The birthday flowers of February 5th as well as the solar term and micro season and the anniversaries and annual observances in Japan on February 5th.
Today, February 5 – Flowers
On February 5th, the “birthday flowers” in Japan include;
- Nodding Anemone
- Sakurasou
- Japanese Quince (木瓜)
Nodding Anemone
Nodding Anemone, okinagusa (翁草) in Japanese, is a spring‑blooming wildflower. It is cherished in Japan for its soft, down‑covered stems and its distinctive, nodding dark‑red to purple blossoms. It grows in sunny grasslands and riverbanks across Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, though its numbers have declined due to habitat loss and over‑collection. The entire plant is covered in fine white hairs. After flowering, its seed heads turn into fluffy, silver tufts that resemble an old man’s white hair—this appearance is the origin of its Japanese name. In the hanakotoba, okinagusa carries meanings such as “pure heart,” “unspoken love,” “asking for nothing,” and “betrayed love.”
Sakurasō (桜草)
The sakurasō [桜草] is in the genus of Primula and is sometimes called the Japanese primrose in English. Its ‘hanakotoba’, language of flowers, is first love, admiration, and purity. No doubt inspired by its soft colors and delicate, heart‑shaped petals. Although the five petals appear separate, they are actually fused. A detail that adds to the flower’s charm and symbolic unity. Its name comes from its resemblance to cherry blossoms, while its scientific name Primula sieboldii honors the botanist Philipp Franz von Siebold, who studied Japanese flora in the Edo period. It typically blooms in April and May. Sakurasou is also the birthday flower of February 1st, April 28th and May 18th. The red sakurasou is the flower of February 4th.
Japanese Quince (木瓜)
Japanese Quince, boke (木瓜) can bloom in winter and spring. Winter quince blooms in November and December, and in spring it blooms around March and April. I took the photo in this post on March 22nd. Its blossoms range from soft pinks to vivid reds and warm oranges, creating a striking contrast against bare branches. In traditional Japanese flower language, it carries meanings such as “ordinary,” “precocious,” and “a pioneer.” Boke often appears in gardens, temple grounds, and seasonal arrangements, and its understated beauty has made it a favorite subject in poetry and painting. It is also the birthday flower of February 4th and 17th.
| Solar term: Risshun, first solar term of the year |
| Micro season: East Wind Melts Ice 東風解凍 (tōfū kaitō), first micro season of the first solar term of the year |
Today, February 5 – Anniversaries & Annual Observances
- Professional Baseball Day [プロ野球の日]
- Japanese Language Proficiency Day [日本語検定の日]
- Smile Day [笑顔の日]
- Everyone Smiles Day [みんなニッコリの日]
- Twin Day [ふたごの日]
- Boiled Egg Day [煮たまごの日]
- Mitarashi Dango Day [みたらしだんごの日]
- Eco-Chu Day [エコチュウの日]
- Nigori Sake Gathering Day [ニゴラー集う「にごり酒」の日]
- Omi-Hino Merchant Day [近江日野商人の日]
- Pleco Appreciation Day [「プレコ」を愛でる日]
- Nigoro-Buna Day [ニゴロブナの日]
- Chōjō Seishin Pill Day [長城清心丸の日]
- Day of the 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki [長崎二十六聖人殉教の日]
It is also the Feast of Saint Agatha [聖アガタの祝日] in many countries, but in Japan it is on the 6th, because the 5th is the feast day of the 26 martyrs.
1. Professional Baseball Day [プロ野球の日]
“Professional Baseball Day” in Japan commemorates the founding of the All‑Japan Professional Baseball League on February 5, 1936. This organization later became today’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). The original league launched with seven teams, including the Tokyo Giants, Osaka Tigers, Hankyu, and Nagoya, marking the official birth of professional baseball in Japan.
