Autumnal Equinox Day

For the general topic, see equinox.

Autumnal Equinox Day
Official name	Autumnal Equinox Day
Observed by	Japan
Type	National
Significance	Commemorates the autumnal equinox
Date	Autumnal equinox
Frequency	annual

Autumnal Equinox Day (秋分の日, Shūbun no Hi) is a public holiday in Japan that usually occurs on September 22 or 23, the date of Southward equinox in Japan Standard Time (autumnal equinox can occur on different dates for different timezones). Due to the necessity of recent astronomical measurements, the date of the holiday is not officially declared until February of the previous year. Autumnal Equinox Day became a public holiday in 1948. In 1947 and before, it was the date of Shūki kōreisai ( 秋季皇霊祭), an event relating to Shintoism. Like other holidays, this holiday was repackaged as a non-religious holiday for the sake of separation of religion and state in Japan's postwar constitution.

Recent Japanese equinoxes

Past observed and future calculated equinoxes in Japan Standard Time.

Year	Vernal	Day of week	Autumnal	Day of week
2013	March 20	Wednesday	September 23	Monday
2014	March 21	Friday	September 23	Tuesday
2015	March 21	Saturday	September 23	Wednesday
2016	March 20	Sunday	September 22	Thursday
2017	March 20	Monday	September 23	Saturday
2018	March 21	Wednesday	September 23	Sunday
2019	March 21	Thursday	September 23	Monday

See also

• Japanese calendar
• Vernal Equinox Day
• Southward equinox