Dates Day
Food DaysWhat Is Dates Day?
December 2nd is "Dates Day" in Japan. The date is a wordplay: the "D" from "December" plus the number 2 reads as "de-tsu," the Japanese word for dates. It was established by Otafuku Sauce Co., Ltd., headquartered in Hiroshima, and certified and registered by the Japan Anniversary Association in 2020.
The Fruit Behind the Sweetness of Okonomiyaki Sauce
Dates are the fully ripened fruit of the date palm, dried and eaten for centuries across the Middle East and North Africa. In Japanese homes, most people encounter them in an unexpected place: as an ingredient in okonomiyaki sauce.
- Origin of the date: "D" from December plus "2" reads as "dates" in Japanese
- Established by: Otafuku Sauce Co., Ltd. (certified by the Japan Anniversary Association in 2020)
- What dates are: the ripened fruit of the date palm, dried
- Purpose: to raise awareness of dates and give more people a reason to try them
Why a Sauce Maker Created the Day
Otafuku Sauce has noted in its announcements that the company reached a 50-year milestone with dates. The fruit has long been used to give the sauce a natural sweetness and body, and that history sits behind the anniversary. Look at ingredient lists and you may find dates closer at hand than expected.
Tips for Marking This Day
- Check the ingredient list on the okonomiyaki sauce in your kitchen
- Look for dried dates in the supermarket or the nut aisle
- Eat a date on its own and taste the source of that sauce sweetness
- Gather around okonomiyaki or takoyaki for a winter weekend
A Fruit Many Have Eaten Without Knowing Its Name
Even if the word "dates" is unfamiliar, plenty of people have already tasted them through sauce. December 2nd is a day to look more closely at what goes into everyday condiments.