About this Holiday
Showa Day commemorates the birthday of Emperor Showa (Hirohito), born on April 29, 1901, who reigned from 1926 until his death in 1989 — the longest reign in Japanese history. During the Showa era, Japan experienced dramatic upheavals including World War II, postwar reconstruction, and an extraordinary economic miracle. The holiday, celebrated on April 29 each year, invites reflection on this turbulent period and its lasting impact on modern Japan.