Crying Day (Naku Hi)

What Is Crying Day?

July 9th is Crying Day (Naku Hi) in Japan — a wordplay on "7" (na) + "9" (ku), which sounds like "naku" (to cry) in Japanese. It is described as a day to think about the richness of emotional expression — joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure — through crying. The day spread mainly on the internet, and it is said to have been established by a group called the "Zenbei Kanrui Kyōkai" (roughly, "All-America Tears Association"), a name based on the classic Japanese movie-ad slogan "All of America cried."

Why Do Tears Flow?

• Where tears come from: Tears are made in the lacrimal glands, located above the outer corner of each eye. After moistening the eye, they drain through small openings at the inner corner into the back of the nose — which is why your nose runs when you cry
• What tears are made of: Tears are mostly water, with salt, proteins, and other substances. They taste salty because they contain salt
• The "refreshed" feeling after crying: Many people feel calmer after a good cry. One view holds that shedding tears shifts the body toward the parasympathetic "rest" mode, an idea behind the Japanese practice of "ruikatsu"

Three Types of Tears

• Basal tears: Produced little by little all the time to keep the eyes from drying out
• Reflex tears: Triggered by irritants such as onion fumes or a speck of dust
• Emotional tears: Shed when we are moved by sadness, joy, or awe

"Ruikatsu" — Crying on Purpose

"Ruikatsu" (tears activity) is a Japanese term for deliberately crying to relieve stress. The word was coined around 2013, and events where people watch moving films or listen to readings and cry together have been held in many places. Friends who cry together are sometimes called "ruitomo" (tear friends). In Japan, expressions like "a film that makes you cry" and "a song that makes you cry" are also common.

Fun Facts About Crying

• Two kinds of "naku": In Japanese, "naku" meaning a person crying is written 泣く, while "naku" meaning birds, insects, or animals making sounds is written 鳴く
• Words for ways of crying: Japanese has many words for crying, such as "susuri-naki" (sniffling), "musebi-naki" (sobbing with a choked voice), and "gōkyū" (wailing loudly)
• "All of America cried": A catchphrase made famous by Japanese ads for Hollywood movies — and the source of the name of the group said to have created Crying Day

How to Spend Crying Day

• Take some time alone to revisit a film or book that once moved you
• Ask family or friends, "When did you last cry?"
• Write a letter of thanks to someone important to you — you may find yourself tearing up as you write

Tears Are a Sign That Your Heart Has Been Moved

Crying Day is a chance to loosen the belief that crying is embarrassing. Tears flow not only when we are sad, but also when we are happy or deeply moved. Just for today, set aside what others might think and let your heart move freely.