Marine Day in Japan
July 20 · Level 8 · #592 of 2238
Marine Day is a Japanese public holiday expressing gratitude for the ocean and its role in the nation’s prosperity. For an island country, the sea provides food, connections with the wider world and a deep source of cultural identity.
How it is celebrated: people head to the coast, visit aquariums and attend maritime events. Port celebrations offer opportunities to discover ships and the work people do at sea.
The holiday’s historical roots include Emperor Meiji’s return to Yokohama from a sea voyage in 1876. His ship, Meiji Maru, still survives today.