The birthday flowers of February 9th as well as the solar term and micro season and the anniversaries and annual observances in Japan on February 9th.
Today, February 9 – Flowers
On February 9th, the “birthday flowers” in Japan include;
- Stock flower (ストック・アラセイトウ)
- Calendula (キンセンカ)
- Trumpet Daffodil (喇叭水仙・ラッパ水仙)
Stock flower (アラセイトウ)
The Stock flower (アラセイトウ) is cherished in hanakotoba for meanings such as 「永遠の美」(eternal beauty), 「愛情の絆」(bonds of affection), and 「求愛」(courtship), reflecting its long-lasting blooms and gentle fragrance that lingers like a steadfast emotion. Introduced to Japan in the Edo period, its sturdy stems and abundant petals give it a dignified presence in winter-to-spring arrangements. Stock reaches its natural blooming period from March to May, with its peak season in early spring, though it appears in flower markets as early as November. . Its symbolism and seasonal timing make it a popular choice for expressing enduring affection and heartfelt sincerity. Stock is also the birthday flower of January 10th, March 2nd and July 16th. In addition, Pink Stock is the flower of February 8th, purple stock the flower of February 20th and white stock the flower of March 2nd.
Calendula (キンセンカ)
Despite calendula’s (キンセンカ) bright, sunny appearance, its traditional flower meanings lean toward the somber — “sorrow,” “grief,” “loneliness,” and “despair.” These associations come from Western floral symbolism and even Greek mythology, where the flower’s golden petals were linked to tales of loss. Its Japanese name, meaning “golden coin flower,” reflects the round, shining shape of its blooms, which appear from winter into spring and last several days even after cutting. It is also the birthday flower of January 20th and February 8th. In addition, the yellow calendula is the birthday flower of January 12th and the orange calendula of March 26th.
Trumpet Daffodil (喇叭水仙・ラッパ水仙)
The rappa suisen, trumpet daffodil in English, is a striking variety of daffodil known for its bright yellow petals and long, trumpet‑shaped corona that protrudes prominently from the bloom. In hanakotoba, it carries the meanings 「尊敬」(respect) and 「報われぬ恋」(unrequited love), reflecting both its dignified form and the bittersweet mythology tied to the Narcissus family. They normally bloom from March to April, but I took the photo of this post in February (📌). The trumpet daffodil / rappa suisen’s vivid color and bold silhouette really stand out in still‑cool landscapes. The ‘rappa suisen’ / trumpet daffodil is also the birthday flower of January 16th, February 16th and March 1st.
| Solar term: Risshun, first solar term of the year |
| Micro season: first day of Yellow warbler sings melodiously 黄鶯睍睆 (kōō kankan), second micro season of the year / of the first solar term of the year |
Today, February 9 – Anniversaries & Annual Observances
- Manga Day / Tezuka Memorial Day (漫画の日・治虫忌)
- Daifuku Day (大福の日)
- Hakuba Soba Day (白馬そばの日)
- Crepe Day (クレープの日)
- Meat Day (肉の日)
- Kisoji “Meat Day” (木曽路「肉の日」)
- Kisoji “Fugu Day” (木曽路「ふぐの日」)
- Puffer Fish Day (ふくの日)
- Torafugu‑tei Day (とらふぐ亭の日)
- Wajima Fugu Day (輪島ふぐの日)
- Hokkaido Rice “Fukkuringo” Day (北海道米「ふっくりんこ」の日)
- Side‑Job / Multiple‑Job Day (副業（複業）の日)
- Study Desk Day (学習机の日)
- Clothing Day (服の日)
- Furukuru Day (フルクルの日)
- Business Succession Relay Day (relay（リレイ）でつなぐ事業承継の日)
- Data Connection Day (データをつなぐ日)
- International Epilepsy Day (世界てんかんの日)
- Fukuju Day (福寿の日)
- PC Certification Day (パソコン検定の日)
- Enosui Jellyfish Day (えのすいクラゲの日)
1. Manga Day / Tezuka Memorial Day (漫画の日・治虫忌)
Manga Day, observed on February 9th, was established by the specialty manga bookstore Mandarake to honor the legacy of Osamu Tezuka, whose death on this date in 1989 marked the loss of one of Japan’s most influential creators. Because of this connection, the day is also known as Tezuka Memorial Day. Tezuka’s groundbreaking works—from Astro Boy and Jungle Emperor to Phoenix and Black Jack—reshaped the medium and inspired generations of artists. There are also other related commemorative dates, such as July 17th (another “Manga Day”), November 3rd (“Manga Day” tied to Tezuka’s birthday and Culture Day), and March 17th (“Weekly Manga Magazine Day”), all reflecting the deep cultural impact of manga in Japan.
