Respect for the Aged Day 2012

Today is a holiday in Japan: Keiro no Hi, or Respect for the Aged Day. Celebrated nationally since 1966 — originally on September 15th, but recently moved to the following Monday under the “Happy Monday” initiative, which bumps holidays in the middle of the week to create more three-day weekends — it’s a day to honor and show respect for the older people in our lives. It’s a good idea for Japan, the country with the highest percentage of people aged 65 or older in the world, currently 23.5% (in case you were curious, Florida has 17.6%). Today there will be TV specials highlighting the lives and accomplishments of older Japanese, and they’ll no doubt be asked what their secret for staying so genki (healthy, full of pep) is — and the answer will probably be something like, a daily serving of pickled fish intestines over rice. Respect for the Aged Day is a day for children to give gifts to their grandmothers and grandfathers, and popular presents include flowers, cards or train tickets to relaxing resorts.

Today is Respect for the Aged Day in Japan.