The Japanese are known as some of the hardest working people in the world. Japan has very few natural resources. The best resources we have are human resources. Many office workers are willing to work overtime and work even during the weekends. Some of the small-sized companies were not able to allow their employees to take consecutive holidays so the Japanese government thought it better to make week-long vacations mandatory. Otherwise, people would be working for long periods without taking a break. That’s the Japanese nature. Now there are 15 national holidays in Japan, including Silver Week.
The consecutive holidays in September came to be known as Silver Week. There are two reasons why the consecutive holidays in fall came to be known as ‘Silver Week.’ First, we have Golden Week in May when we have more than a week of consecutive holidays. Silver Week includes ‘Respect for the Aged’ on Sep. 16 and ‘Autumnal Equinox Day’ at the end of September. Secondly, the elderly people are called ‘silver’ people in Japanese because silver represents the color of their white hair. Since the consecutive holidays in fall includes ‘Respect-for-the-Aged Day’, it came to be called Silver Week.
But sometimes, these holidays don’t fall within one week. We will enjoy the Silver Week this year in two half weeks. Three consecutive holidays including Saturday, Respect-for-the Aged Day and Sunday on the second week in September and
Autumnal Equinox Day including Saturday and Sunday on the following week. During this time, there will be more Japanese traveling around Japan because of the consecutive holidays.
But you don’t have to worry about the service in general in Japan during the Silver Week.The service industry still works during these holidays. Only banks and government offices are closed.
