97 no Hi — A Day for the Class of 1997

What Is "97 no Hi"?

September 7th is "97 no Hi" ("Day of 97") in Japan, established by entrepreneur Kento Imataki, who was born in 1997, with the goal of bringing his generation together to help shape the future. The date comes from a pun reading "9-7" as "kyu-nana," and the anniversary was officially certified and registered by the Japan Anniversary Association in 2021.

Why Focus on People Born in 1997?

Those born in 1997 were entering the core years of their professional careers during the 2020s. September 7th was raised as a rallying point to turn the loose bond of "being the same age" into something concrete, with gatherings and cross-generational events held every year.

• A different kind of bond: people connect purely on the basis of "being born the same year," crossing lines of industry and social standing
• Growing on social media: serves as a loose gathering space for people born in 1997 to connect with one another
• The message: "one generation, joining forces to build the future"

A Unique Idea — An Anniversary for a Birth Year

Most Japanese anniversaries commemorate an event or a wordplay pun, but building an anniversary entirely around "a specific birth year," as "97 no Hi" does, is unusual — a distinctly social-media-era take on what an anniversary can be.

Tips for Marking This Day

• If you have friends or colleagues born in 1997, reach out and catch up with them
• Look up whether there's an anniversary or event tied to your own birth year
• Take a moment to reflect on the value of connecting with people your own age
• Search "#97noHi" on social media and browse posts from the same generation

A Connection Born From the Simplest Common Ground

Even when hometowns and careers differ completely, simply sharing a birth year can spark an odd sense of closeness. Let September 7th, through this small shared trait, be a moment to reconsider the value of connecting across generations.