Crossword Day

What Is Crossword Day?

September 6th is "Crossword Day" in Japan. The date comes from a wordplay on "ku(9)-ro(6)" (echoing "kuro," part of "crossword" in Japanese), and it was established in 1992 by Kosaido Publishing, which published the magazine "Gekkan Crossword House" and others, at the suggestion of crossword writer Teruo Takizawa.

A Word Puzzle That Gave Rise to an Intellectual Holiday

Crossword puzzles, where words are filled into a grid of vertical and horizontal squares, have long been a beloved pastime in Japan.

• Origin: "ku(9)-ro(6)" is read as a wordplay echoing "kuro," part of the Japanese word for crossword
• Purpose: to spread the appeal of crossword puzzles, an intellectually engaging form of wordplay, to more people
• Another Crossword Day: December 21st is also called "Crossword Day," because the world's first crossword appeared in a newspaper on December 21, 1913

How Crosswords Began

The first crossword is said to have been created by British-born journalist Arthur Wynne for the American newspaper New York World. It was originally called a "word-cross" and was later renamed "crossword." The first Japanese-language crossword appeared in the weekly magazine Sunday Mainichi in 1925.

A Mental Workout That Expands Your Vocabulary

Crossword puzzles test your vocabulary and knowledge, but part of their appeal is the satisfaction of finally solving one. As an intellectual hobby enjoyed across generations, they remain steadily popular even today.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Try your hand at a crossword puzzle magazine or app
• Solve a puzzle together with family or friends as a friendly competition
• Try creating your own original crossword puzzle
• Learn unfamiliar words or kanji through solving puzzles

Every Filled Square Expands the World of Words

Crossword puzzles, where a single clue leads word by word to a completed grid, are an entertainment that stirs intellectual curiosity. September 6th is a day to sit down with a pencil and take on the grid.