Due to a coincidental chain of Japanese national holidays, the name "Golden Week" was given to one of Japan's longest and busiest holidays. Golden Week starts with Midori no Hi (Greenery Day) on April 29th and ends with Kodomo no Hi (Children's Day) on May 5th. Other holidays in between are Kenpou Kinen bi (Constitution Memorial Day) on May 3rd and occasionally Kokumin no Kyujitsu (People's Day) on May 4th, and May Day on May 5th. The word "Golden Week" was first used by movie companies as a media hook to get people to watch more movies. Excluding Oshoogatsu and summer vacation, Golden Week is the longest holiday of the year. Most companies and schools often allow additional days off in order for Golden Week to become a full week of holidays. Golden Week is an ideal time for the Japanese to travel because of the line of holidays and the pleasant weather. Thus, popular sites and transportation facilities are especially crowded during this time.
             Midori no Hi marks the beginning of Golden Week on April 29th and originated during the reign of Hirohito, also called Emperor Shoowa (Shouwa Tennou). Showa, meaning "Time of Enlightened Peace" was Emperor Hirohito's title and is commonly associated with the period of Hirohito's reign. This day was originally a national holiday honoring the birthday of Emperor Hirohito, but when the emperor died in 1989, the holiday was preserved and changed to Midori no Hi. It has been the custom in Japan since 1948 to observe the reigning emperor's birthday as a national holiday and many holidays that originated from a sovereign's birthday have now evolved into holidays celebrated for a reason other than honoring the former ruler. Emperor Hirohito loved nature and in memory of his reign, which was the longest in the world, April 29th was designated as a day for all people to appreciate nature.
             On Midori no Hi, people all over Japan participate in volunteer work focused on beautifying natural sites...