Securities Investment Day

What Is Securities Investment Day?

October 4th is "Securities Investment Day" in Japan. It was established in 1996 by the Japan Securities Dealers Association. The date is a wordplay: 10-4 can be read "to-shi," meaning investment. The aim is to get more people interested in securities and financial markets, and the securities industry holds outreach events across Japan around this day.

A Day That Has Changed Names Over Time

Securities Investment Day has been renamed along the way to keep up with the times.

• Wordplay: 10 (to) and 4 (shi) make "toshi," or investment
• 1996: the Japan Securities Dealers Association established "Securities Investment Day"
• 2003: registered with the Japan Anniversary Association
• 2009: renamed "Investment Day" to appeal to a broader audience
• 2017: re-registered under its original name, "Securities Investment Day"

What Does "Securities Investment" Mean?

Securities investment generally means investing in stocks, bonds and other securities to grow one's money, rather than to take part in running a company. Today, a securities education project made up of the Japan Securities Dealers Association and others leads the outreach for this day. October 4th also has other "toshi" wordplay days, such as Pottery Day, named after "toshi," an old word for ceramics.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Learn the basics of stocks, bonds and investment trusts
• Take a fresh look at your household budget and savings
• Check for investment seminars held by securities firms or industry groups
• Pick one piece of investment news and read it carefully

Knowing About Money Means Thinking About Your Life

Learning about investment is also a way to think about how you want to live in the future. Even if you don't start anything today, make October 4th a day to begin by understanding how it works.