Taisho-Era Tenchosetsu Holiday

What Was the Taisho-Era Tenchosetsu Holiday?

During the Taisho era, October 31st was observed in Japan as the "Tenchōsetsu Shukujitsu" (天長節祝日), a holiday for celebrating the emperor's birthday. "Tenchōsetsu" was the prewar name for the Emperor's Birthday; the word "tenchō" comes from Laozi's phrase "tenchō chikyū" (heaven is long-lasting and earth endures). Emperor Taishō was born on August 31, but because ceremonies were difficult to hold in the midsummer heat, the holiday for celebrating his birthday was set two months later, on October 31.

Note that Emperor Meiji was born on the 22nd day of the 9th month of the old lunar calendar, and after Japan adopted the solar calendar his birthday was celebrated on November 3 — today's Culture Day. At Meiji Jingū Shrine, the grand festival celebrating Emperor Meiji's birth is the Annual Festival (Reisai) on November 3, not a ceremony on October 31.

Tenchōsetsu and Chikyūsetsu

While the emperor's birthday was called Tenchōsetsu, the empress's birthday was called Chikyūsetsu (地久節). Before the war, Tenchōsetsu was celebrated as one of the "Four Great Festivals" (together with New Year, Kigensetsu and Meijisetsu), whereas Chikyūsetsu was not a public holiday.

Why October 31?

Emperor Meiji died on July 30, 1912, and Emperor Taishō succeeded him. Because the new holiday regulation moving Tenchōsetsu to August 31 did not take effect until September 4, 1912 had no Tenchōsetsu at all. From the following year, October 31 was designated as the Tenchōsetsu holiday, since August 31 fell in the height of summer. It is said the date moved two months rather than one because September has no 31st day. August 31 also remained a day off, so during the Taisho era there were two holidays connected with the emperor's birthday. After Emperor Taishō's death in 1926, neither date became a holiday again.

Emperors' Birthday Holidays Compared

• Emperor Meiji: November 3 (after the solar calendar was adopted) — today's Culture Day
• Emperor Taishō: August 31 (Tenchōsetsu) and October 31 (Tenchōsetsu holiday) — no longer holidays
• Emperor Shōwa: April 29 (called Tenchōsetsu until 1948) — today's Shōwa Day
• Emperor Emeritus Akihito (Heisei): December 23 — no longer a holiday since 2019
• Current Emperor Naruhito: February 23 — today's Emperor's Birthday

The Tenchōsai Ceremony Today

Under the prewar Imperial Household Rituals Ordinance, a "Tenchōsetsu-sai" ceremony was held at the Imperial Palace on the emperor's birthday. It has since been renamed "Tenchōsai" (天長祭) and is held on February 23, the current Emperor's Birthday. Shrines across Japan, beginning with Ise Jingū, also hold Tenchōsai on the Emperor's Birthday, and Meiji Jingū holds its Tenchōsai on February 23.

Fun Facts

• A year with no Emperor's Birthday: 1912 had no Tenchōsetsu holiday because of the timing of the imperial succession. The same thing happened again in 2019, when the Heisei emperor abdicated.
• Culture Day's roots: November 3, Emperor Meiji's birthday, later became Meijisetsu in 1927 and then Culture Day after the war.