Laughter Day (Warai no Hi)

What is Laughter Day?

August 8th is "Laughter Day" (Warai no Hi). It was established in 1994 by the "Association to Create Laughter Day," based on reading the date as the sound of laughter, "ha (8) - ha (8)." The association was formed mainly by the Nihon Furo Kyokai, which had led the movement to create the national holiday "Respect for the Aged Day," and it has campaigned to make Laughter Day a national holiday too. It is a chance to reflect on the role laughter has played in people's lives and society.

Laughter throughout human history

Laughter, as a form of emotional expression, has existed in human society since ancient times.

• Laughter in ancient societies: In ancient Greece, comedy was established as one of the main genres of theater, used to express social satire and everyday events through laughter.
• Traditional Japanese performing arts: In Japan, comic performing arts such as kyogen and rakugo developed from the medieval to the early modern period. They are valued as a reflection of common people's lives and values.
• Festivals and laughter: Some local festivals and folk events in Japan, known as "warai matsuri" or "warai-ko," treat laughing together as a sacred ritual in itself.

Trivia about Laughter Day

• At the moment of four eights: At 8:08 a.m. on August 8th of Heisei 8 (1996), members gathered in Ebisu Garden Plaza in Tokyo to rally for making Laughter Day a holiday.
• "Laugh" and "smile": English distinguishes laughing out loud ("laugh") from silent smiling ("smile"). Japanese similarly calls silent laughter "emi" or "hohoemi."
• Many words for laughter: Japanese has many expressions, such as "shinobi-warai" (stifled laughter), "naki-warai" (laughing through tears), "morai-warai" (laughing because others are laughing) and "hatsu-warai" (the first laugh of the year).
• Other laughter days: February 5th is "Smile Day" from the wordplay "ni (2) - ko (5) niko," and the first Sunday of May is "World Laughter Day." August 8th is also "Smile Anniversary," created with the wish that smiles will spread around the world.

Laughter in society

• A means of communication: Laughter transcends language barriers and has played a role in smoothing human relationships.
• Workplaces and schools: A little laughter is said to ease tension and create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable speaking up.
• Laughter and media: Through television, radio and the internet, diverse forms of comedy, such as manzai and sketches, reflect the values of each era.

Ways to enjoy Laughter Day

• Listen to rakugo or manzai and pay attention to how the punchline is built
• Compare humor across cultures and countries, and consider what is shared as "funny"
• Talk with family or coworkers about the funniest thing that happened to you recently

Laughter is a mirror that reflects our humanity

Laughter Day on August 8th is a day to look beyond laughter as mere entertainment and consider the long history of people living together and sharing emotions. The fact that laughter has existed in every era and culture shows how essential it is to human society. Today, try to make a little time to laugh out loud: "ha-ha-ha."