Pie Day (Pai no Hi)

What Is Pie Day?

Every year on March 14, Japan celebrates "Pie Day," established by the Japan Pie Association in 2002. The date coincides with "Pi Day," based on the approximation of pi as 3.14, playfully linking the mathematical symbol π ("pai" in Japanese) with the baked treat "pie" (also "pai"). It began with playful puns such as "March 14 is 3.14, so it's pie," "a man's feelings that can't be divided neatly (pi is irrational, after all)," and "return a round pie and smooth things over." Because it falls on White Day, it is also billed as a day to pledge eternal love.

A Delicious Relationship Between Math and Sweets

This day brings together intellectual curiosity and appetite in a special way.

• Eating "pi": In English, too, "pi" and "pie" sound the same, and eating pie on Pi Day has become a popular custom in the U.S. Pi Day is said to have been started in 1988 by physicist Larry Shaw at a San Francisco science museum, where pie was served.
• A connection to Einstein: March 14 is also the birthday of physicist Albert Einstein. Princeton, New Jersey, where he spent his later years, has held Pi Day events featuring pie-eating contests.

Fun Facts About Pie

• "3.14" in a mirror: Reflected in a mirror, the digits "3.14" are said to resemble the letters "PIE" — a fun bit of trivia popular among math and pie enthusiasts alike.
• The letter π: Pi is written with π, the first letter of the Greek word for "perimeter." Its use spread after the mathematician Leonhard Euler adopted it in the 18th century.
• The "blackbird pie": The English nursery rhyme featuring "four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie" is sometimes linked to old banquet tricks in which live birds flew out of a pie as a surprise.
• So many varieties: Beyond sweet apple pie, savory pies — like Britain's shepherd's pie or Australian meat pies — are enjoyed as meals around the world.
• Pie culture in Japan: Besides apple and meat pies, Japan has developed its own pastry snacks such as Genji Pie and Unagi Pie, long-time favorites.

Savor Layers of Happiness With All Five Senses

Pie Day celebrates the beauty of "layers" built up through care and effort, and the joy of sharing them. Just as thin, delicate layers of pastry combine to create a sturdy, delicious whole, our daily lives are also shaped by small accumulations that add depth and richness over time. On March 14, why not enjoy a golden-baked pie and celebrate the way your own efforts are steadily building up? The fragrant aroma and crisp texture are sure to fill your heart with springtime warmth.

Ideas for Enjoying Pie Day

• Pick up a freshly baked pie from your favorite bakery or cake shop and admire its round, geometric beauty while pondering the mystery of pi
• Use frozen pie sheets to make your own original filling and enjoy the aroma that fills your home
• To mark "Pi Day," calculate the relationship between a circle's diameter and circumference while slicing your pie into equal portions for an intellectually stimulating tea time
• Inspired by the auspicious idea of "layering," send a message of gratitude to someone close to you, building on the layers of memories you share

Crisp, Bouncy Steps Toward the Future You Want

March 14 is a day when your past experiences come together in perfect harmony, baking into something wonderful — a "pie" of success. Just like the endless digits of pi, your potential is also limitless. May today be a day packed full of good things and truly "fragrant and fulfilling" for you!