Day is on May 3rd. It is the 1st Wednesday in May; in 2024, it is on Friday.

Countdown to Constitution Memorial Day

Did you know: Since 2006, April 29 has been designated Emperor Showa Day in recognition of the emperor and his contributions during WWII.

You can also discover all fun things you didn’t know about and facts about May 3, 2023.

📜 History of Constitution Memorial Day

The Meiji Constitution placed a high value on conquering other countries via violence and conflict. It had no care for its civilians or their well-being. The revised constitution, on the other hand, emphasized respecting the sovereignty of its people, safeguarding them, and settling any foreign problems without the use of arms. The Japanese people liked democracy because it would allow them to not only pick their own leaders but also those sets of ideals that would benefit them and future generations.

Originally, Constitution Memorial Day was to be observed on November 3rd, the day the new constitution was finalized. Many people advocated for November 3, but it was not chosen since it coincided with the start of the war crimes trials of imperial officials. Thus, May 3 was eventually picked because it was also the date on which the new constitution superseded the old one. Because May 3 is a public holiday, many people visit the Constitution Building to snap photos and learn about its history. The building and the constitution papers are only available to the public on this day.

☑️ Constitution Memorial Day facts

Constitution Memorial Day
Shigeru Yoshida, the former Prime Minister, wanted to celebrate this day on November 3, but that was changed because that is also Emperor Meiji’s birthday.

Greenery Day
Greenery Day was initially set aside for Emperor Showa’s birthday, but with the designation of a distinct day for Emperor Showa, Greenery Day became separate and is currently celebrated on May 4.

National Holiday
Only in 2019, May 1 was declared a national holiday to commemorate Crown Prince Naruhito’s accession to the throne.

Things to do on Constitution Memorial Day

Visit the Japanese constitution building
Many individuals use the public holiday to visit the Constitution Building. You may snap photos, study the original constitution, or just immerse yourself in the historical event. This is the only day the building and documents are exposed to the public, so soak it all up.

Read up on WWII history
When World War II began and ended, a lot of things changed. Many were lost, while others were discovered, but the harm was, in most cases, irreversible. Children who were orphaned or lost or abandoned as a result of the conflict experienced untimely deaths as a result of malnutrition and other heinous acts. Consider those periods in order to put the present into context.

Vow against violence and war
Constitution Memorial Day rallies against war by bringing out the worst aspects of humanity. Those who support war are frequently unaware of the short- and long-term consequences that violence may have on mankind. As a result, the only roads to well-being and happiness are those of peace and wealth.

📅 Constitution Memorial Day Observances

YEAR DATE DAY
2023 May 3 Wednesday
2024 May 3 Friday
2025 May 3 Saturday
2026 May 3 Sunday
2027 May 3 Monday

Explore all May holidays, including Federal and other Appreciation holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and interesting facts about Constitution Memorial Day. So be sure to check back soon.