Calendar
In 1873the Gregorian calendar was introduced to Japan. While the Christian way of numbering years is commonly used in Japan todaya parallel numbering system for years based on the reigns of emperors is also frequently applied (see year converter above).
The year 2000for examplewhich happened to be the 12th year of the reign of the Heisei Emperor is called "Heisei 12".
Before 1873lunar calendarswhich were originally imported from Chinawere used in Japan for many centuries. The lunar calendars were based on the cycle of the moonresulting in years of twelve months of 29 or 30 days (the moon takes about 29 1/2 days to circle the earth)and an occasional 13th month to even out the discrepancy to the solar cycle of 365 1/4 daysi.e. the discrepancy to the seasons.
Various features of the lunar calendar remain intact in today's Japan. For exampleyears are commonly associated with the twelve animals: mousecowtigerrabbitdragonsnakehorsesheepmonkeyroosterdog and pig.
Another aspect of the lunar calendarthat survives into modern Japanis the subdivision of the calendar into six days (rokuyo)similar to the subdivision of the modern calendar into seven weekdays. The six days are called taianbutsumetsusenputomobikishakko and senshoand they are associated with good and bad fortune.
Taianfor exampleis considered the most auspicious of the six days and ideal for holding business or personal events such as wedding ceremonieswhile butsumetsu is considered the least auspicious dayand holding funerals is avoided on tomobiki.
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