Wink Day (Winku no Hi)

What Is Wink Day?

October 11 is "Wink Day" (Winku no Hi) in Japan. Turn the digits "1011" on their side and they are said to look like a face with one eye closed in a wink. It is not clear who first established the day, but it has long been known as one of Japan's playful number-shape anniversaries. There is also a cute bit of folklore: if you wake up on this morning and wink as many times as there are letters in the name of the person you like, your feelings will reach them.

The Wink as a Signal

The wink is a classic example of nonverbal communication — conveying a feeling without words.

• A private signal: Even in a crowd, a wink lets you tell one person "just kidding" or "I get it." Films and TV shows often use it as a knowing glance between friends.
• Meanings vary by culture: In Western countries a wink often signals friendliness, a joke, or light agreement, while in Japan relatively few people wink in everyday life. Depending on the person and situation it can be misunderstood, so timing matters.

Small Facts About Winking

• Many people find it hard: Closing only one eye is surprisingly difficult. Some people can wink with only one eye, and some end up closing both. Practice helps some of them.
• Winking vs. blinking: Blinking happens unconsciously with both eyes, roughly 15 to 20 times a minute. A wink is a deliberate closing of one eye — a very different action.

Wink Trivia

• The idol duo "Wink": Debuting in 1988, Shoko Aida and Sachiko Suzuki's duo "Wink" had hits such as "Ai ga Tomaranai" and "Samishii Nettaigyo," which won the 1989 Japan Record Award.
• A photo-pose staple: A wink with a peace sign is a classic pose for photo-sticker booths and group photos.
• Built into cameras: Some smartphones and cameras offer gesture shooting that fires the shutter when you wink or show your palm.
• "A wink and a nod": This English idiom for a tacit understanding shows how firmly the wink is linked to "a signal that needs no words."

Ideas for Wink Day

• Try winking with each eye in front of a mirror and see which side is easier — comparing with family or coworkers is fun.
• If winking feels awkward, simply greet people with a few more smiles than usual today.
• Say a hard-to-voice "thank you" with a nod or a glance.
• If you spend long hours at a screen, take breaks to look into the distance and rest your eyes.

A Little Playfulness Goes a Long Way

October 11 is an anniversary born from a small joke: "1011" looks like a winking face. A wink is also a handy way to say "I get it" or "thanks" without words. Even if you are too shy to actually wink, you can bring up the number pun as small talk or simply meet people with a softer expression today. A little playfulness can lighten the mood at work and at home.