Have you ever heard of “Golden week”?

It is a Japan-made English expression for the vacation time from the end of April to the 2nd week of May.
If you are planning to come to Japan (or traveling in Japan) during this time, be prepared!
For many workers, Golden week is the longest vacation time of the year.
Hotels get booked quickly and plane and bus/train tickets get sold out pretty easily.
In addition, since we have the change of era in the middle of Golden week this year, it is even longer than usual and could be really crowded everywhere!
Here is the detail about this vacation week of Japan.

How the week became “Golden”.

Nine official holidays were declared in 1948 by the Japanese government,
and people started taking vacation at the end of April and in the beginning of May.
A lot of people spent money for traveling and entertainment during the period.
It was named “Golden Week” by Hideo Matsuyama from Daiei Film company in 1951 since the ticket sales of movies were the recorded high.
(At that time in the radio industry, the time with the highest listener ratings was called “Golden time”, so he named after that.)
And it still is the Gold-Making week for many business owners!

Golden Week of 2019

The Heisei Era (the current era which lasted for 30 years) will end on April 30th this year.
The current emperor, Akihito is passing the throne to his son, Naruhito on the day.
The new era of Naruhito’s reign will begin the following day.
So, including the event, this year’s vacation time is really long.
Counting from April 27th, Golden week of 2019 consists of 10 days.
Very “Gold” for a lot of workers and students!

・April 27th and 28th:Weekends
・April 29th:Showa day, the previous emperor’s birthday. Greenery Day was on this day until 2006.
・April 30th:Citizen’s Holiday, Day of Abdication
・May 1st:Coronation Day of the new Emperor
・May 2nd:Citizen’s Holiday
・May 3rd:Constitution Memorial Day
・May 4th:Greenery Day (this holiday is dedicated to the nature since the emperor loved it)
・May 5th:Children’s Day (this is also considered as the boy’s festival. Parents pray for healthy, successful life of their sons)
・May 6th:Substitute holiday for Children’s Day (Because it’s on Sunday this year)

Although it might be the best time to hang out with your Japanese friends,
hotels and flight tickets can be really expensive during this time.

Alright, Here’s today’s song!
This is my song called “Looping Days”.
It is about the everyday life in big cities.
Lyrics are somewhat sarcastic.
And I made the music lively to make it even more sarcastic lol
City lights are bright and you live in the material world,
but it’s hard to find a true friend/partner there.

今日も単純な事を繰り返す
We live the same day like everyday.

自分勝手な行動は決して許されず
We are not allowed to do what we want.

そして完璧な態度で役柄をこなす
And we act like robots

息をつく暇も無く回り続けている
Working crazy without having any time to rest.

特に不自由な事は無いけれど
It seems that we have everything we need,

何か足りないといつも思っている
But always feel that something is missing.

そんな時に限って空は雨模様
Then it starts raining.

何処に逃げようたって　いずれ濡れるのさ
Wherever you go, you will get wet anyways.

あぁ嫌になっちゃうな　なんて
“I really don’t like this.”

言葉投げかけてみて
I talk it to myself.

思い通りにいかなくて辛いよ
I can’t have the day I want.

あぁ嫌になっちゃうな　なんて
“I really don’t like this.”

言葉投げかけてみて
I talk it to myself.

今を駆け抜けたい
I want to live today as I want.

※Complete song is available here Skyhigh Or click on the band camp link below.

Ohh, I’d better make my plans for Golden week!
See you next time.
Taka

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