Later this week on Thursday, it's Thanksgiving in the U.S. of course. In Japanese, Thanksgiving is translated as 感謝祭 (かんしゃさい kannshasai). 感謝 (かんしゃ kannsha) means gratefulness, and 祭 (さい sai）is festival. (Used on its own, it's read as 祭り (まつり matsuri）The festival of gratefulness sounds good, doesn't it?
There is no holiday equivalent to Thanksgiving in Japan, but there is another day of gratefulness that occurs in September: 敬老感謝の日 (けいろうかんしゃのひ keiroukansha no hi), Respect (or gratefulness) for the Aged Day. It's often abbreviated to 敬老の日 (けいろうのひ keirou no hi), since the phrase 敬老 (けいろう keirou) means to respect the elderly. It's a day on which senior citizens are honored. Taking care of, and respect for, ones elders has been a deeply rooted part of Japanese society for a long time, but in recent times that respect seems to be eroding, which is one reason why this holiday was implemented.
To be grateful is 感謝する (かんしゃする kanshasuru).
Whatever you have to be grateful for, if you are in the U.S. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving!
