deliriouslove1970. The life & times of Gary and Denise Flanders. (Free and worth every penny. If you would like to compliment the editor, send to garytheflan@deliriouslove1970.com. If you would like to complain, call your mother.)

Respect for the aged day

The national flag of Japan. Commonly known as ‘The Ball of The Sun’. Japan’s nickname is ‘Land of the Rising Sun’. This flag has been in existence since 1870. The sun plays an important role in Japanese mythology and religion, as the Emperor is said to be the direct descendant of the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu, and the legitimacy of the ruling house rested on this divine appointment. The name of the country as well as the design of the flag reflect this central importance of the sun. The ancient history Shoku Nihongi says that Emperor Monmu used a flag representing the sun in his court in 701, the first recorded use of a sun-motif flag in Japan.

Today is a national holiday in Japan, officially called: Respect for the Aged Day. A day to go out of your way to honor the elderly.

Japan enjoys one of the highest life expectancies in the world. These days, many people remain healthy into their eighties, but 60 is still an important milestone. In the past, it was common to celebrate longevity with a gift of a red chanchanko vest and cap, believed to ward off evil spirits.

On Respect for the Aged Day, local bodies around Japan hold events aimed at senior citizens to celebrate longevity. Families use the opportunity to take elderly relatives on holiday, give them presents, and hope that they will live even longer.

Since 1963, the Japanese government has given a commemorative silver sake cup to Japanese who reach the age of 100. In 1963, the number was 153, but with numbers increasing, the government decided to reduce the size of the cup to cut costs in 2009. In 2014, 29,357 received a cup. In 2017, Japan honored 32,097 people (27,461 women and 4,636 men) who turned 100 years old; they each received congratulatory letter and souvenir sake cup from the Prime Minister. According to a recent report the solid sterling silver cups were replaced with nickel alloy silver plated design which halved the per-unit cost, saving $1-million in the annual budget.

A few suggestions from Japan on how to celebrate Respect for the Aged Day:

HOW TO CELEBRATE RESPECT FOR THE AGED DAY

1. Use their experience wiselyTreasure the experience and guidance the older population can bring to your life. Our elders possess a wealth of knowledge and they are very willing to share it. Use that experience as a measuring tool for your actions; understand their traditions, learn from their mistakes, and let them be your bridge to the past.
2. Be extra nice to the elderly on this day. We always recommend a good deed or two, especially when it comes to the older people in our society, but be especially aware of this segment of the population on this day. Lend a helping hand whenever you can, even if it could inconvenience you.
3. Connect with special events. This holiday is the perfect time to get together with relatives and elderly friends. Organize fun competitions and virtual events, send them treats, and host Japanese-themed theatre specials online.

Not a bad idea to honor and show respect for us oldies but goodies.