Up until 2002, 15 September was the annual Respect-for-Senior-Citizens Day in Japan. The law changed and since 2003 it is observed on the 3^rd Monday of September every year, which is the 17^th this year.

The Japanese name for that is 敬老の日（けいろうのひ/keirou_no_hi）. The Japanese society is turning grey very rapidly, so we are not too sure from what age people are considered old but traditionally the following birthdays have a special name for it and families usually have a bigger celebration in Japan. Many of these special birthdays have an associated colour and people consider the colour when they pick a gift for the celebration.