Respect for the Aged Day 2026
September 21, 2026 in Japan
Respect for the Aged Day takes place on September 21, 2026. Respect for the Aged Day is a Japanese holiday celebrated annually to honor elderly citizens. It started in 1966 as a national holiday and held on every September 15. After 2003, the Respect for the Aged Day is held on the 3rd Monday of September due to the Happy Monday System. This national holiday traces its origins to 1947, when Nomadani-mura (later Yachiyo-cho, currently Taka-cho), Hyogo Prefecture proclaimed September 15 Old Folks' Day (Toshiyori no Hi). Its popularity spread nationwide, and in 1966 it took its present name and status. Annually, Japanese media take the opportunity to feature the elderly, reporting on the population and highlighting the oldest people in the country. (With material from: Wikipedia)