Marine Day in Japan

Marine Day in Japan for the year 2023 is celebrated/observed on Monday, July 17th. There are until the next observance.

Marine Day is celebrated in Japan on the third Sunday of July, which occurs on July 17 this year. Marine Day is a Japanese national holiday commemorating the ocean’s richness. Because Japan is a maritime nation, the country and its people are largely reliant on the sea. On this day, many Japanese people visit the beach and participate in ocean-related celebrations. The day of Marine Day, known as “Umi no hi,” also often corresponds with monsoons in mainland Japan. The festival’s dates were shifted in 2020 and 2021 owing to the Tokyo Olympics, but it is slated to return to its usual schedule in 2022.

📆 When is Marine Day in Japan?

This year, Marine Day in Japan is on July 17th. It is the 3rd Monday in July; in 2024, it is on Wednesday.

→ Did you know: With the ocean covering so much of the Earth’s surface, it’s easy to see how essential these marine regions are to the globe and how much more there is to learn.

You can also explore all fun things you didn’t know about and facts about July 17, 2023.

📜 History of Marine Day in Japan

Shozo Murata, Japan’s minister of communications, declared the day Marine Memorial Day in 1941. The purpose of the holiday was to commemorate the Meiji emperor’s 1876 tour of the Tohoku area aboard his iron steamer, the “Meiji Maru.” In 1995, Marine Memorial Day was declared a federal holiday, making it the first holiday to fall on a summer day. As part of the 2003 “Happy Monday” adjustments to holidays that established extended weekends for the majority of public holidays in Japan, the holiday was shifted to the third Monday in July. The first summer break on the Japanese calendar fell at the same time as the conclusion of the wet season. Because of this, it is a popular time to go to beaches and do different things in the water.
Marine Day is a prominent holiday in Japan. Why? This may be a result of Japan’s close ties to the land and the sea, both of which play important roles in Shintoism. Since Japan is made up of over 6,000 little islands, the majority of us may quickly experience the water’s advantages for enjoyment and health. One of the holidays with a naturalist theme is Marine Day, along with Greenery Day and Mountain Day.
Gratitude for the blessings of the sea and prayers for Japan’s prosperity were two other goals of the event. For students, it is regarded as the formal beginning of the summer break, and the three-day weekend allows families to celebrate together. Families go to the beach on this day to swim, snorkel, surf, scuba dive, or just relax by the sand. In addition, people take part in activities like mud-ball tossing, which aids in the breakdown and removal of marine debris. Water-related events are also held in a number of aquariums around the nation.
Japan is an island country, and thus the water plays a significant role in its culture, history, society, and sense of self. In Japan, marine resources have been extensively used. The majority of edible marine creatures have had some influence on Japanese culture. Fish and shellfish were the staples of the cuisine of Japan’s first settlers, according to archeological data.

☑️ Marine Day in Japan facts

✅ Aquatic life makes up the majority
The oceans are home to 94% of all living organisms on earth.

✅ 5% of the ocean has been explored
Humans have only explored around 5% of the world’s oceans, according to the Ocean Service.

✅ The longest mountain chain is underwater
The Mid-Ocean Ridge, which is 40,389 miles long, is the longest mountain range in the world. It is almost entirely covered by water.

✨ Things to do on Marine Day in Japan

⚡ Read about Japan’s relationship with the ocean
to comprehend Marine Day in Japan. One must comprehend how important the water is to the culture. Learn more about it!

⚡ Visit the ocean
Do you reside close to a beach? Maybe spend the day at the beach. Marine Day is the unofficial start of summer for schools, and many people use this summer vacation to spend a day at the beach. Odaiba, Yokohama, Kamakura, Enoshima, and Chiba can all be reached by train from Tokyo J.R. Station in less than an hour, making them some of the most convenient places to visit for beaches and views of the ocean.

⚡ Visit an aquarium
National aquariums feature one-of-a-kind events, water sports championships, aquatic shows, and cultural activities centered on the sea. To honor the event, Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force decked up their ships with flags and banners.

📅 Marine Day in Japan Observances

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

We will continue to update this page with new information and fun facts about Marine Day in Japan. So be sure to check back soon.