Ibaraki Prefecture Citizens' Day

What Is Ibaraki Prefecture Citizens' Day?

November 13th is "Ibaraki Prefecture Citizens' Day." It commemorates the 13th day of the 11th lunar month of 1871 (Meiji 4), when the name "Ibaraki Prefecture" was first used following the abolition of the feudal domains. Ibaraki Prefecture established the day by ordinance in 1968 (Showa 43) as a day to learn about local history, raise awareness of self-government, and wish for the prosperity of residents and the prefecture.

The Day the Name "Ibaraki" Was Born

Ibaraki Prefecture Citizens' Day does not mark the day today's Ibaraki took shape, but the day the name "Ibaraki Prefecture" was first used. At the time there were several prefectures in the area, and it was only after later mergers that the prefecture took its current form.

• Origin of the date: the first use of the name "Ibaraki Prefecture" on the 13th day of the 11th lunar month of 1871, with the abolition of the domains
• Established: by prefectural ordinance in 1968 (Showa 43)
• What followed: Niihari Prefecture and other areas were merged into the Ibaraki Prefecture of the time, forming today's Ibaraki
• Perks on the day: free or discounted admission at prefectural facilities such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Ibaraki Prefectural Archives and Museum, the Nature Museum and the Ceramic Art Museum

A School Holiday and a Day for Family Outings

On Ibaraki Prefecture Citizens' Day, public elementary, junior high and high schools in the prefecture are closed. With free admission at prefectural facilities and discounts around the prefecture, many families head out to museums and galleries. Elsewhere in the Kanto region, the very next day, November 14th, is "Saitama Prefecture Citizens' Day."

Tips for Marking This Day

• Visit a museum or gallery in Ibaraki offering free or discounted admission
• Look into the origin of the name "Ibaraki" and the history of the abolition of the domains
• Enjoy food or souvenirs from Ibaraki Prefecture
• Ask colleagues or friends from Ibaraki for their local recommendations

A Day to Revisit the Beginnings of a Prefecture's Name

Even the prefecture names we use without a second thought have more than 150 years of history. November 13th is a chance for people both inside and outside Ibaraki to look again at how the prefecture came to be and what makes the region special.