Culture Day Coloring Pages

A Holiday to Enjoy Culture

Culture Day is a national holiday every year on November 3rd.
It is a day to "love freedom and peace, and promote culture."
Culture means the things people have made and passed down for a long time, like paintings, music, books, dance, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, and sports.
It was made a holiday in 1948.

Why November 3rd?

On November 3rd, 1946, the Constitution of Japan was made known to everyone. It is the basis for Japan's rules today.
This constitution cares a lot about peace and culture.
To celebrate that, November 3rd became Culture Day.
Also, November 3rd was the Emperor's birthday in the Meiji era, so it was a day off from long ago.

Get Your Painting Tools Ready

The first page shows tools you use to paint picture.
There is a palette to put and mix paints on, paintbrushes, paint tubes, a bucket to wash brushes, and a sketchbook to draw in.
You can choose your own favorite colors for the paint spots on the palette!

Art, Music, or Reading: Which Do You Like?

On the second page, there are four kids enjoying culture.
A child painting a picture on a canvas easel, a child playing the recorder, a child playing the melodica, and a child reading a book.
Pictures of the sun, a house, and flowers are on the wall.
Which one do you like the best?

Autumn is Chrysanthemum Season

The third page shows a chrysanthemum show held in an autumn park.
Chrysanthemums are autumn flowers that have been loved in Japan for a very long time.
Around Culture Day, people show off the chrysanthemums they grew with great care at shrines, temples, and parks.
The large chrysanthemum has just one big flower on a single stem, and its thin petals curl inward in many layers.

Looking at and Drawing Chrysanthemums

On the third coloring page, there are a grandpa and grandchild who came to see the chrysanthemums, and a grandma wearing a kimono.
On the right side, there is also someone sitting on a chair, painting the flowers.
Behind them, you can see colorful maple leaves, ginkgo leaves, lanterns, and stone lanterns.

Pick your favorite colors for the paints on the palette

The palette on the first page has lots of spots for paints.
Try coloring each one with a different color, like red, blue, yellow, green, purple, and orange.
A light brown works great for the wooden palette, and light blue or yellow is perfect for the bucket.
If you color the paint tubes the same color as the paint inside them, it makes them easy to spot!

Color the tips of the paintbrushes, too

If you add a little paint color to the tip of the brush, it will look like you are painting right now!
Color the brush handles brown or red, and use silver or gray for the metal part.

Use bright colors for the kids' clothes

On the second page, you can make it look fun and lively by giving all four kids different colored clothes, like red, blue, yellow, and green.
Color the flowers on the canvas and the pictures on the wall with any colors you like.
It is also fun to make the floating musical notes colorful!
Melodicas are usually light blue or pink, and recorders are usually a cream color.

Use yellow, white, and purple for the chrysanthemums

The chrysanthemum flowers on the third page come in colors like yellow, white, purple, and dark red.
If you color the pots next to each other in different colors, it will look like a real flower show!
To make the petals look round and puffy, color the outside darker and the middle lighter.
Color the leaves dark green.

Kimono and autumn views

Calm colors like light purple and yellow-green look wonderful on the grandmas' kimono.
If you color the maple trees in the background red and the ginkgo trees yellow, it turns into an autumn park!

Days That Are Usually Sunny

November 3rd has long been known as a day that is usually sunny.
A day that often has a certain kind of weather like this is called a "singular day."
It is a perfect day to go out or paint a picture outside!

The Order of Culture Is Given

On Culture Day, a ceremony to hand out the Order of Culture takes place at the Imperial Palace.
The Order of Culture is a special medal given to people who have done amazing work in areas like science and art.
Many different people are chosen, such as scientists, writers, painters, musicians, and actors.

Let's Visit Art Galleries and Museums

On Culture Day, some art galleries and museums let you enter for free.
It is a great idea to visit places you do not usually go to and look at pictures or old tools!
Around this time, many schools and local groups also hold "Culture Festivals," such as art shows and music concerts.

Chrysanthemums Are Flowers That Represent Japan

Along with cherry blossoms, chrysanthemums are flowers that represent Japan.
A chrysanthemum flower is also drawn on the 50-yen coin.
Try looking for a 50-yen coin inside your wallet!