The birthday flowers of March 17th as well as the solar term and the micro season. The post also lists the anniversaries and annual observances in Japan on March 17th.
March 17th – Flowers
On March 17th, the “birthday flowers” in Japan include;
- Anthurium
- Japanese Cornel
- Lupine
Anthurium
Anthurium is the official name, but in some English-speaking countries it is called “Tailflower” or “Painter’s Palette”, the latter because the glossy, heart shaped spathe looks like a small artist’s palette with a paintbrush resting on it (the spadix). In Japanese it is called Oobeni uchiwa (大紅団扇 / オオベニウチワ) focusing on the fan‑like form of the spathe.
Anthurium’s glossy heart‑shaped spathe and slender spadix give it a sculptural presence, and although it appears in shops year‑round, its true seasonal peak is early summer through mid‑autumn. Typically blooming at some point between May and October in Japan. The general flower language of anthurium is ‘earthly desires’ and ‘a heart writhing in love’. But each color also has its own meaning. For example, red anthurium represents “passion” while white anthurium means “devotion / earnestness”.
Anthurium is a multi‑date birthday flower. Apart from being the birthday flower of March 17th, it is also the birthday flower of January 22nd, August 8th, August 25th, and December 1st, with red anthurium specifically linked to July 29th.
Solar Term & Micro season
| Solar term: Keichitsu, “insects awaken”, is the third solar term of the year. It begins when the sun reaches 345° ecliptic longitude. Keichitsu literally means opening of hibernating insects; 啓 is opening and 蟄 is hibernating of insects. It indicates the end of dormancy and an increase in environmental activity. |
| Micro season: March 17th is in Caterpillars become butterflies , 菜虫化蝶 Namushi chō to naru, ninth micro season of the year / and third and final of the third solar term of the year. |
Today, March 17 – Anniversaries & Annual Observances
- Beginning of Higan (彼岸の入り)
- Day to Discuss End‑of‑Life Planning with Family (家族と終活を話し合う日)
- Weekly Manga Magazine Day (漫画週刊誌の日)
- SDGs Awareness Day for Everyone (みんなで考えるSDGsの日)
- Miyuki Baseball School Day (ミユキ野球教室の日)
- Slow‑Aging with Dr. MICHAEL Day (Dr.MICHAELと始めるスローエイジングの日)
- Salt Reduction Day, Monthly on the 17th (減塩の日（毎月17日））
- Domestic Eggplant Consumption Promotion Day, Monthly on the 17th（国産なす消費拡大の日）
- Inari Day, Monthly on the 17th（いなりの日）
1. Beginning of Higan (彼岸の入り)
Beginning of Ohigan (彼岸の入り) marks the first day of the Buddhist Ohigan period, observed in both spring and autumn. It begins three days before the equinox, when day and night are nearly equal and the sun sets directly in the west, symbolically linked to the Pure Land in Buddhist belief.
As such the dates can change slightly some years. But in 2026, the spring Ohigan is from March 17th to March 23rd. Thus, today, March 17th is “(O)Higan no Iri”, which I have translated as “entrance to ohigan” in the title, but I think more naturally we say “the first day of Higan” or to translate Higan; the first day of the (spring) equinoctial week. The spring equinox, shunbun no hi, falls on March 20th this year and is an annual holiday in Japan.
It signals the start of a week dedicated to honoring ancestors, visiting graves and offering food like “ohagi”. However, the autumn higan seems to be observed to a greater degree than the spring equinox. But “higan no iri” is a day to reflect and pause and for some even the spring equinox is a time to visit family graves.
2. Day to Discuss End‑of‑Life Planning with Family (家族と終活を話し合う日)
Today, and March 17th annually, is a Day to Talk About End‑of‑Life Planning with Family 家族と終活を話し合う日 (kazoku to shūkatsu o hanashiau hi). The day was created by Nichiryoku, a Tokyo‑based company involved in funerals, cemeteries, and end‑of‑life services. It is purposefully on the same day as “Higan no Iri” and as such it falls twice a year – once for the spring “Higan no Iri”, today, and once for the fall “higan no iri”.
Moreover, they are not the only two anniversaries that are geared to creating awareness about planning for end of life. There is at least one other anniversary in the year with the same objective; a “day to think about the end of life”, 終活を考える日, on October 1st annually. That one was created by a nursing home in Ehime Prefecture.
The higan‑iri timing coincides with a period when families traditionally gather for grave visits and when the boundary between “this world” and “the next” is said to feel closest. This timing makes conversations about “shūkatsu”, preparing for the final stage of life, more natural and less isolating. Rather than leaving these thoughts unspoken, the day encourages people to share their wishes with loved ones, easing emotional and practical burdens later.
3. Weekly Manga Magazine Day (漫画週刊誌の日)
Weekly Manga Magazine Day 漫画週刊誌の日 marks the 1959 debut of Japan’s first weekly manga magazines for young readers: Weekly Shōnen Magazine from Kodansha and Weekly Shōnen Sunday from Shogakukan. Their simultaneous launch on March 17th reshaped the landscape of children’s publishing, introducing a fast-paced weekly cycle that built anticipation and loyalty among readers.
Shōnen Magazine began with the hopeful slogan “Dreams and Hopes for Boys,” though its early years were modest. Its turning point came in the mid‑1960s with works like Tetsuya Chiba’s Harris no Kaze, followed by the explosive popularity of Star of the Giants and Ashita no Joe, which secured its status as a cultural force. Shōnen Sunday leaned into a “Sunday‑like feeling” of fun and relaxation, offering rich reading material and memorable early lineups including Tezuka Osamu’s Dr. Thrill.
The two magazines quickly became rivals, competing in sales, page counts, and even poaching artists! “Weekly Manga Magazine Day” celebrates not only their historic launch but also the birth of a publishing tradition that shaped generations of manga readers and creators.