Etegami Day

What Is Etegami Day?

February 3rd is "Etegami no Hi" (Etegami Day) in Japan, established in 2009 by the Japan Etegami Association. The day calls on people around the world to write and send an "etegami" -- a hand-painted picture letter -- to someone.

The Wordplay Behind the Meaning "Letter"

The date was chosen through a pun on the numbers 2 and 3.

• The date's origin: a pun on "2 (fu) 3 (mi)," read together as "fumi," an old word meaning "letter"
• What etegami is: a Japanese-born form of handmade letter that pairs a simple painted image with a few handwritten words, often sent on a postcard
• The purpose of the day: to introduce more people to the warmth of etegami as a form of expression, and to encourage them to actually paint and send one

The Etegami Philosophy: "It's Fine to Be Clumsy -- Clumsy Is Good"

In the world of etegami, there's a well-known saying: "heta de ii, heta ga ii" -- "it's fine to be clumsy, clumsy is good." What matters isn't skillful drawing, but conveying the sender's unpolished, genuine feelings just as they are -- a philosophy that makes etegami approachable for absolutely anyone.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Paint a picture and add a short message on a postcard to send to someone important to you
• Try drawing a seasonal subject, like a vegetable or flower close at hand
• Look into etegami classes or related events happening near you
• Recall a letter or postcard that once made you happy to receive

A Single Postcard, Carrying Feelings Words Alone Cannot

In an age when digital messages have become the norm, an etegami painted and written by hand carries a special kind of warmth. Let February 3rd be a chance to picture someone dear to you, and put brush to a single postcard in their honor.