Cheering Day (Ouen no Hi)

What is Cheering Day?

March 11th is "Cheering Day" (Ouen no Hi) in Japan. It's a day dedicated to reaffirming the importance of supporting and encouraging others — whether that's the people close to you or society as a whole — and to spreading the idea that anyone, regardless of their role or field, can be someone's cheerleader.

The Origin of Cheering Day

"Cheering Day" comes from a wordplay reading of March 11th: 3 ("o"), 1 ("u"), 1 ("en") together sound like "ouen," the Japanese word for cheering or supporting someone. Because the date is easy to read and remember, it spread as a day to bring the act of supporting others to mind.

Stories Behind Cheering Day

Cheering Day is sometimes used as an opportunity to highlight examples — in sports, the arts, work, and study — of how being cheered on has helped push people forward. Beyond shouted encouragement or messages of support, quietly standing by someone is also considered a form of cheering.

Interesting Facts About Cheering

• The origin of the word "ouen" — The Japanese word for cheering, "ouen" (応援), combines characters meaning "to respond" and "to help," carrying the idea of responding to someone's actions or feelings by helping them.
• Cheering beyond cheers — Applause, messages, and even simply watching over someone quietly are all considered forms of support — you don't necessarily need to say anything out loud.
• The psychological effect — Feeling supported is said to boost a sense of security and motivation to take on challenges.
• The effect on the supporter — The act of cheering someone on is itself said to bring positive emotions and a sense of satisfaction to the person doing the cheering.

Tips for Enjoying Cheering Day

• Say a word of thanks or encouragement to someone close to you
• Look into and learn about a cause or activity you'd like to support
• Reflect on a time in the past when someone's support helped you through
• Be mindful of small, manageable ways to support someone

How to Spend Cheering Day

Cheering Day doesn't require any special event — simply putting the spirit of encouragement into everyday action is enough. Saying a word to a family member, friend, or colleague, or acknowledging someone's effort, naturally captures the spirit of this day.