Marine Day in Japan Jul 15, 2019

Marine Day in Japan

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.

© Tommy Tsutsui/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Jul 15, 2018GOAL!
Jul 15, 2020Who left the tub running?
Jul 15, 2021A river runs through rice fields
Jul 15, 2022Arrone in Umbria, Italy
Jul 15, 2023Castelmezzano, Italy
Jul 15, 2024Marine Day, Japan
Jul 15, 2025Perseid meteor shower over Nevada

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Sep 10, 2021Celebrating all things Austen
Jun 29, 2022International Day of the Tropics
May 11, 2020A tree amid the Tetons
Mar 30, 2021Best fronds forever
Jul 27, 2020A stunning sight in Mexico s wilderness
Jan 13, 2018Fire-damaged forest near Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado
Jan 12, 2025Crescent-tail bigeye fish, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Feb 23, 2026Great white egret, Upper Bavaria, Germany
Apr 18, 2019Stop and see the flowers
May 23, 2021A palace for the public
Jun 23, 2021Light show in the forest
Feb 9, 2018Speed skaters in the Gangneung Oval, Pyeongchang, South Korea
Aug 7, 2019Nubble Island’s only industry
Feb 13, 2025Lake Tyrrell, Victoria, Australia
Nov 26, 2019Staring down winter
Apr 3, 2022Lake Tai s cherry trees in bloom
Jun 2, 2025National Garden Week begins today
Aug 27, 2020Rocks on the move
Nov 10, 2020Baddest of the badlands
Jan 7, 2023Yarn for Distaff Day
Aug 16, 2025World Honey Bee Day
May 1, 2023Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Mar 6, 2025Desert bighorn sheep in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Feb 27, 2018A polar bear near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
May 13, 2024Fish River Canyon, Namibia
Sep 16, 2018Mexico celebrates its Independence Day
Oct 14, 2023Ring of fire solar eclipse
Aug 18, 2023Avatar Mountains, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China
Aug 18, 2025Avalanche Lake Trail at Adirondack High Peaks, New York
Aug 28, 2025A great white egret in Hungary