Kenkoku Kinen no Hi National Foundation Day Also Read as Kenkoku KinenBi

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?????? Kenkoku Kinen no Hi National
Foundation Day(Also Read as Kenkoku Kinen-Bi)

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General Information

• Kenkouku Kinen no Hi is celebrated on February
  11th
• It celebrates the foundation of Japan, as well as
  the Imperial line
• According to the Nihonshoki, the first emperor of
  Japan was Jimmu
• The Nihonshoki are Translated as The Chronicals
  of Japan.

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Background Information

• In January of 1873, Japan switched from a
  Lunisolar calendar to a Gregorian calendar
• Only then was National Foundation Day recognized
  as a holiday.
• Using the Nihonshoki, scholars determined the
  date of Jimmus crowning to be on February 11th,
  660 B.C.

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Background Information

• Unfortunately, proof of The First Emperors,
  Jimmus, existence has not been found outside the
  Nihonshoki
• At first, the holiday was named Kigensetsu (???
  ), or Empire Day.
• A rumor is that the Meiji emperor, after the
  downfall of the Tokugawa Shogunate, established
  this holiday.

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General Information

• By doing this, he linked himself to Jimmu, and to
  Amaterasu, the Shinto Goddess of the sun.
• The Imperial line was fabled to have been related
  to Amaterasu, thus making it divine.
• The Meiji emperor was implying that he was the
  one, true ruler.

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General Information

• Kingensetsu was originally celebrated with
  parades and festivals, and considered one of the
  four major holidays in Japan.
• It was, unfortunately, abolished during World War
  II, due to its heavy reliance on Shinto beliefs.

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General Information

• After world war two, in 1966, Kingensetsu was
  re-established as Kenkoku Kinen no hi
• The most obvious references to the emperor were
  removed, so now it is mainly for expressing
  patriotism and love for the Nation of Japan.

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General Information

• Nowadays, Kenkoku Kinen no Hi is controversial,
  so strong demonstrations of nationalism are rare.
• Some common modern customs are raising the
  Japanese flag and reflecting on the meaning of
  citizenship.

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• (Owari)
• Sasha Evstiounina ???? ????????