Japan’s Wife Appreciation Day: Aisai no Hi
What’s your favorite “non-holiday” holiday? You know the type: Pi Day, National Doughnut Day, Cinnamon Bun Day, etc. My choice is obviously in this post’s title, although it’s pretty much tied with International Coffee Day. (It’s on October 1st, in case you’re wondering.)
Japan has more than its fair share of “holidays”: Meat Day (Niku no Hi, the 29th of every month), Mayonnaise Salad Day (March 1st), Walnut Day (September 30th), to name a few. I use the term holiday loosely, as most of these are corporate-sponsored anniversaries to help promote businesses or brands. There can be over a dozen for any given day of the year, but some days are better than others (and I’m not talking about lucky and unlucky days). One of the most interesting ones is Aisai no Hi (愛妻の日/Beloved Wife’s Day) on January 31st. It’s an annual event that encourages men to openly appreciate their wives in front of others.
What is Aisai no Hi?
A group called JAO (Japan Aisaika Organization) initiated Aisai no Hi in 2005 with the grand mission that “a good and sustainable marital relationship may very well lead to the world peace and preservation of the global environment.” Grand plans indeed. And how can one argue with that? If more people were happy in their relationships at home, then surely it would have a ripple effect out into the world?
It all started with one lone man called Takeru Yamato shouting his love for his wife in a small cabbage field in Tsumagoi, Gunma Prefecture. Since then, it has exploded to nationally televised events in front of hundreds of people at Hibiya Park in Tokyo. That’s pretty ballsy even if you’re open to public displays of affection on the best of days. And even more so when it’s not much of a thing in Japan. Here’s an example of some brave men in action:
Is Aisai no Hi Just For One Day?
It’s not all about shouting your love from the proverbial rooftops one day a year. JAO promotes a range of activities, like encouraging men to be at home by 8pm to spend more quality time with their spouses, opening up to hugging and showing more physical affection, etc. This may sound pretty basic to a lot of people, but the pressure to stay late at work or socialize with colleagues (yes, even in Covid-19 times) can be pretty intense. Often work commitments win out and relationship consequentially suffer.
While the notion is grand and the media attention around this time of year is intense, it does seem that self-proclaimed aisaika (adoring husbands) are still far and few between. There aren’t many participants each time — but then again, maybe there doesn’t need to be. Hopefully the few that shout will inspire others to whisper their sweet nothings to their partners in private. I think most of us could benefit from showing our appreciation for our respective partners a little more often, don’t you?
Will You Become an Aisaika?
What do you think of this designated day? Personally, I can’t help but subscribe to a philosophy that a happy wife equals a happy life, but I’m kind of biased! I do think JAO has the best of intentions though, and I can’t help but get teary-eyed when I watch videos of people *literally* screaming their proclamations of love for their partners. I’m a sucker for grand gestures in movies and on TV, even though I would personally hate it in real life.
I do have to say that this viral Twitter thread with six tips for marital success sums it up best for any relationship, regardless of marital status and gender. (If you can’t be bothered to click on the link here’s a quick summary: 1. No one should ever hear anything bad about your spouse from you (know the difference between a joke and character assassination); 2. Over-communication is better than expecting your partner to read your mind; 3. Try new things together; 4. Be each other’s champion. Celebrate wins and encourage each other; 5. Be grateful for each other’s contributions; 6. Trust and respect each other.) <- I think the last one is the most important.
What’s your favorite way to show your appreciation to your significant other?
Main image: Photo by Everton Vila on Unsplash
