Latest news with #MarineDay
Asahi Shimbun
5 days ago
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Sharp increase in early voting with election held on 3-day weekend
The leaders of 10 political parties vying for 125 seats in the Upper House. The election will be held on July 20. (The Asahi Shimbun) Around 2 million more voters have cast early ballots for the July 20 Upper House election that is widely expected to deal a major setback to the already shaky ruling coalition. A total of 9,885,919 voters around Japan cast early ballots over the 10-day period from July 4, the day after the official start of the campaign, according to the internal affairs ministry. That was about a 27-percent increase over 2022 when early ballots were cast by 7,786,793 voters over an 11-day period. The increase might lead to a higher turnout for the election, which will be a crucial factor since voting will be held midway through a three-day weekend. July 21 is Marine Day, a national holiday. Internal affairs ministry officials said this will be the first time for a national election to be held in the middle of a three-day weekend since 1952, when it started keeping such records. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has said his goal for the election is for the coalition of his Liberal Democratic Party and junior partner Komeito to maintain an Upper House majority. But public opinion surveys suggest the ruling coalition will fall short of that goal. One hundred and twenty-five seats will be contested. To maintain its majority, the ruling coalition will need to win a combined 50 seats or more. The ruling coalition lost its majority in the Lower House after the autumn 2024 election and was forced to solicit the support of some opposition parties to pass the budget and other important legislation. Management of Diet affairs will become even more difficult if the ruling coalition loses its Upper House majority. Key issues during the election campaign included dealing with the soaring cost of living and tariff negotiations with the United States. While the ruling coalition has argued for making a token cash payment to households to help with higher prices, the opposition has called for tax cuts, especially the consumption tax, now at 10 percent. Tougher policies against foreigners residing in Japan has also emerged as a major issue.
7 days ago
Marine Day (Japan's National Holidays)
Guideto Japan On the third Monday each July, Japan celebrates Marine Day, a commemoration of the nation's ties to the sea. Read on to learn how this unusual holiday came about. A Holiday with a Long Weekend Guarantee Marine Day is observed on the third Monday of July each year. Its purpose is to give thanks for the blessings of the sea and wish for the prosperity of maritime Japan. As it always creates a three-day weekend alongside Saturday and Sunday, many people take the opportunity to travel or enjoy leisure activities, with ocean-themed events held throughout the country. While Marine Day is now one of four holidays held on Mondays to ensure a long weekend, it was originally fixed on July 20 and called Umi no Kinenbi, or Marine Memorial Day. A Holiday Rooted in an Emperor's Journey The original date commemorates an 1876 imperial tour to the Tōhoku and Hokkaidō regions by Emperor Meiji. On July 16 of that year, on the return leg of his tour of the north, he boarded the lighthouse inspection ship Meiji Maru at Aomori Port and arrived in Yokohama by sea on July 20. This was the first time the emperor had traveled aboard a vessel other than a warship, and the date of his arrival was memorialized in 1941 with the creation of Marine Memorial Day. A monument marking the launch of Meiji's journey that led to Marine Memorial Day at Seitoku Park, Aomori Port. (© Pixta) Surrounded on all sides by the ocean, Japan has long benefited from the sea in countless ways. As public awareness of this grew, so did calls to make the day a public holiday. In 1996, it was renamed 'Marine Day' and officially recognized as a national holiday. While June 8 is observed as World Oceans Day by the United Nations, and some countries have similar commemorative observances, Japan is unique in designating a full public holiday to celebrate the ocean. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, no other country does this—making Marine Day a globally rare holiday. Meiji Maru: Japan's First Ship Designated an Important Cultural Property Coincidentally, Meiji Maru is the only surviving iron ship in Japan. In 1978, it became the first ship ever to be designated a National Important Cultural Property, recognized for preserving the shipbuilding techniques of the ironclad era. Today, you can visit the vessel at the Meiji Maru Maritime Museum, part of the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology in Kōtō, Tokyo. The Meiji Maru, a National Important Cultural Property. (© Pixta) Data Sources (Translated from Japanese. Banner photo © Pixta.)