2. Daifuku Day (大福の日)
Daifuku Day, celebrated on February 9th, was established by the food wholesaler Nippon Access as a playful nod to the word “daifuku,” which can be read as fu (2) and ku (9). The aim is to promote traditional Japanese sweets and energize wagashi sales. The company also designates the 29th of every month as “Fuku Day,” using the same wordplay to evoke good fortune. Together, these dates anchor consumer campaigns that brighten up wagashi sections and encourage people to enjoy daifuku—soft mochi filled with sweet bean paste, a confection whose history stretches back to the Edo period and whose name evolved from “big belly” to the auspicious “great fortune.”
3. Hakuba Soba Day (白馬そばの日)
Hakuba Soba Day (白馬そばの日) is on the 8th, 9th and 10th of February. The days honor the soba‑making traditions of Hakuba Village, which is in Nagano, an area known for its pure water and high‑quality buckwheat. There are a few different reasons for the dates. For example, on February 8, 1998, the Nagano Olympics Alpine skiing, cross-country, and jumping competitions started in Hakuba Village. In addition, it is also a “goroawase” on the date – Hakuba’s “Ha (8) Ku (9) Ba (8)” as well as some other local markers of February 8th, 9th and 10th.
4. Crepe Day (クレープの日)
“Crepe Day” (クレープの日) is on the 9th, 19th, and 29th of every month. It was an idea created by Monteur, the Saitama‑based sweets manufacturer known for its cakes and chilled desserts. The company chose these dates because the number 9 resembles the shape of a rolled crepe, making every “9‑day” a playful reminder to enjoy the treat. The aim is to help more people discover the appeal of crepes and to make them feel like an everyday snack rather than an occasional indulgence. Monteur highlights several signature products for the occasion, including its rich Nama‑Chocolate Hand‑Rolled Crepe, which wraps chocolate chips and smooth milk cream in a soft crepe, as well as variations like the Doutor two‑layer espresso crepe and the Shinshu cheese hand‑rolled crepe.
5. Meat Day (肉の日)
“Meat Day” (肉の日) is on both February 9 and the 29th of every month, thanks to the playful reading of 2‑9 as ni‑ku, meaning “meat.” The monthly version was established by the Prefectural Meat Consumer Countermeasure Council, while the National Federation of Meat Dealers’ Cooperative Associations (Zen Nikuren) also promotes campaigns on both dates. These promotions span roughly 1,600 stores nationwide and are joined by restaurants, yakiniku chains, gyudon shops, burger shops, and supermarkets that run their own specials. Related anniversaries have grown around the theme—August 29 as Yakiniku Day and November 29 as “Good Meat Day”—with many chains offering discounts or limited‑time menus.
6. Kisoji “Meat Day” (木曽路「肉の日」)
Kisoji “Meat Day,” is on February 9th annually. The anniversary was created by the restaurant company Kisoji, headquartered in Nagoya. It is known for its nationwide chain of shabu‑shabu and Japanese cuisine restaurants. The date comes from the wordplay 2 (ni) + 9 (ku) = niku, meaning “meat.” The company established the anniversary to highlight the quality of the carefully selected meats served across its brands, which include shabu‑shabu restaurants, yakiniku shops, chicken‑specialty eateries, and more. The day promotes the enjoyment of premium beef and seasonal vegetables, especially through Kisoji’s signature shabu‑shabu courses. The company also designates several other food‑related anniversaries creating a playful calendar of celebrations tied to its culinary offerings. Another of their food related anniversaries is also on February 9th:
7. Kisoji “Fugu Day” (木曽路「ふぐの日」)
As above, #6, this is another anniversary of Kisoji restaurant. This time playing on the date to create “fugu”; 2 (fu) + 9 (gu), the puffer fish, which the restaurant also offers puffer fish on their menu. They serve winter delicacies such as tecchiri (fugu hot pot), tessa (thin‑sliced fugu sashimi), teppi (parboiled fugu skin), as well as other puffer fish dishes.
