Respect for the Aged Day (Keiro no Hi): Japan's Holiday for Elders

Updated October 25, 2026 | By Tokyo Paul

Every September, Japan sets aside a national holiday to thank its older generation. Respect for the Aged Day, known in Japanese as Keiro no Hi, is a day for visits, community events and gratitude toward older people. It also arrives at a moment when new government figures on aging are published, so the holiday and the national conversation about longevity tend to appear side by side.

This guide explains where the day came from, when it falls, how people mark it and what the latest official figures say about older adults in Japan. It sticks to what published sources state, and where accounts of the origin differ, it says so.

When the Holiday Falls

Respect for the Aged Day is held on the third Monday of September. The listed dates are September 21, 2026 and September 20, 2027, so the 2026 holiday has already passed and the next one falls in 2027.

A separate source adds that September 15 to 21 is Rojin Shukan, a week for the elderly, so the holiday sits within a longer period of attention to older people.

A Village Idea That Became a National Holiday

The modern holiday traces back to a small community. In 1947, Nomadani-mura in Hyogo Prefecture, later called Yachiyo-cho and now part of Taka-cho, proclaimed September 15 as "Old Folks' Day" (Toshiyori no Hi). The custom spread nationwide, and in 1966 it took its present name and status as a national holiday on September 15.

The date moved in 2003. Under the Happy Monday System, which was introduced in 2000 and extended to this holiday in 2003, it now falls on the third Monday of September.

The town of Taka even held a public contest in 2013 that produced a holiday song titled "Kitto Arigato."

Older Roots in Legend

Some writers point to much older stories. One article presents two theories rather than settled history. In the first, around 593 A.D., one of the four Shikain at Shitennoji Temple, built under Prince Shotoku to support the elderly, was founded on September 15. In the second, a folk tale tells of a woodcutter and his elderly father who found a river of sweet liquor, after which, on September 20, 717 A.D., the emperor visited the place and renamed the era Yoro, a name meaning "nourishing the aged."

These accounts are best enjoyed as cultural background. The village proclamation of 1947 and the national holiday status of 1966 are the milestones described by Wikipedia.

The Spirit of the Day

The day's theme is described as thanking older people for their years of service, thanking them for their wisdom and wishing them a long, happy life.

The suggestions in published accounts, such as sharing a meal or spending time with older relatives, are simple and personal in tone.

How People Mark the Day

Published descriptions list a range of customs, from the personal to the civic.

People return home to visit and honor their elders.
Organizations and companies hold events for older people in their communities. Age 65 and up is the general benchmark, though it varies by location.
Many communities hold keirokai, ceremonies that invite local seniors, and children or teenagers sometimes perform at them.
Schools perform for seniors at retirement and nursing homes.
Larger cities host outdoor competitions or fitness displays featuring older adults.
Volunteers organize free bento deliveries and hampers of basic necessities such as soap and toothpaste.
Television stations air programs on aging, often featuring centenarians.

Some shops offer freebies or discounts to older people, and hotels and tourist attractions give discounts to families who bring older relatives. Offers vary, so check with each business.

The Silver Sake Cup for Centenarians

One tradition concerns people who reach 100. Since 1963, the government has given a commemorative silver sake cup to Japanese citizens who turn 100. There were 153 recipients in 1963 and 32,097 in 2017. In 2009 the government decided to reduce the cup's size to cut costs, and by 2017 the cups were nickel alloy silver plated. Each 2017 recipient also received a congratulatory letter from the Prime Minister.

A 2026 report adds that centenarians recognised on the day receive a letter from the Prime Minister and a silver sake cup.

What the 2026 Figures Show

In 2026, the government released fresh statistics on older residents ahead of the holiday, and the numbers describe a record.

Centenarians. As of September 1, 2026, Japan had 107,677 people aged 100 or over, up 7,914 from the previous year. Of these, 94,298 were women (87.6%) and 13,379 were men. It is the highest total since statistics began in 1963 and the 56th consecutive annual increase.

The count passed 100,000 for the first time this year. There were 153 centenarians in 1963, more than 1,000 in 1981 and more than 10,000 in 1998.

The health ministry released the figures on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. According to that report, the oldest woman is Fuyo Kishimoto of Kyoto, aged 114, and the oldest man is Hikaru Kato of Kumamoto, aged 112.

For comparison, a separate source says that in 2025 there were 99,763 people in Japan over 100, and that 52,310 turned 100 that year.

The wider older population. As of September 20, 2026, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications estimated that people aged 65 and over made up a record 29.6% of the total population, up from 29.4% a year earlier. That is 36.24 million people, made up of 15.71 million men and 20.54 million women.

The share aged 75 and over was 17.7%, the highest among nine major countries, with Italy next at 13.3%. Among 39 countries with 40 million or more people, Japan's 65-and-over share was the highest, with Italy at 25.6%, Germany at 24.2% and France at 22.9%.

A projection from the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research puts the 65-and-over group at 39.45 million, or 36.3% of the total, by 2045.

Looking Back: How Fast the Share Has Grown

Older statistics give perspective. According to the Statistics Bureau, the share of the population aged 65 and over was 4.9% in 1950, rose above 10% in 1985 and went above 20% in 2005. In 2009 it stood at 28.98 million people, or 22.7%.

Older adults are also active in the workforce. A 2017 report said 7.7 million of the 35.14 million Japanese aged 65 or older were still working.

Marking the Day Respectfully as a Visitor or Resident

Anyone can take part in the spirit of the holiday, whether living in Japan or far from older relatives. Published suggestions include volunteering to help older people in your community, being extra kind to older people you meet, treating grandparents or elderly parents to a meal or spending time with them, and calling older relatives if you cannot visit in person.

A few thoughtful habits apply on any day:

Offer a seat on public transport to someone who looks like they may appreciate it, and do so politely.
If you give food as a gift, check dietary needs and any health restrictions with the family first, and follow their doctor's guidance where it applies.
Keep a visit unhurried. Time and attention are often the most valued gifts.
Ask before taking photographs at community events, especially of residents at care facilities.
Hours, event schedules and discounts differ by town and business, so check local notices instead of assuming.

Quick Answers

What date is the holiday in 2027? The listed date is September 20, 2027.

When did it become a national holiday? In 1966, on September 15. It moved to the third Monday of September in 2003.

Where did the idea begin? In 1947 in Nomadani-mura, Hyogo Prefecture, which proclaimed "Old Folks' Day."

How many centenarians does Japan have? The count was 107,677 as of September 1, 2026.

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