Take a deep breathe on breathing day

Today, and May 9th annually, is Breathing Day 呼吸の日 in Japan. The anniversary was created by the non-profit organization "Japan Respiratory Disability Information Center to encourage people to think about the gift of easy breathing. 

The date of the anniversary comes from a pun on the reading of 5/9: "ko (5) kyuu (9)" which is the Japanese for "breathing". Early May is also a time of fresh greenery, soft breezes and the kind of air that naturally invites a deep, grateful breath. Deep breathing is a simple yet effective small step we can take each day for better health. It increases oxygen intake, relaxes the autonomic nervous system, stabilizes heart rate and blood pressure, and eases tension and stress, among other things.

The purpose of the day is to deepen public understanding of lung health and promote early detection of respiratory diseases. "Breathing day" invites us to pause, inhale slowly and deeply, appreciating the gift of fresh, (relatively) clean air.