Good Couple Day (Ii Fūfu no Hi)

What Is Good Couple Day?

November 22 is "Good Couple Day" (Ii Fufu no Hi) in Japan, from a wordplay: "ii" (good, 11) and "fufu" (couple, 22). November is also the "Yutori Sozo Gekkan" (Month of Creating Leisure), proposed at a Japanese government economic-measures meeting in 1985. The day was proposed in 1988 by the Leisure Development Center (now the Japan Productivity Center). Its aim is for couples to express gratitude and deepen their bond, and it is also enjoyed as a day to think about thanking the partner close to you, not only spouses.

The Work of the Good Couple Day Promotion Council

In 1998, the "Good Couple Day" Promotion Council was set up to spread the day. Since 2000 it has announced the "Good Couple Partner of the Year" each year, choosing ideal couples based on public votes. The first winners, in 2000, were Nakamura Hashinosuke and Mita Hiroko. Later winners have included Okuda Eiji and Ando Kazu (2003), Suzuki Osamu and Oshima Miyuki (2009), and Nishikawa Kiyoshi and Helen (2017). In 2025, the winners were Hanawa and Hanawa Tomoko in the entertainment category, and Suzuki Masanori, president of NTT DATA, and his wife Noriko in the corporate category. Since 2014, the Japan Men's Fashion Association has taken over the council's secretariat, and the council's activities marked their 25th anniversary in 2013.

• Proposal: proposed in 1988 by the Leisure Development Center (now the Japan Productivity Center)
• Date: from the wordplay "November 22 = ii fufu," and November's Month of Creating Leisure
• Awards: since 2000, "Good Couple Partner of the Year" chosen by votes
• Activities in 2011: after the Great East Japan Earthquake the theme was "Kizuna" (bonds), and from that year the two weeks before the day became "Good Couple Weeks," with sponsor campaigns. That year "Kizuna" weddings for couples whose ceremonies were canceled or postponed were also held on November 8

An Original Marriage Registration Form and "Good Couple Day" Leave

On the official website of the "Good Couple Day" Promotion Council, you can download a marriage registration form with an original design. The council also promotes "Good Couple Day" leave, encouraging couples to take November 22 off to spend time together, and has designated November 11 as "Good Encounter Day," in the spirit of a good encounter leading to a good couple.

Wedding Registrations, and a Different "Good Couple Day"

The day became widely known in the 2000s, and more celebrities are said to register their marriages on November 22. Because the date is easy to remember, some couples pick it as their registration day or anniversary. Note that the "Yoi Fufu no Hi" (Good Couple Day) that Kodansha proposed in 1994 falls on April 22 and is a separate observance. There is also Couples Day on February 2. In 2011, events included a "good couple" senryu poetry contest, a bowling tournament, and a walking event. In 2012, based on a survey, the council also asked the public on Twitter for tips on becoming a good couple.

Registering Your Marriage on November 22

Even in years when November 22 falls on a weekend or holiday, many municipalities let you leave your marriage registration at an after-hours counter. According to guidance from Katsushika City and Yokohama City, the after-hours counter only takes the documents, and their contents are checked after the office reopens. If the registration is accepted, the date of acceptance is the day you submitted it to the after-hours counter. However, if important parts contain errors or omissions, you may need to visit the office again, so it is a good idea to check with the office in advance. November 22, 2026 is a Sunday.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Write down, in a letter or message card, the thanks you are usually too shy to say
• Go out to dinner together, or spend a relaxed day at a hot spring nearby
• Say "good morning," "I'm home," and "thank you" a little more carefully than usual
• Retake a wedding-anniversary photo, or look back through an album of memories

Choosing a Good Couple Day Gift

For a Good Couple Day gift, conveying your thanks matters more than the price. Hanawa, one of the 2025 Partner of the Year winners, named a personal computer as a gift from his wife that made him happy, while Tomoko named a Roomba. Something useful in your partner's daily life can say a lot on its own.

• Flowers: even a single stem or a small bouquet becomes special with a handwritten note
• Consumables: favorite sweets, drinks, or bath salts that are easy to accept
• Experiences: a restaurant booking, a day trip to a hot spring, or a commemorative photo at a studio — time spent together
• Everyday items: a household item or accessory your partner mentioned wanting to replace

Start With a Small Word

A "good couple" is said to grow less from big events than from small everyday exchanges. November 22 is a good chance to tell someone close to you, "Thank you for everything."