Emperor's Birthday

Emperor's Birthday (Japanese: Tennō Tanjōbi) is 1 of 16 statutory national holidays, meaning official days off defined by law. Published by the Cabinet Office (Naikakufu, Japan's central government office), it operates under the Act on National Holidays (Act No. 178 of 1948). It is observed nationwide on 23 February to celebrate the birthday of the reigning Emperor Naruhito, in force since 1 May 2019. It is not an economic index, survey or market release, so it has no value, sample or revision cycle.

The date is fixed by statute at 23 February every year, with no data collection, and changes only by the Diet (Japan's parliament). If 23 February falls on a Sunday, the nearest later non-holiday weekday becomes a public day off as a substitute holiday (replacement day off). If the days before and after a non-holiday are both national holidays, that middle day also becomes a public day off. The Cabinet Office publishes a 2-year list and cumulative file for the year after next each February, plus greeting guidance from the Imperial Household Agency.

It has no market drivers because it is fixed by law, and the publisher gives no market reading; the day comprises 4 palace events.

• Shukuga-no-gi (congratulatory ceremony): the Emperor receives greetings from the imperial family, prime minister, Diet leaders and chief justice.
• Enkai-no-gi (banquet ceremony): banquet with legislative, executive and judicial leaders, governors and representatives.
• Chakai-no-gi (tea reception): tea reception for heads of diplomatic missions.
• Ippan-sanga (general public greeting): morning balcony appearances and afternoon greeting-book signing at the Imperial Palace.

The date follows the reign, not the calendar, as the 2019 gap year shows. The Cabinet Office file lists 23 December 2018 as Emperor's Birthday for Emperor Akihito, with 24 December as substitute. It shows no Emperor's Birthday row at all in 2019.

The first 23 February entry appears in 2020, with 24 February as substitute because 23 February fell on a Sunday. The holiday was observed in 2020 to 2022 while greetings were cancelled, then greetings resumed with 8,804 visitors in 2023 and 15,883 in 2024.

The Cabinet Office file runs back to 1955 and covers all 16 holidays.

1. Designation: holiday date D equals 23 February every year.
2. Day-off effect (a statutory day off): D is a public holiday.
3. Sunday rule (replacement weekday off): If D falls on a Sunday, the nearest later non-holiday weekday becomes the day off. For example, 23 February 2020 fell on a Sunday, so 24 February was listed as the day off.
4. Sandwich rule (middle-day rule): If the days before and after a non-holiday are both national holidays, that middle day also becomes a public day off.