Time Out
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
3 fantastic Bon Odori festivals happening in Tokyo this July 19-21 long weekend
Tokyo's summer festival season is in full swing, and this upcoming long weekend perfectly encapsulates the city's vibrant energy. What makes the Marine Day weekend especially exciting is the variety of traditional events on offer, including a number of Bon Odori festivities happening across the city. Bon Odori is a lively summer dance held during the Obon period to honour ancestors – a tradition that's been around for over 500 years. People gather around a yagura stage, dancing in circles to the rhythm of the music. It's a festive, feel-good way to spend a summer night – and the perfect chance to show off your best dance moves. Here are three Bon Odori festivals you can join this weekend. Sendagaya Bon Odori Festival, July 18-19 To kick things off, stop by the Sendagaya Bon Odori Festival taking place at Hato no Mori Hachiman Shrine. You can expect food stalls set up by local businesses, as well as games and activities for children. Plus, of course, the requisite communal dancing. Not familiar with the moves? No worries. Drop by around 4pm to learn the choreography, and you can join in one of the Bon Odori dances happening at 5.30pm, 7pm and 7.50pm (5.30pm, 6.45pm and 8pm on Saturday). Daibon, July 19 Get ready to get your groove on at Daibon, a modern rendition of the traditional Bon Odori festival held at Hachiman Shrine in Nakano ward's Yamatocho. Here, the customary Bon Odori festivities are fused with a line-up of DJs and contemporary artists, merging the timeless traditions with the energetic pulse of new-wave beats. Watch as the festival comes alive with live DJ sets, which have in the past featured eclectic talents like Chinbantei Goraku Shisho, and the invigorating performances of Korean percussionists. Daibon takes the typical Bon Odori experience a step further, creating a fusion of sounds that should strike a chord with revellers of all ages. Jiyugaoka Noryo Bon Odori Festival, July 19-21 The public square in front of Jiyugaoka Station is hosting a massive Bon Odori festival between July 19 and 21. Expect lively dancing to begin at 6.30pm each night (7pm on July 19) to the tune of Bon Odori classics such as 'Tokyo Ondo', as well as a more modern line-up of music featuring remixes of contemporary J-pop songs such as 'RPG' from Sekai no Owari and 'Takaneno Hanakosan' by Back Number. New for 2025 is a special kids' dance session beginning at 5.30pm (6.10pm on July 19), making the Noryo Bon Odori a fun and family-friendly night out. The Fuji Rock timetable for 2025 is here The timetable for Summer Sonic 2025 is out now
Yomiuri Shimbun
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japanese Voters Urged to Cast Their Ballots for House of Councillors Election Early; Polling Day Falls on 3-day Weekend
Early voting for the House of Councillors election began nationwide Friday. Election administration commissions are encouraging early voting to boost turnout, as polling day, July 20, falls in the middle of a three-day weekend observing the national holiday of Marine Day. It is the first time since 1952, when current records began, that a national election, excluding by-elections, will be held in the middle day of a three-day weekend, according to the Internal Affairs and Communication Ministry. Voters who cannot get to the polls on election day can cast their ballots until July 19 at early voting locations set up by municipalities where they are registered. As of Friday, the ministry said 6,905 such locations have been set up. Turnout for upper house electoral district elections reached a record high of 74.54% in the 1980 election, which was held on the same day as the House of Representatives election. However, voter turnout plummeted to 50.72% in 1992 before remaining stagnant in the 40%-50% range since then. The previous 2022 election saw a 52.05% turnout, the fourth lowest since the record low of 44.52% in 1995. The early voting system allows people who work, travel or have prior commitments on election day to cast their ballots starting from the day after an election campaign officially begins to the day before the election. The system was first introduced in the 2004 upper house election. Voters using this system have increased, accounting for 36.74% of total voters in 2022. The upcoming election coincides with summer vacation for elementary and junior high schools, and many voters will likely take advantage of the long holiday period to travel far away. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Keiichiro Tachibana urged voters at a press conference on Thursday to 'make use of early voting if they are unable to vote on election day.'
Yomiuri Shimbun
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan Upper House Election Campaign Period Kicks Off
Tokyo (Jiji Press)—The campaign period for the July 20 election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of Japan's parliament, kicked off Thursday. The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito will seek to maintain their majority in the Upper House, including seats not contested this time. Meanwhile, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and others hope to force the LDP-Komeito pair into a minority, as they did in last year's election for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber. Measures to tackle inflation, including a possible reduction of consumption tax, and responses to the tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump are expected to be major issues in the campaigning for the race. A total of 125 seats in the 248-seat upper chamber—75 prefectural constituency seats and 50 proportional representation seats—are up for grabs in this election. Some 520 candidates are expected to throw their hats in the ring, including around 150 women. Excluding by-elections, it is the first time under Japan's modern Constitution that a race for either chamber of parliament is held in the middle of a holiday period of three days or more. Japan celebrates Marine Day, a public holiday, on July 21.
