Octopus Day

What Is Octopus Day?

October 8th is celebrated as Octopus Day (タコの日) — a day dedicated to appreciating one of the ocean's most remarkable creatures, both in the wild and on the plate. The date's connection to the octopus is no coincidence: the word "October" derives from the Latin octo, meaning eight (October was originally the 8th month of the ancient Roman calendar), and the 8th day of the month echoes the octopus's iconic eight arms. October 8th = double eight = Octopus Day.

The Remarkable Octopus

Octopuses are among the most intelligent invertebrates on earth — and one of the most surprising creatures in the natural world.

• Eight semi-independent arms: Each arm has its own nerve cluster and can act without direction from the central brain — the arm itself makes local decisions in real time
• Masters of camouflage: Octopuses can change their colour, pattern, and skin texture in milliseconds — despite being completely colourblind
• Tool use: Wild octopuses have been filmed collecting coconut shells to use as portable shelters — a clear example of tool use in a non-vertebrate animal
• Ink defence: When threatened, octopuses release a cloud of ink that obscures a predator's vision and temporarily numbs its sense of smell
• Three hearts and blue blood: Two hearts pump blood to the gills; one pumps it to the body. Copper-based haemocyanin makes their blood blue

Japan's Octopus Culture

Japan consumes approximately 60% of the world's total octopus catch — making it the undisputed global capital of octopus cuisine.

• Takoyaki: The beloved Osaka street food — savoury batter balls stuffed with tender octopus, topped with bonito flakes and sweet sauce
• Sashimi and sunomono: Fresh octopus served raw or vinegared into a jewel-pink salad
• Akashi-dako: Octopus from Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture, prized for its exceptional firmness developed in the strong tidal currents of the Seto Inland Sea
• Takowasa: Raw octopus mixed with wasabi — a classic accompaniment to sake across Japan

How to Mark This Day

• Make takoyaki at home or visit a famous stall and enjoy Japan's most playful street food
• Try octopus sashimi, sunomono salad, or a new octopus dish you have never tasted before
• Watch a nature documentary featuring octopus intelligence — they will genuinely astonish you
• Visit an aquarium and watch a live octopus change colour and explore its environment in real time

Eight Arms, Infinite Fascination

The octopus defies almost every expectation we have of animal intelligence — packed into a soft, gelatinous body with no skeleton, no permanent home, and a lifespan of just one to three years. On Octopus Day, celebrate this extraordinary creature: whether you appreciate it on the plate, in the ocean, or simply as proof that nature's creativity has no limits.