2. Japanese Language Proficiency Day [日本語検定の日]
February 5 is “Japanese Language Proficiency Day” (日本語検定の日), established by Tokyo Shoseki, a major educational publisher that supports the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. The date comes from a wordplay on 2 (ni) – 5 (go), sounding like nihongo (Japanese). The day promotes awareness of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, administered by the nonprofit Japanese Language Proficiency Committee. The exam measures broad Japanese ability—including kanji, grammar, vocabulary, and honorifics—and is held twice a year, in June and November. About 100,000 people take it annually, making it the largest test of its kind. It offers seven levels, from Grade 1 to Grade 7.
3. Smile Day [笑顔の日]
*February 5 is celebrated as “Smile Day” (笑顔の日), a cheerful observance created by the volunteer group Yūshi to promote kindness and positivity. The date comes from the wordplay 2‑5 → niko‑niko, the Japanese onomatopoeia for smiling. The day encourages people to appreciate the emotional and physical benefits of a genuine smile, which is associated with faster healing, reduced stress, and improved well‑being. Cultural references to songs and media featuring smiles highlight how deeply the theme resonates in Japan. Related commemorative days include World Laughter Day in May and “Laughter Day” on August 8.
4. Everyone Smiles Day [みんなニッコリの日]
February 5 is “Everybody Smiles Day” (みんなニッコリの日), created by eSep Inc., a Kyoto‑based company developing nano‑ceramic separation membrane technology. The date comes from the wordplay 2‑5 → nikko‑ri, meaning “smile.” The day reflects the company’s philosophy: “People and the planet—everyone smiles,” promoting a society where individuals, communities, and the environment can thrive together. The initiative encourages thinking and acting in ways that help both oneself and others smile. Established in 2024 by the Japan Anniversary Association, the day also highlights eSep’s mission to revolutionize energy‑intensive chemical separation processes through efficient, eco‑friendly membrane technology.
5. Twin Day [ふたごの日]
February 5 is “Twin Day” (ふたごの日), an observance created by Bellami, a company in Aichi Prefecture specializing in twin‑related goods. The date comes from the wordplay 2‑5 → futago, meaning “twins.” The day promotes better support and environments for raising twins and other multiples, encouraging awareness of the unique challenges families face. Bellami also organizes community events where parents of multiples can connect and share experiences, and the company develops original products such as twin baby carriers. Related commemorative days include “Quintuplets Day” on January 31 and “Twin Day” on December 13, which celebrate multiple births in different ways.
6. Seasoned Boiled Egg Day [煮たまごの日]
Slightly different to the Boiled Egg, “Yudetamago”, Day on February 1st, the Boiled Egg Day on February 5th is dedicated to “Nitamago” (煮たまご). Which are usually a soft boiled egg that is marinated with seasoning, like the ramen egg with a custardy center. “Seasoned Boiled Egg Day” (煮たまごの日) was established by Nobuko Minagawa, a freelance writer and editor who authored the cookbook “Gochisō Nitamago.” The date comes from the wordplay 2‑5 → ni‑tamago.
7. Mitarashi Dango Day [みたらしだんごの日]
Mitarashi Dango are skewered rice dumplings coated in a glossy, sweet-savory soy glaze. Each month the 3rd, 4th and 5th of the month are Mitarashi Dango Days. The reason is – they spell out Mi (3) tarashi (4) dango (5)! You can sometimes find special offers on Mitarashi Dango on these days of the month.
8. Eco-Chu Day [エコチュウの日]
February 5 is “Eco‑Chū Day” (エコチュウの日), established by Proto Corporation, the Nagoya‑based publisher behind the used‑car magazine Goo. The date comes from the wordplay 2‑5 → chū‑ko (中古 / used). The day promotes the idea that choosing a used car helps reduce CO₂ emissions, since manufacturing a new vehicle consumes significant energy and resources. The name blends “eco” and “chūko car.” Proto Corporation also publishes related media such as Goo Bike, supporting environmentally conscious choices through information about second‑hand vehicles.
