Many Japanese women expect their partners to get them a special gift and will also buy their boyfriends or husbands one to show their love and affection. Generally, they go on a date and spend the day or evening together to celebrate.
On the other hand, Japanese couples tend to reserve their actual birthday day for their partners. In the past seventy years, however, the concept of a birthday is well rooted in Japan. New Year remains a very special day in Japan and the old custom of giving children and teenagers money as a congratulatory gift endured. Before, the Japanese had only one ‘birthday’, which was the New Year’s Day, since everyone believed that they got older on that day and celebrated together. The concept of celebrating the day you were born was initially a foreign concept. One reason why Japan didn’t celebrate birthdays before is that Japan in general tends to focus on the group rather than the individual, and birthdays are seen as a personal and private affair. Celebrating one’s date of birth was another aspect that stuck.
What about Japan? What are some Japanese birthday traditions and customs, and how do they differ from what we might be used to?īirthdays are acknowledged in Japan, but it might surprise you to hear that they were not celebrated until after the Second World War! After the 1950s, there was an enormous influx of American and other western cultures such as fashion, food, and celebrations such as Christmas. In the west, people tend to regard someone’s birthday as a very important day that should be celebrated, even if the person is elderly! However, it is not that way in every country. Do you find that you continue to celebrate your birthday as you get older? No doubt your answer to these questions depends on which country you are from. What do you usually do on your birthday? Perhaps you receive presents, everybody wishes you many happy returns, and maybe you even throw a party.
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