Arab News Japan

TOKYO: July 7 was regarded as an auspicious day in Japan, and this resulted in a flurry of marriage registrations, local media reported.

As well as using the Gregorian calendar that makes this year 2025, Japan also has a separate system based on the reign of the emperor. This year is the seventh year of Emperor Naruhito’s reign, which was named Reiwa when he acceded to the throne. As a result, July 7 was the seventh day of the seventh month of the Reiwa era: 7-7-7, a lucky number in Japan.

It was the first time in 30 years that the Japanese era, month, and day all aligned with the number seven and people decided to take advantage of the auspicious day to register their nuptials at municipal offices across the country. 

At the Ota Ward office in Tokyo on the morning of July 7, the approximately 80-seat waiting area was filled with people, including many couples submitting marriage records. According to the ward’s family registry and resident division, about 15 couples typically submit marriage certificates per day. However, just before the office opened at 8:30 a.m., around 30 couples were already lined up to take a number for processing.

On the previous “triple-7” day in the Heisei era – July 7, 1995, in the reign of Emperor Akihito – 230 couples submitted marriage registrations in Ota Ward. Anticipating a similar surge, the ward office increased the number of reception counters to more than double the usual figure.

In addition, the ward gave commemorative gifts such as notebooks and ballpoint pens to the first 100 people who submitted their marriage registration forms. A gold folding screen was set up in the first-floor lobby for commemorative photos, and those who wished could have their photos made into badges as gifts.