Culture Day or Bunka no Hi 文化の日

This day in Japan is a national holiday.
The official name of the holiday is 文化の日 or Bunka no Hi, which translates to Culture Day.

It originally started its history as one of the emperor's birthdays - The Meiji Emperor (1852 – 1912)
The Meiji Emperor presided over one of the most transformative periods in Japanese history when the country moved from a feudal state towards a modern democracy.

Nowadays the date is celebrated as a culture day holiday, with little reference back to those origins.

Today, there are many art exhibitions and parades all over the country.

It is also a day when the emperor hands out medals for the Order of Culture.

This year's stand-out awardee is a Kabuki actor, Matsumoto Hakuo II.

And this year, for the first time, a contemporary dance performer, Saburo Teshigawara has been acknowledged for his ground-breaking choreography and work.