Nose Day (Hana no Hi)

What Is Nose Day?

Every August 7th is "Nose Day" (鼻の日, Hana no Hi) in Japan. It was established in 1961 by the Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Society of Japan (now the Japan Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery). The date comes from the wordplay "ha (8) - na (7)," spelling "hana," meaning "nose." The day aims to reduce nasal diseases, and around this date specialists sometimes hold public lectures and consultation sessions in various parts of Japan.

One of Japan's "Face Days"

Nose Day is also known as one of several observances named after parts of the face.

• March 3rd, "Ear Day": Also established by the same society, from the wordplay "mi (3) - mi (3)," meaning "ears."
• August 8th, "Beard Day," and October 10th, "Eye Care Day": Together with Nose Day, these are sometimes called Japan's "four great face days."
• A day full of "hana": August 7th also has many other observances based on the "ha (8) - na (7)" wordplay, such as Flower Day, Banana Day, and Hanayashiki Day.

What the Nose Does

The nose does more than smell -- it plays an important role as the entrance for breathing.

• Warming and humidifying air: The mucous membranes inside the nose warm and moisten the air we breathe before it reaches the throat and lungs. Keeping cold, dry air from going straight in is one advantage of nose breathing.
• Trapping dust: Nose hairs and mucous membranes help trap dust in the air we breathe.

Nose Trivia

• Smell is part of "taste": Food tastes bland when your nose is blocked by a cold because much of what we perceive as "taste" is actually "flavor" from aromas that travel from the mouth up into the nose.
• Your nostrils take turns: Which nostril breathes more easily switches every few hours. This is called the "nasal cycle," and it happens without us noticing.
• Smell and memory: When a smell suddenly brings back an old memory, it is called the "Proust effect," after a scene in a novel. Smell information is said to be closely linked to the parts of the brain involved in memory and emotion.
• How many smells can we tell apart? It was long said that humans can distinguish about 10,000 smells, but in 2014 a U.S. research team published a study putting the figure at "over one trillion." That number has been disputed, however.
• Nose shape and climate: Some research suggests that differences in nose shape, such as the width of the nostrils, are related to the temperature and humidity of the regions where people's ancestors lived.

Ideas for Nose Day

• Pinch your nose while eating, then let go partway through. You will feel how much aroma contributes to taste.
• Pick a favorite fragrant food or flower and take time to enjoy its scent.
• If symptoms such as a blocked or runny nose or changes in your sense of smell persist, consult an ear, nose and throat doctor.
• Watch out for dryness from summer air conditioning and pay attention to indoor humidity.

A Day to Pay a Little Attention to Your Hard-Working Nose

August 7th is a day to think about the nose, something we rarely notice. It senses smells, lets us enjoy the flavor of food, and conditions the air we breathe, working all day without a break. Today, try savoring the aroma of your meals a little more slowly, or take a fresh look at any nose troubles you have been putting off.