9. Nigori Sake Gathering Day [ニゴラー集う「にごり酒」の日]
February 5 is “Nigori Sake Day” (にごり酒の日), established by Miwa Shuzō, the Gifu‑based brewery known for Shirakawagō Junmai Nigori Sake. The date comes from the wordplay 2‑5 → nigori. The day promotes greater awareness and enjoyment of nigori sake, encouraging people to appreciate it year‑round, not only in winter. Fans of the drink are affectionately called “Nigorā.” Miwa Shuzō’s flagship nigori, inspired by doburoku traditions, is known for its rich, cloudy texture, natural sweetness, and versatility with hearty dishes like grilled meats and pickles.
10. Omi-Hino Merchant Day [近江日野商人の日]
February 5 is “Ōmi Hino Merchants Day” (近江日野商人の日), established by Hino Town in Shiga Prefecture to honor the legacy of the Ōmi Hino merchants, who rose to prominence from the Edo period onward. Known for principles such as “Intoku Zenji” (doing good without seeking recognition) and “Sanpō Yoshi” (good for seller, buyer, and society), they built a reputation for ethical, community‑minded commerce. The date reflects the long‑standing February 5 gathering of the merchants’ mutual‑aid guild, the Hino Ōtōban Nakama, which met annually for nearly 200 years.
11. Pleco Appreciation Day [「プレコ」を愛でる日]
February 5 is “Pleco Appreciation Day” (「プレコ」を愛でる日), created by a Pleco designer and creator in Hirakata, Osaka, known online as “Pleco Kurashi.” The date comes from the wordplay 2‑0‑5 → pu‑re‑ko. The day promotes the beauty, diversity, and charm of plecos, a group of Amazon‑native catfish with over 500 species worldwide. The observance encourages people to “make February 5 a day to admire plecos.”
12. Nigoro-Buna Day [ニゴロブナの日]
February 5, 6, and 7 are “Nigoro‑buna Days” (ニゴロブナの日), established by Takashima City in Shiga Prefecture in 2010. The dates come from the wordplay 2‑5‑6‑7 → ni‑go‑ro‑buna. The observance promotes the Nigoro‑buna, an endemic Lake Biwa fish essential for making funazushi, a 1,500‑year‑old fermented delicacy recognized among Japan’s top traditional local foods. The timing also coincides with the period when funazushi reaches peak flavor. The anniversary aims to preserve and publicize this culturally important fish. Local shops in Takashima offer special services and promotions on the days.
13. Chōjō Seishin Pill Day [長城清心丸の日]
Every month on the 5th is “Chojo Seishin Pill Day” (長城清心丸の日), established in 2001 by Asgen Pharmaceutical, the Japanese importer of the traditional Chinese remedy “Bezoar Qingxin {Heart‑Clearing} Pill” (牛黄清心丸). The date comes from the wordplay 5 → go‑ō (牛黄), referring to the pill’s key ingredient. The day promotes greater awareness of the product, which is formulated from 牛黄 (bezoar), licorice, and other herbal components. Qingxin Pill is associated with vitality support, fatigue recovery, and general health maintenance. 牛黄, prized for over 2,000 years, appears in ancient Chinese text.
14. Day of the 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki [長崎二十六聖人殉教の日]
February 5 is “Nagasaki 26 Martyrs Day” (長崎二十六聖人殉教の日), a Catholic feast day honoring 26 Christians executed in Nagasaki in 1597 under Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s persecution edict. The group included six foreign missionaries such as Fr. Pedro Bautista and twenty Japanese believers, including Paulo Miki. All were crucified at Nishizaka Hill, now designated as the Site of the Martyrdom of the 26 Saints. In 1862, Pope Pius IX canonized all 26, recognizing them as the “Saints of Japan.” Today, the site in Nagasaki features the “Prayer of Ascension” monument and the 26 Martyrs Museum, serving as a place of remembrance.