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Day in USA, Taiiku no Hi in
Japan |
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Holidays |
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In the year 1492,
Christopher Columbus set sail on the ocean blue. Wizened in maritime
matters, he endeavored to find an alternative route
to Asia by ways westward.
Benefactors denied him the necessary coin to engage in his fantasy until he
came into the good graces of Queen Isabel and King Fernando of the Spanish
crown. Landing in the Caribbean, Columbus nevertheless held firm in the belief
that he had reached Asia. From 1492 to the 1600s, Europeans sailed to the
newfound "America" and engaged in trade, skirmishes, and other
intercourse with the "Indians".
Fast forward to 1776 and the
established colonies in the New World
became united as the USA.
Founded
in 1966 to commemorate the 1964 Olympic games in Tokyo, Taiiku no Hi
(which translates into Health and Sports Day) celebrates physical and mental
health through sports. Throughout Japan, school sporting events and athletic
meets are held to mark the holiday. In 1964, Japan made it's way back to the
international scene after WWII with the introduction of the Shinkansen (bullet
train), the emergence of color television, and the hosting of the
Olympics.
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