Yacht Day (Yotto no Hi)

What is Yacht Day?

Every year on April 10th, Japan celebrates "Yacht Day," established by Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., which also makes marine products such as boats, outboard motors, and yachts. The date comes from wordplay: 4 ("yo") and 10 ("to") can be read as "yotto," the Japanese word for yacht. Ahead of the full marine leisure season, the day aims to spread the joy of yachting and sailing and to raise interest in the sea. It's an opportunity to rediscover the fun of a boat powered by the wind, and the wonder of engaging with nature.

The History of Sailing and Adventure

Yachts developed alongside humanity's long effort to make use of the wind.

• The origin of the word "yacht": It comes from the Dutch word "jacht," said to derive from a word meaning "to hunt" or "to chase." It originally referred to fast vessels used in the Netherlands, and yachts spread as leisure craft after events such as the Dutch gift of a yacht to the English king in the 17th century.
• The first solo non-stop circumnavigation: In 1969, Britain's Robin Knox-Johnston became the first person to sail solo and non-stop around the world. It remains a landmark adventure in sailing history, completed by the power of the wind alone.

The Beginnings of Yachting in Japan

Yachts first began sailing in Japan between the end of the Edo period and the Meiji era.

• It started in Nagasaki: The "Phantom," built in Nagasaki in 1861 by a British shipwright, and the "Nagasaki Regatta" yacht race held by foreign residents the same year are considered the beginnings of yachting in Japan.
• Hayama, "the birthplace of Japanese yachting": In 1882, the first yacht built by Japanese hands was constructed in Honmoku, Yokohama, and is said to have sailed at Hayama in Kanagawa Prefecture. For this reason, Hayama Port has a monument marking it as "the birthplace of Japanese yachting."

Fascinating Facts About Yachts

• How yachts sail into the wind: Yachts can sail not only downwind but also diagonally upwind. The sail works like an airplane wing to generate "lift," while the keel or centerboard keeps the boat from being pushed sideways, creating forward motion.
• The origin of "starboard": The right side of a ship is called "starboard" because ships once carried a steering board on the right side. The left side is called "port" because ships docked with that side — the side without the steering board — against the harbor wall.
• One of the oldest sporting trophies: The America's Cup yacht race, which began in 1851, predates the modern Olympics and is known as one of the oldest international sporting trophies still contested.
• Sailing at the Olympics: Sailing was scheduled for the first modern Olympics in Athens in 1896 but was canceled due to bad weather; it was first held at the 1900 Paris Games. Japan has competed since the 1936 Berlin Games.
• A yacht can be a "moving home": Sailing cruisers with cabins have kitchens, toilets, and beds, allowing overnight voyages. Small dinghies without cabins, on the other hand, are widely used in racing.

Tips for Spending Yacht Day

• Take a walk along the seaside or at a marina. Simply watching white sails fill with wind can be refreshing
• Apply the phrase "reading the wind" to your work or daily life. Just as you adjust a sail's angle, a small change in perspective may turn a headwind into forward momentum
• Look into ocean plastic pollution and marine conservation, and start making small eco-friendly choices
• Enjoy an adventurer's memoir or a film about sailing, and let a story of distant horizons broaden your view

Like a Yacht Catching the Wind, Set Sail into the New Season

April 10th is a day to learn from the idea behind sailing: rather than fighting the forces of nature, make good use of them to reach your destination. The wind doesn't always blow from the same direction, and work and life are full of unexpected changes too. Just as a yacht trims its sails to turn different winds into forward power, adjusting flexibly to your situation will help you keep moving ahead. Calmly raise your sails as you head out onto the sea of the new fiscal year.