8. Puffer Fish Day (ふくの日)
Pufferfish in Japanese is “Fugu”, but in Shimonoseki the fish is intentionally called “FUKU”, a homophone of “good fortune” to emphasize its auspicious image. An image partly attributed to how only specific parts of the fish are edible and some of it is toxic, adding to the dish’s mystique and culinary prestige. Shimonoseki is long known as Japan’s center of puffer fish culture. It is a major hub for both wild and farmed fugu. Moreover, the fish are processed by licensed experts before being shipped to major cities. The day promotes the enjoyment and safe handling of fugu, and Shimonoseki marks the occasion with the Fuku Day Prayer Festival at Ebisu Shrine, where people pray for good catches and maritime safety. On February 11th, the city hosts the Fuku Day Festival at Haedomari Market—Japan’s top landing site for wild fugu—featuring fugu sashimi tastings and product sales.
9. Torafugu‑tei Day (とらふぐ亭の日)
Another pufferfish related anniversary on February 9th. Also, using the date 2/9 to read “fu(2)gu(9)”, the Japanese for pufferfish. Tokyo Ichiban Foods established this one. The company operates the “Oyogi Torafugu Ryōri Senmonten Torafugu‑tei,” a restaurant chain specializing in live tiger pufferfish cuisine. Since its founding in 1996, the company has expanded its restaurants and aquaculture operations with the goal of making fugu dishes more accessible and promoting fugu culture. At Torafugu‑tei, diners can enjoy dishes like tessa (thin‑sliced fugu sashimi) and tecchiri (fugu hot pot), both names derived from the old nickname “鉄砲” (teppō, “gun”), a reference to the fish’s deadly poison. Torafugu is the most poisonous of the puffer fish, and also the most strictly related in Japan.
10. Wajima Fugu Day (輪島ふぐの日)
The Noto Peninsula / Wajima Wanoshi Ma Club created Wajima Fugu Day. Like the previous entries, the date comes from the wordplay 2 (fu) + 9 (gu), forming fugu. The anniversary aims to promote “Wajima fugu” while supporting regional revitalization. Wajima’s port is renowned for landing a wide variety of wild pufferfish—including torafugu, mafugu, gomafugu, shōsaifugu, and shirosaba‑fugu. Thus, the city has trademarked the collective name “Wajima fugu” to strengthen its brand. Wajima Fugu is known for its high quality, nutritional value, and collagen-rich meat. Locally you can buy it at reasonable prices. The region also produces processed foods, sweets, and souvenirs made from this prized fish.
11. Hokkaido Rice “Fukkuringo” Day (北海道米「ふっくりんこ」の日)
“Fukkurinko Day,” a commemoration created by the Hokkaido Rice Sales Expansion Committee to promote the Hokkaido‑grown rice variety Fukkurinko. The date comes from a playful reading of 2‑9 as “fu‑ku‑rin‑ko.” Developed in southern Hokkaido, Fukkurinko is known for its glossy appearance, gentle sweetness, pleasant stickiness, and soft, plump texture. To preserve its quality, it is grown only in limited areas of Donan and parts of Sorachi. It has earned the top “Special A” rating in taste tests for three consecutive years.
12. Side‑Job / Multiple‑Job Day (副業（複業）の日)
On February 9, Japan observes “Side Job Day,” an anniversary created by Hallheart Inc., the Shibuya‑based company behind the professional side‑job matching service Pro no Fukugyō. The company chose the date by linking the sounds of fuku in “副,” “複,” and “福” with 2‑9, and it aims to promote a culture where people use side jobs to sharpen their skills, build parallel careers, and ultimately work in ways that feel more fulfilling.
