keiro no hi - Respect for the Aged Day!

It is heartening to know that in Japan, today, September 15 is a national holiday,declared since 1966, specially dedicated to older members of the population. Something we can adopt here to bring back the culture of respect for the elderly in our society.

The folowing is an extract of an article produced in Japan Times dated 2 September 2008

Please read the full article So is it respect for the aged, the elderly or the seniors? by By PETER BACKHAUS

As it is every September, people in Japan are looking forward to keirō no hi, the coming national holiday dedicated to the older members of the population. Respect for the Aged Day provides an annual opportunity to visit one's elderly relatives, get involved in various welfare activities or just stay home in bed and rest.

Given that more than 21 percent of Japan's population is 65 years or older, it seems reasonable to have something like Respect for the Aged Day. The origins of this holiday, however, date back to when Japan's population was much younger than it is today, and when the holiday had another name.

On Sept. 15, 1947, a small town in Hyogo Prefecture first celebrated a day for the elderly, then called otoshiyori no hi ("day of the elderly"). In the following years, similar festivities were held in other communities throughout Japan until, in 1963, Sept. 15 was officially established as rōjin no hi ("day of the old people"). It settled to its present name, keirō no hi, only after the government declared it a national holiday in 1966.