A day to "cheer" people online!

Today, and January 12th annually, is Ii ne no Hi いいねの日, also known as Cheer‑Sending Day, エールを送る日, a modern anniversary created to celebrate the simple act of offering encouragement online.

The date comes from a playful bit of Japanese wordplay: January 12th which is written as 1/12 in short in Japan, is 1‑1‑2, which can be read as ii ne. Ii ne means “like!”—the familiar button found across social media platforms.

The day’s theme is captured in the slogan “#指先でエールは送れる”, meaning “You can send encouragement with your fingertips.” The idea is to make January 12th a day when people consciously tap the “like” button on social media, offer supportive comments, or even give themselves a little cheer.