When will you register your marriage?

When will you register your marriage? That is a very important and extremely personal question in Japan. And it is up to you and your partner to decide when your unforgettable, special anniversary date will be. However, did you know that one particular date stands out in Japan as a popular date for marriage registrations?

It is November 22nd. In Japan, this day is known as "Good Married Couple Day.” This day was proposed in 1988 by the Leisure Development Center (now the Japan Productivity Center), and was popularized by the Association for Promoting "Good Married Couple Day" established in 1998. By selecting Good Partners of the Year and by sponsoring Senryu (Comic Haiku or Japanese poem) contests, this day became very popular in Japan.

But do you know why November 22nd became “Good Married Couple Day” in the first place? That’s because "1122" can be read as “good married couple” in Japanese. “11” can be read as “i-i” which means “good,” and “22” can be read as “fu-fu,” which means “married couple.” The fact that it is derived from a play on words is also very Japanese.

Japanese people love wordplay. "1" can be read as "ichi, itsu, i, hi, hi-i, wan," and since there are several readings for each number, it gives us a variety of options for creation. For example, "29" can be read as "ni-ku," which is the same sound as "meat," so meat is likely to be on sale on the 29th every month. "4" can be read as "shi," which is the same sound as "death," so the 4th floor does not exist in many hospitals (in the elevator, you will see the 5th floor next to the 3rd floor). The unspoken rules and rituals of wordplay are everywhere in our daily lives, here in Japan.

November 22nd is just around the corner! How about adopting the Japanese tradition of celebrating "Good Married Couple Day" this year? There is no such thing as too much celebration, when it comes to celebrating love. Even if you miss this date, however, or have no intention of celebrating this date, November 29th is just around the corner. Yes, it is “Good Meat Day,” and any meat-lover can celebrate their love for meat on this day.

Reference: Association for Promoting "Good Married Couple Day", lnkd.in/gPMFb573