Breathing Day (Kokyū no Hi)

What Is Breathing Day?

May 9th is "Breathing Day" in Japan. The date comes from a wordplay on the numbers 5 and 9 — "ko (5)" and "kyū (9)" together sound like "kokyū," the Japanese word for "breathing." The day was established by the NPO Japan Respiratory Disability Information Center (J-BREATH). The date was also chosen because it falls in the season of fresh greenery, when taking a deep breath in the breeze brings a sense of gratitude for nature and the joy of being alive. It's a day to think about the importance of breathing, a gift given to all living things, and to deepen understanding of lung health.

The Background of Breathing Day

Breathing is fundamental to life, yet we rarely think about it. Breathing Day was created to draw attention to respiratory health and to spread knowledge about early detection of respiratory diseases and the harms of smoking. J-BREATH had long run awareness activities on both this day and "Lung Day" on August 1st, but since 2019 it has unified its activities under Breathing Day. Spreading understanding of conditions that cause ongoing breathlessness, such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and interstitial pneumonia, is another important theme.

The Role and Importance of Breathing

• Taking in oxygen: Supplies the oxygen your body's cells need to function.
• Expelling carbon dioxide: Removes waste carbon dioxide produced by the body.
• Calming the mind: Slow, deep breathing is said to help ease tension and aid relaxation.
• A gateway to the outside air: The lungs come into direct contact with outside air, and together with the nose and airways they have mechanisms to keep out foreign particles.

Fun Facts About Breathing

• The average person breathes around 20,000 times a day.
• Breathing is said to become shallow when you're tense or hunched over.
• The nose, with its hairs and mucous membranes, removes dust from incoming air and warms and moistens it.
• The lungs themselves have no muscles; air moves in and out as the diaphragm and other breathing muscles work.

How to Spend Breathing Day

• Try focusing on deep breaths or abdominal breathing.
• Do some light exercise or stretching to regulate your breathing.
• Check your posture and work on a body that breathes more easily.
• Learn more about respiratory health.

May 9th: A Day to Reconnect with Your Breath

Breathing Day is a chance to pay attention to something we usually take for granted — our breath — and reflect on our overall health. Slow, deep breathing can calm the mind and help regulate the body. On May 9th, take a moment to appreciate the importance of breathing and enjoy some healthy downtime.