Constitution Memorial Day

Constitution Memorial Day, or Kenpo Kinenbi in Japanese, is a statutory national holiday on 3 May across Japan. It was 1 of 9 original holidays in the Act on National Holidays, a 1948 law defining holidays. The Act now covers 16 holidays.

Its stated purpose is commemorating the Constitution taking effect on May 3, 1947 and anticipating national growth. It is a public rest day for all Japan, not a survey or sample. It tracks no economic data such as output, prices, or sentiment. It falls within Golden Week, a run of four spring holidays.

The law fixes the date on 3 May each year, with no data collection and no release time. The date applies in Japan Standard Time. Each national holiday is a public rest day.

The Cabinet Office publishes next year's list each February. If a holiday falls on Sunday, the nearest later non-holiday becomes a rest day. A non-holiday between two holidays also becomes a rest day.

The publisher gives no view on market direction or levels. Japan Exchange Group closes on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, so night sessions and clearing stop. Only an act of the Diet can change the holiday or its date.

Nothing economic moves the holiday, as it is a fixed rest day rather than a survey. Its regular companions in Golden Week matter.

• Showa Day on 29 April: looks back on the Showa era of recovery after turmoil and considers Japan's future.
• Greenery Day on 4 May: honors nature, thanks it for blessings, and builds a rich spirit as the middle Golden Week day since 2007.
• Children's Day on 5 May: honors children's personalities, wishes them happiness, and thanks mothers.

On May 3, 2024, a Friday, Constitution Memorial Day fell. May 4, 2024, a Saturday, was Greenery Day, and May 5, 2024, a Sunday, was Children's Day. Because Children's Day fell on Sunday, Monday, May 6, 2024 became an extra rest day under the Sunday rule. This shows the fixed date does not move, yet the rule adds a day that extends closure from May 3, 2024 to May 6, 2024.

1. Fixed date: Constitution Memorial Day is 3 May every year under Article 2. No data are collected, with no weights, no seasonal adjustment, and no sample.
2. Sunday rule (substitute holiday): If a holiday falls on Sunday, the nearest later non-holiday becomes a substitute holiday. For example, Sunday, May 5, 2024 pushed the rest day to Monday, May 6, 2024.
3. Sandwich rule (citizens' holiday): A weekday between two holidays becomes a citizens' holiday. Before 2007, 4 May was such a day before becoming Greenery Day.
4. Rest-day status: Every national holiday and every extra day above is a public rest day. Japan Exchange Group closes trading, night sessions, and clearing on each such day. For example, Friday, May 3, 2024 was a holiday, and Monday, May 6, 2024 was extra because Children's Day fell on Sunday, May 5, 2024.