Kome Kome Club Day

What Is Kome Kome Club Day?

August 8th is "Kome Kome Club Day" in Japan, named after the popular Japanese music group. The date was established in 2008, based on the fact that the kanji for "rice" (米, kome) can be broken down into the characters for "eighty-eight" (八十八).

A Unique Holiday Born From Breaking Down a Kanji Character

Kome Kome Club is a Japanese music group active since the 1980s, known for hit songs like "Roman Hikou."

• Origin: break down the kanji "米" and you get the characters for "eight," "ten," and "eight" -- together read as "eighty-eight," or "88"
• A fitting match: what makes this holiday unique is that the "kome" (米) in the band's name is what gives the date its meaning
• Year established: established in 2008, a year full of 8s, to match the theme

A Numerical Puzzle Hidden Inside a Kanji

The discovery that "88" is hidden inside the character for rice is also known as an old saying tied to wishes for a bountiful harvest. This holiday is a unique example of combining that wordplay with the name of a music group.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Listen to some of Kome Kome Club's best-known songs
• Look into the meaning of "88" hidden inside the character for rice
• Learn about traditional sayings tied to wishing for a good rice harvest
• Look up the origin behind the name of your favorite musical artist

An "88" Hidden in a Single Character Connects Music and Food

Born from the unexpected angle of how a kanji character is constructed, this holiday reveals the depth hidden in wordplay. August 8th is a day to listen for the numerical stories tucked inside familiar characters.