April Fools' Day

What Is April Fools' Day?

Every April 1st is "April Fools' Day." In Japanese it's called "Shigatsu Baka" (April Fool) or, in a more literary form, "Bangusetsu," a custom that allows for harmless jokes and pranks. Its origin isn't clear, but the best-known theory traces it back to 16th-century France. The new year had once been celebrated in spring, with festivities lasting until April 1st; when King Charles IX adopted a calendar in 1564 making January 1st the start of the year, people who objected are said to have kept making merry on April 1st as a "fake New Year."

Historical Background and Various Theories

This event, beloved around the world, is woven together from the histories and cultures of many countries.

• "Poisson d'Avril" (April Fish): This is what the French call April Fools' Day. A traditional prank involves children sneaking paper fish onto people's backs. One theory says April is a time when fish are easily caught, so a fooled person was likened to a "foolish fish."
• Arrival in Japan: April Fools' Day is said to have reached Japan from the West in the Taisho era (1912-1926). In 1921, the mystery writer Seishi Yokomizo made his debut with a short story titled "Osoroshiki Shigatsu Baka" (The Terrible April Fool).

Legendary "Lies" Pulled Off by the Media

April Fools' Day is also a stage where media outlets and companies compete to show off their creativity.

• BBC's "Spaghetti Tree": In 1957, the BBC aired a fake news segment claiming that spaghetti was being harvested from trees in Switzerland. Afterward, viewers called in asking how to grow such trees, and it is remembered as one of the greatest pranks in history.
• Burger King's "Left-Handed Whopper": In 1998, Burger King ran an ad in the US announcing a burger designed for left-handed people, and many customers reportedly came in to order it.

Interesting Facts About April Fools' Day

• The "lies only until noon" rule: In the UK, there is a custom that pranks should only happen before noon. In most other places, they go on all day.
• Google's annual tradition: Google is famous for its elaborate April Fools' projects. Its 2014 "Pokémon Challenge" on Google Maps is said to have been one of the sparks behind the location-based game Pokémon GO.
• When an origin theory was itself a hoax: The Japanese Wikipedia once carried a follow-up theory called the "fake fake New Year." It later came out, through the author's own confession, that it had been deliberately made up and added in 2006.
• Manners and safety: Not every lie is acceptable. Fake emergency calls, jokes that hurt people, and hoaxes that spread on social media and cause confusion can quickly stop being funny.
• Sometimes the truth slips in: When Google announced Gmail on April 1, 2004, its 1 GB of storage was so generous for the time that many people assumed it was an April Fools' joke.

Tips for Enjoying April Fools' Day

• Prepare just one "gentle lie" that hurts no one and makes people laugh the moment they hear it, and enjoy it with friends and family
• Browse the April Fools' projects that companies and official websites put out and enjoy their playful spirit
• Borrow the power of fiction and imagination to talk about impossible futures and dreamlike events
• Look up famous "fake news" stories from the past and playfully remind yourself of the importance of media literacy

Charming "Lies" Born of Imagination Bring Small Surprises to Everyday Life

April 1st is a day to breathe a little humor into our serious routines. A lie told to make someone smile is a product of imagination, and being able to laugh along is part of being a grown-up. At the start of the new fiscal year, why not keep a bit of playfulness in mind?