Ice-cream Day, a great excuse for ice-cream!

Today, and May 9th annually, is Ice Cream Day アイスクリームの日 in Japan. This is a long running anniversary that was created by the Japan Ice Cream Association in 1965. They chose the day as a way to kick off the ice-cream season annually.

The Ice-Cream Association chose the date because it falls just after Golden Week. I find it interesting that they didn't choose a date during Golden Week, as the weather has already warmed up and many people are in a festive mood and are more likely to indulge in a treat. Maybe the day would have got lost among all the other anniversaries that fall during Golden Week. 

The history of ice-cream in Japan is surprisingly rich. Its first appearance dates back to 1869 in a shop in Yokohama. Later, a company in Tokyo helped to popularize it by serving a French-style ice cream that spread ice-creams appeal nationwide. Today, ice-cream is a very popular treat in Japan and is widely available.