What is Japan’s labor-related public holiday, observed on November 23, called?

Japan’s labor-related public holiday, observed on November 23, is called Labor Thanksgiving Day.

The holiday is a modern observance that emphasizes production, work, and gratitude. It encourages people to appreciate one another’s efforts and reflect on the value of cooperation in society. It is not Japan’s May 1 International Workers’ Day, although both dates have connections with labor.

Labor Thanksgiving Day developed from Niiname-sai, an ancient imperial harvest ritual in which the emperor offered newly harvested rice to deities. After World War II, the postwar government reshaped the November 23 observance into a civic holiday emphasizing workers’ rights, production, and public gratitude.

The holiday is often associated with appreciation for labor rather than with large May Day-style demonstrations. Japan also has a separate May Day tradition, marked by unions and labor organizations, but May 1 is not the country’s official national Labor Thanksgiving Day.