A day to one of Japan's gifts from the sea!

Today, and February 6th annually, is Nori Day 海苔の日. Nori Day is one of Japan's many hidden food holidays. They are not 'holidays' in the typical sense, as a regular working day, but more of a commemorative day, known as "anniversary days" in Japan. Nori Day is a significant one, because nori has been enjoyed in Japan since ancient times. 

Nori Day was established in 1966 by the National Federation of Nori and Shellfish Fisheries Cooperatives to promote the growth of the nori industry and encourage wider consumption. The date has a historical anchor: in the year 701, the Taihō Code listed nori as one of the marine products paid as tax. When that old lunar date is converted to the modern calendar, it becomes February 6, which is why this day was chosen.

The timing also aligns with the peak of the nori harvest season, making it a natural moment to celebrate this essential food. Events and promotional campaigns often take place around this date, all centered on appreciating nori as a “gift from the sea.”