Departure Day (Shuppatsu no Hi)

What Is Departure Day?

Every year on April 8th, Japan observes "Departure Day" (Shuppatsu no Hi). It was established by Ajinomoto Co., Inc., which encourages people to eat breakfast to restore daily rhythms that tend to get disrupted during the busy start of a new life. The date was chosen because it falls at the start of the new fiscal year, and because "4" (shi) and "8" (pa) can be read as part of "shuppatsu," meaning "departure." It's a day to cheer on everyone taking a step into a new environment—starting school, joining a company, or moving to a new position.

Mornings and "Departure"

To start a new life on the right foot, the first thing worth reviewing is how you spend your mornings.

• Make breakfast a habit: In the new fiscal year, commuting times and environments change, and mornings tend to get rushed. Not skipping breakfast—even eating just a little—is a first step toward a steady daily rhythm.
• Add something warm: Ajinomoto, which established the day, suggests adding a warm soup to breakfast that's easy to have even on hectic mornings. Instant cup soups or miso soup, which only need hot water, are easy to prepare on busy days.

A Brief History of Cup Soup

"Knorr," the brand sold in Japan by Ajinomoto, the company behind Departure Day, has a surprising history.

• A brand born in Germany: Knorr is a food brand founded in Germany in 1838. In Japan, "Knorr Soup" went on sale in 1964.
• Corn soup came later: Many people in Japan associate Knorr with corn soup, but corn cream was not among the five original varieties. Corn cream "Cup Soup" was released nine years later, in 1973.

Fun Facts About Departures

• The word "kadode": In Japanese, setting out on a journey or a new life is called "kadode," which originally meant stepping out through the gate (kado) of one's home when leaving on a trip.
• The world's biggest "departure" point: Shinjuku Station is recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's busiest station by average daily passengers. Every day, huge numbers of people depart from here for their destinations.
• When a plane "departs": For on-time performance, airlines generally count departure not from when the doors close, but from when the aircraft moves away from its parking stand ("block out").
• How long it takes to form a habit: The idea that "21 days makes a habit" is well known, but a 2009 study in the UK reported that it took an average of about 66 days for a behavior to become automatic, with wide variation between people and behaviors. Even if you slip up early on, keep going without rushing.
• Departing for space: Launch sites closer to the equator are considered advantageous because rockets can make better use of Earth's rotation. This is said to be one reason Japan's Tanegashima Space Center is located on a southern island.

Tips for Departure Day

• Get up a little earlier than usual and have a warm soup or miso soup before heading out
• Write down what you want to do and places you want to go this fiscal year to make your "destinations" clear
• Break in a new pair of shoes or start a new planner as a way to reset your mindset
• Even if your start on April 1st didn't go well, make Departure Day your second starting line and begin afresh

A First Step Opens Up a New Path

April 8th is a day to cheer on everyone who has taken a first step into a new environment. The nervousness you feel on the morning of a departure is also a sign that you are taking on something new. What matters is not aiming for perfection from the start, but simply "departing"—and then keeping at it little by little. Wake up your body with a warm breakfast and start your day calmly. You're sure to see a slightly different view than yesterday.