The Golden Week holidays have been consolidated by legislation passed Friday that moves Greenery Day to May 4 from May 29 and renames April 29 "Showa Day," in memory of the late Emperor Showa.
The legislative sleight of hand will give the nation at least three official holidays in a row: Constitution Day on May 3; Greenery Day on May 4; and Children's Day on May 5.
Golden Week will thus consist of the weekend that falls between April 29 and May 3, before April 29 or after May 5, as well as the Showa Day holiday on April 29.
The law also ensures Golden Week will not be shortened by a holiday falling on a Sunday with a provision that, in such cases, the public holiday would automatically move to the nearest weekday.