(Photo courtesy of Takahiro Takiguchi / Stripes Japan)
Sports Day is one of Japan’s 16 national holidays and is usually observed on the second Monday in October, the same time as the Indigenous People’s Day/Columbus Day holiday is observed in the U.S.
This year, Japan’s Supotsu-no-hi, or Sports Day, falls on Oct. 13.
This interesting holiday was officially recognized in 1966 to commemorate the opening of the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. Japan’s National Holiday Act defines it as a holiday to promote sports and an active lifestyle to ensure a healthy mind and body.
(Photo courtesy of Takahiro Takiguchi / Stripes Japan)
On Sports Day, most communities and schools across Japan celebrate the day with a sports festival, called “Undo-kai” (field day).
During the event, children wearing team-color caps (red, white, blue and yellow) compete in traditional track and field events, along with tug-of-war, three-legged race and other events. These days are family events with fathers cheering on kids and videotaping the competitions and mothers making sure the kids stay fueled by preparing elaborate lunches on site.
Happy Sports Day!
AloJapan.com