Japanese Holidays - Constitution Memorial Day

May 3 is an annual public holiday celebrated in Japan since 1948 to commemorate the adoption of the new Constitution The previous version of the Constitution was developed during the reign of Emperor Meiji and was a fairly democratic document at the end of the 19th century The defeat of Japan in World War II allowed the Americans and their allies to impose their conditions for changing the political system The Land of the Rising Sun was forced to abandon the centuries-old tradition of government: the emperor lost his powers and divine status, becoming a formal symbol, and power transferred to parliament The second key point is the addition of Article 9, which radically distinguishes the new Constitution not only from the previous version, but also from the highest state documents of other countries The article proclaims a complete renunciation of military action on the part of Japan, and accordingly, a veto is imposed on the possession of an active army Recently, more and more people disagree with such provisions in political circles While supporters and opponents of the opposition party and political scientists are discussing the validity of the Constitution and the need to change it, ordinary Japanese are happy to celebrate the solemn date What brings special joy to ordinary residents is the fact that May 3 is part of a unique Golden Week that exists only in East Asian countries The national characteristics of the Japanese mentality force them to work a lot, almost without days off Therefore, on a legitimate holiday, they enjoy spending time with their family, walking along the streets, squares, decorated with unusual colorful decorations that personify peace and respect The Japanese themselves call this day the Day of Respect - refusal of swearing and quarrels, which is facilitated by the ban on alcoholic beverages on this day Not only tourists, but also residents of the country itself enjoy the opportunity to come to Tokyo and visit the National Parliament Only once a year the doors of the building where the fate of the nation is decided are open to everyone Schools and other educational institutions hold lectures on the importance of the Constitution, the promotion of pacifism in general and Article 9 in particular