Happiness Day (Shiawase no Hi)

What Is Happiness Day?

Every April 4th is "Happiness Day" (Shiawase no Hi) in Japan. It comes from a pun: April 4th is the day when "4 (shi)" and "4 (shi)" come together ("awase"), making "shiawase," the Japanese word for happiness. Another explanation is that it falls between March 3rd, the girls' festival, and May 5th, the boys' festival, making it the day when the "shi" (子) of "danshi" (boys) and "joshi" (girls) meet halfway. The organization and year of establishment are unclear, but it has long been enjoyed as a pun. Amid the busy start of the new fiscal year, why not make it a day to notice the small joys around you?

The History of the Word "Shiawase"

The word "shiawase," which we use so casually today, has a surprising history.

• Originally "仕合わせ": "Shiawase" was originally written "仕合わせ" and meant "the way things turn out" or "fortune." It was used for both good and bad fortune, and there was even the expression "shiawase ga warui" (bad luck).
• Only the good meaning remained: Over time, "shiawase" came to be used almost exclusively to mean "good luck" or "a state of contentment," and the kanji "幸せ" came to be applied to it.

Other "Shiawase" Days on April 4th

The idea of reading "4" and "4" as "shiawase" appears in other commemorative days too.

• Pink Day: Partly based on the "shi (4) awase" pun, it has been proposed as a day to share happiness by sending letters on pink paper and the like.
• Dorayaki Day: Established in 2008 by the confectioner Marukyo Seika, it likens April 4th, wrapped between the two seasonal festivals of March 3rd and May 5th, to sweet bean paste wrapped between two pancakes. It also carries the wish that "everyone will be happy."

Interesting Facts About Happiness

• Reinterpreting "4": In Japan, the number 4 is sometimes avoided because it can be read "shi," like the word for death. On Happiness Day, though, it's given a positive twist: "4 and 4 together = shiawase."
• Four-leaf clovers: The chance of finding a four-leaf clover, a symbol of good luck, among three-leaf clovers is said to be about 1 in 10,000.
• International Day of Happiness and the World Happiness Report: The UN has designated March 20th as the International Day of Happiness. Around this date, a UN-affiliated network publishes the "World Happiness Report," known for Nordic countries ranking near the top.
• The origin of the kanji "幸": One theory holds that the kanji "幸" (happiness) originally depicted handcuffs, and that it expressed the good fortune of escaping them.
• The English word "happy": "Happy" is said to come from the old word "hap," meaning chance or luck. It developed in a way remarkably similar to the Japanese "shiawase" (the way things turn out).

Tips for Marking Happiness Day

• Write down three good things that happened today and reflect on the small joys
• Say "thank you" to someone close to you one more time than usual
• Put your own "happy time" (favorite music, a good meal, quiet time, etc.) into this week's schedule
• Bring in something linked to April 4th, like dorayaki or something pink, as a conversation starter with coworkers or family

A Day to Pile Up Small Happinesses

April 4th is the day when 4 and 4 come together to make "shiawase." Just as "shiawase" originally meant "the way things turn out," encounters with people and small everyday events add up to make our days richer. Cherish the new encounters of the new fiscal year and enjoy the day.