13. Study Desk Day (学習机の日)
The “Study Desk Day,” was created by Itoki, a company known for designing office furniture and other spatial solutions. The date reflects both the busy season for buying or replacing study desks and a wordplay reading of 2‑9 as tsukue (desk). Itoki, then operating as Itoki Kōsakusho, produced and sold Japan’s first steel study desk for general households in 1962, later expanding the line with items like the Junior Desk that helped the study‑desk concept spread rapidly across the country. The company reached the 60th anniversary of its study‑desk sales in 2022.
14. Clothing Day (服の日)
The Japan Fashion Education Promotion Association and the National Fashion Schools Association created “clothing day” to spark interest in clothing and encourage people to enjoy what they wear. The date comes from a simple wordplay reading 2‑9 as fuku (clothes). The organizers promote the idea that “fashion is happy communication” and hope the day helps the concept take root nationwide.
15. Furukuru Day (フルクルの日)
Furukuru Day is an anniversary by Kokusai Motorcars, the company behind the well‑known km Taxi service. The date comes from reading 2‑9 as Furukuru, the name of the company’s taxi‑hailing app. The app lets users call a nearby vacant km Taxi simply by shaking their smartphone, without entering personal information or paying a pickup fee. Kokusai Motorcars established the day to raise awareness of the service.
16. Business Succession Relay Day (relay（リレイ）でつなぐ事業承継の日)
Light Light Inc., a company based in Miyazaki City, established “relay de tsunagu Business Succession Day” to raise awareness of business succession and reduce unnecessary closures of businesses. The date comes from reading 2‑9 as tsugu (to inherit or succeed). Light Light operates relay, an open business‑succession matching platform that connects people who want to hand over their businesses with those who hope to take them on. As many small businesses face closure due to a lack of successors, the company aims to use relay to prevent avoidable shutdowns and support the future of regional economies.
17. Data Connection Day (データをつなぐ日)
Saison Information Systems established “Data o Tsunagu Hi” to highlight the importance of connecting and using data across industries. The company chose the date by reading 2‑9 as tsunagu (to connect). Saison Information Systems released its file‑ and data‑integration tool HULFT in 1993 and marked its 30th anniversary in 2023, the same year it launched HULFT Square, a Japanese iPaaS platform designed to link data seamlessly in the cloud. The company created this anniversary to promote a society where people and businesses can easily access and use data.
18. International Epilepsy Day (世界てんかんの日)
Every year on the second Monday of February, Japan observes World Epilepsy Day, following the international initiative established in 2015 by the International Bureau for Epilepsy and the International League Against Epilepsy. The Japan Epilepsy Association, based in Minami‑Ōtsuka, created the Japanese commemoration to promote accurate understanding of epilepsy and support people living with the condition. The date aligns with the global choice of the Monday before Valentine’s Day, inspired by the European tradition of honoring Saint Valentine as a protector of people with epilepsy.
19. Fukuju Day (福寿の日)
On February 9 and 10, Ryukyu Fukuju, a company in Naha that works in health, welfare, and caregiving, established Fukuju no Hi to promote the idea of a joyful, vibrant long‑life culture from “Fukuju Island Okinawa.” The dates come from reading 2‑9‑10 as fuku‑ju (福寿). The company uses the anniversary to share the value of living actively and healthily for as long as possible.
20. PC Certification Day (パソコン検定の日)
Every month on the 9th, the All Japan Information Learning Promotion Association, headquartered in Chiyoda, designates Personal Computer Certification Day to encourage people to measure and improve their PC skills. The association chose the 9th because certification exams determine the appropriate kyū (level), which echoes the number nine.
21. Enosui Jellyfish Day (えのすいクラゲの日)
Every month on the 9th, the New Enoshima Aquarium in Fujisawa marks Enosui Jellyfish Day, a commemoration the aquarium created by reading 9 as ku from kurage (jellyfish). Since January 2011, the aquarium has run a hands‑on program on the 9th of each month in which visitors accompany the “Enosui Treaters,” the aquarium’s exhibit and husbandry staff, as they survey jellyfish in Sagami Bay and learn about natural environments and biodiversity. The aquarium established the day to raise awareness of these activities and encourage more people to take an interest in marine life.