May Day

What Is May Day?

Every May 1st is "May Day," known in Japan as "Labor Festival." It traces back to May 1, 1886, when workers in Chicago went on strike under the slogan "Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, and eight hours for what we will," demanding an eight-hour workday. Today it has become an international celebration that protects workers' rights, honors the dignity of labor, and calls for global peace and democracy.

The History of Changing Working Conditions

May Day is also a record of the struggle to improve harsh working conditions and secure a more humane way of life.

• Establishing the eight-hour workday: In 1919, the International Labour Organization's (ILO) very first convention made the eight-hour workday an international standard. In Japan, the first large-scale May Day rally was held in Ueno Park in 1920, becoming a driving force behind the development of labor standards laws.
• Roots in a springtime festival: May Day originally began as an ancient European festival celebrating the arrival of spring. Over time, this bright seasonal celebration of renewed life transformed into a day symbolizing workers' solidarity and hope, eventually spreading around the world.

The Science of Work and Reward

The act of "working" is deeply connected not just to survival, but to brain health and a sense of well-being.

• Self-efficacy and dopamine: When we use our skills, achieve goals, and feel we've contributed to others, the brain's reward system is activated, releasing dopamine. This creates a sense of "self-efficacy," a scientific foundation for mental well-being.
• The importance of social connection: Cooperating with others in a workplace community promotes the release of oxytocin. Research suggests that preventing isolation and maintaining a social role can help slow age-related cognitive decline.

Interesting Facts About May Day

• Is "May Day" the same as the distress signal? The radio distress call "Mayday" actually comes from the French phrase "m'aider" ("help me"), and has a different origin from May 1st's May Day. Still, both carry the resonance of an urgent call.
• France's lily of the valley: In France, it's customary on May 1st to give lily of the valley (muguet) to loved ones and family. Coinciding with May Day, this tradition warmly expresses both worker solidarity and the hope for renewed happiness.
• May Day as a public holiday: May 1st is an official public holiday in more than 80 countries. It's not a national holiday in Japan, but many labor unions hold events to advocate for better working conditions.
• "Work engagement": Modern industrial psychology emphasizes not simply working long hours, but feeling energized and taking pride in one's work—what's called "work engagement." Organizations with high work engagement have been shown to have higher productivity and lower turnover.
• New ways of working in the AI era: As technology advances, the very definition of "work" is changing. We're moving toward an era where routine tasks are handled by AI, freeing people to focus on more creative and emotionally meaningful work.

Tips for Spending May Day

• On May 1st, take an honest look at the balance between how you work and how you rest. Keeping the "eight-eight-eight" ratio in mind, give yourself permission to take quality rest and shake off the fatigue that's built up over the past month.
• Express gratitude to your colleagues, or to the people in service jobs who support your daily life. Recognizing that work is built on mutual support can boost motivation through positive communication.
• Use "your own eight hours" to dive into something new—a hobby or a bit of learning. If work is a means of self-realization, a fulfilling personal life creates a positive synergy that improves the quality of your work too.
• Following the French tradition, display lily of the valley or other seasonal flowers. Feeling the vitality of spring up close can help reset your mind and body, and gently honor "the working you."

Your Sweat and Quiet Dedication Keep Society's Great Wheels Turning, Shaping Hope for Someone Else's Tomorrow

May 1st is a day to honor everyone whose work supports the foundations of society. Even the small, unglamorous tasks you handle every day make the world a little richer and solve someone's problem. As a new role or season may bring new pressures, remember you're not alone. Just as workers a century ago stood up and won their rights, we too have the right to build a workplace where we can work with health and pride. Today, allow yourself to relax a little and take pride in everything you've accomplished. Your work has value—and your rest has value too, perhaps even more so.