Dajare no Hi — Japan's Pun Day

What Is Dajare no Hi (Pun Day)?

September 1st is "Dajare no Hi" — Japan's Pun Day. It was established by the Japan Dajare Utilization Association (Nihon Dajare Katsuyo Kyokai), a general incorporated association dedicated to putting the power of puns (dajare) to good use in society, marking the anniversary of the association's own founding on September 1, 2014. In 2019, the day was officially certified and registered by the Japan Anniversary Association.

Three Puns Packed Into a Single Date

The date itself is, fittingly, a pun. The numbers 9 and 1 can be read multiple ways in Japanese, and the association layered several meanings into their choice of September 1st:

• "Creative" and "impactful" puns (from a reading of 9 and 1)
• The "boundless pulling power" that a good pun can have (another reading of 9 and 1)
• A wish to bring "salvation" to the world through laughter (yet another reading of 9 and 1)

The fact that the founding association wove wordplay into the very reasoning behind the date captures exactly the playful spirit this holiday celebrates.

What the Dajare Association Is Working Toward

Under the slogan "Dajare will save the world," the association treats puns not as mere wordplay but as a practical communication skill — one that eases tension, smooths conversation, and brings out smiles — and promotes it through lectures, workshops, and events. Since establishing the anniversary, the association has expanded its activities, including appointing celebrity "Dajare Ambassadors."

Tips for Marking This Day

• Try out your best pun on family members or coworkers
• Use a well-timed pun to lighten the mood at work or school
• Come up with a brand-new pun based on a date, place name, or everyday object
• Search "#DajareNoHi" on social media and enjoy everyone else's puns

Silly, but Warm — the Smiles a Pun Can Bring

Puns are often dismissed as "silly," but that involuntary, groan-inducing chuckle has real power to soften the mood in a room. September 1st is a day to loosen up and let at least one pun slip out — it might just make an ordinary day a little more fun.