As the final month of the year rolls in, many people around the world begin preparing for grand holiday feasts and festive decorations. While lavish Christmas displays are the norm in many countries, Japan welcomes the New Year a little differently: through cleaning.

If you are from a coastal town or a maritime nation that is plagued by earthquakes, it is something that you must be mindful of and prepared for.  Today, as we observe World Tsunami Awareness Day, let’s look at the history and ways we can be prepared.  

As summer fades and cool breezes begin to sweep across Japan, conversations often turn to Jūgoya (十五夜), also called Tsukimi or Otsukimi, meaning “moon-viewing.”

JECO—short for Jaladurgam’s Eco—is my way of saying “this belongs to me, but also to all of us.” Eco, for me, isn’t just the environment—it’s the culture we create around it. I first felt its urgency through Climate Fresk that revealed how deeply human actions intertwine with environmental impact. Later, in Tokyo, I thrived in vibrant climate communities, weekends filled with ideas and energy.

Every September, Japan welcomes one of the most meaningful seasonal markers of the year: the Autumn Equinox (Shūbun no Hi, 秋分の日). Usually falling on September 22 or 23, this holiday officially ushers in autumn. On this day, the sun rises directly in the east and sets directly in the west, with day and night balanced in perfect harmony. 

In 1960, after yet another devastating natural disaster, the Ise Bay Typhoon of September 1959, the government decided to create Disaster Prevention Day.  To raise public awareness and disaster prevention knowledge, September 1st was chosen to commemorate the date of the Great Kanto Earthquake.  

Today, as we celebrate Mountain Day, let’s look at some statistics about Japan’s geography.  According to the Ministry of the Environment: Government of Japan, forests cover 67% of Japan’s total land area, and mountains and hills cover 70%.  70% is a lot of space to be covered by mountains. 

Umi no Hi, also known as Marine Day, is celebrated annually on the third Monday of July.  As a maritime country, Japan has a deep connection with the ocean, and although the holiday itself has only been officially recognized for 20 years, its history dates back much further.