With the exception of New Year Bank Holidays, if a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following day is treated as a holiday instead. (b) When there is a single day between two national holidays, it is also taken as a holiday. (c) Between 29 December and 3 January government offices and many shops and offices are closed.
Public holidays in Japan were established by the Public Holiday Law of 1948. A provision of the law establishes that when a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the next working day shall become a public holiday, known as furikae kyujitsu. Under this provision, March 22, 2010 has been designated a furikae kyujitsu holiday. Additionally, any day that falls between two other national holidays shall also become a holiday, known as kokumin no kyujitsu. May 4, sandwiched between Constitution Memorial Day on May 3 and Children's Day on May 5, was an annual example of such a holiday until it was replaced by Greenery Day in 2007.
Prior to Japan's adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1873, the dates of holidays were based on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. As a result, New Year's Day, for example, was celebrated at the beginning of spring, as it is in modern China, Korea and Vietnam.
Japan have 15 official holidays in a year. However, due to their strong adherence to the tradition, there are many more traditional festive occasions celebrated throughout the country where businesses are closed. Some festivals have their roots in Chinese festivals but have undergone dramatic changes as they mixed with local customs. Some Japanese festivals have deep roots in Nepal. The concept of these festivals transported to China from Nepal then from China to Japan. Nepal has some similar festival as in Japan till today like Machendra Jatra, Indra Jatra.
The Public Holiday Law of 1948 establishes the occasions on which Japan has a legal holiday. This article lists those dates. Single days between two national holidays are taken as a bank holiday. This applies to May 4, which is a holiday each year. When a national holiday falls on a Sunday the next day that is not a holiday (usually a Monday) is taken as a holiday.
