Senior Citizen's Day vs Respect for the Aged Day

Today, and September 15th annually, is Senior Citizen's Day in Japan, which is now completely separate to the public holiday Respect for the Aged Day, which falls on September 21st in 2026.

Unfortunately, for both commemorations, the English "Respect for the Aged Day" is used which causes some confusion. But looking at the Japanese and translating them more literally clears the confusion up.

The non-holiday version on September 15th is called 老人の日 Rōjin no Hi, which is Senior Citizen's Day. The public holiday, which this year falls on September 21st is called Keirō no Hi 敬老の日, which is Respect for the Aged Day.

老人の日 Rōjin no Hi Senior Citizen's Day, September 15th observance is fixed in law under the Elderly Welfare Act. The Keirō no Hi 敬老の日 commemoration, which falls on the third Monday of the month, is defined by the Public Holiday Law.

Originally there was only one date, September 15th, which was known as Keiro no Hi and it was a public holiday. When the Happy Monday system was introduced in 2003 Keiro no hi was moved to the third Monday of the month. September 15th remained the welfare observance, now known as Rōjin no Hi, Senior Citizen's Day.