A day a month for pickles

The 21st of every month is Pickles Day 漬物の日 (tsukemono no hi) in Japan. The anniversary was established by the All Japan Pickles Cooperative Federation (全漬連) to promote the appeal, history, and craftsmanship of Japanese pickles.

The date is inspired by the long‑standing tradition at Kayazu Shrine in Aichi Prefecture, a place known as the spiritual home of pickles. According to legend, villagers once offered the year’s first vegetables and sea salt to the shrine, but the offerings spoiled quickly. One villager placed them in a clay jar, and over time the vegetables and salt transformed into a perfectly preserved, flavorful food. Seen as a divine gift, this early form of pickles became treasured both as a protective charm and as a practical way to store food through the seasons. In honor of this origin story, Kayazu Shrine holds the Kōnomono Festival every August 21, a ceremony now designated as an intangible folk cultural asset. 

By marking the 21st each month, the industry celebrates this heritage and encourages people to rediscover the depth and diversity of Japanese tsukemono. The feature photo in this post is of a pickles shop, "Koedo Pickles" (see review section of City-cost) in the Edo era area of Kawagoe city.