Bone and Joint Day

What Is Bone and Joint Day?

October 8th is Bone and Joint Day (骨と関節の日) in Japan. It was established by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association; according to the Japan Anniversary Association, it was designated in 1994 and renamed in 2018 as "Locomotive Organ Health: Bone and Joint Day" (運動器の健康・骨と関節の日). The day aims to show how important the musculoskeletal system — bones, joints, and muscles — is for staying healthy, and to encourage people to watch out for bone and joint diseases.

Why October 8th?

The katakana character "ホ" (ho), the first sound of "hone" (bone), looks like the kanji "十" (ten) combined with "八" (eight). The date was also close to the former Health and Sports Day holiday on October 10th.

• Character shape: ホ = 十 (10) + 八 (8)
• Season: Autumn, a time for exercise, near the former Health and Sports Day
• Name: Since 2018, "Locomotive Organ Health: Bone and Joint Day"

What Is Locomotive Syndrome?

The Japanese Orthopaedic Association coined the term Locomotive Syndrome (ロコモティブシンドローム) for a condition in which weakening of the musculoskeletal system reduces the ability to stand and walk, and it promotes prevention.

• People at risk: The association and others estimate about 47 million people in Japan, including those at risk
• Osteoporosis: Bones become fragile and break easily; it is common in post-menopausal women, and Japan is estimated to have about 13 million patients
• Knee osteoarthritis: Cartilage wears away, causing pain and stiffness; common in middle-aged and older people
• Sarcopenia: Age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, which can lead to falls and fractures

Protecting Your Musculoskeletal System

• Calcium: Get it from milk and dairy, small fish, tofu, and leafy greens. Japan's Dietary Reference Intakes recommend roughly 650–800mg a day for adults
• Vitamin D: Helps the body absorb calcium. It is found in fish and mushrooms and is also made in the skin through sunlight
• Strength training: Make a habit of lower-body exercises such as squats and single-leg stands
• Fall prevention at home: Remove steps and trip hazards, install handrails, and light the floor well

How to Mark This Day

• Try a Locomotive Syndrome self-check — for example, can you put on socks while standing on one leg?
• Start with 10 squats while watching TV
• Add a calcium-rich food to your next meal: milk, small dried fish, or tofu
• Check the eligible ages and details of your local government's osteoporosis screening

A Body That Moves Opens Up Daily Life

Walking on your own feet and going where you want to go — bones, joints, and muscles support that every day. Let Bone and Joint Day on October 8th be the start of looking after your body in small, practical ways.