In Japan, the third Monday in July is Marine Day (also known as Ocean Day), a day to show appreciation for the seas and oceans. Other nationalities have similar observances, but as inhabitants of an island nation, people in Japan can claim a particularly strong connection to the waters that surround them. The modern holiday also serves as an official start of summer in Japan, and many folks hit the beach to celebrate the end of tsuyu, the rainy season. The holiday started as Marine Memorial Day in 1941 to mark the anniversary of the return of the Meji Emperor from a voyage in 1876, but it wasn"t observed as a national holiday until 1996. Some also mark Marine Day with environmentally friendly activities. In Okinawa, people throw EM (effective microorganism) mudballs into the sea—these contain bacteria and yeast targeted at eliminating sludge and slime. Other areas host beach cleanups and aquariums host special Marine Day events.
Marine Day in Japan
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
National Park Week: Haleakalā National Park, Hawaii
-
A. M. Foster Bridge in Cabot, Vermont
-
Splashes of color for Watercolor Month
-
Bobbio, Italy
-
The Canary Islands, Spain
-
The migrating monarchs of Michoacán
-
Take me to the river
-
Longer days mean warmer sand
-
Our Lady of the Rocks
-
Hooray, hooray, it s Unicorn Day!
-
It’s National Dolphin Day!
-
Travel Sunday: Liverpool
-
Grandparents Day
-
Polar bear season in Manitoba
-
Taking the scenic route
-
Composite of photographs from the Apollo 15 mission
-
Patriot Day
-
A magnificent monolith
-
Let the Highland games begin
-
The parenting of a piping plover
-
Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico
-
Beaver achievers
-
International Haiku Poetry Day
-
Ancient storage in the Grand Canyon
-
Celebrate International Women’s Day
-
Reflections of the night sky
-
Manatee Appreciation Day
-
The stylish Spanish shawl
-
Birthplace of Roman emperors
-
National Fossil Day