Hi yah!
I think 1st May is the labor's day in many countries.
In China, it is called "Lao Dong Jie" which means labor's week.
The whole 1st week is holidays up there, which is 1.3 billion people's celebration.
In Japan, it is different story. From 1980s, trade unions are not so active any more although still they do some ceremonies at some big parks on the day.
Besides we have approx one week national holidays, which is called "Golden Week".
In the first week of May, there are "Constitution Day", "Children's Day" and "People's Day".
During "Showa Emperor Era" there was "Emperor's Birthday", which had been changed to "People's Day" after he passed away 1987.
Average Japanese business persons have a guilty feeling to get leaves even around 20days granted by rule.
If everybody takes leaves at same time, then Japanese feels more easy to take a good rest.
This is Japanese typical mentality. I know I have to be a good manager letting my guys take leaves though, I also would not take many holidays without looking around other managers or boss taking holidays.
ps. On the Children's Day, many houses who have boys hang "Koi-Nobori" as tradition.
It means Carp Fly. Also parents (or grand parents) buy "Gogatsu Ningyo". The photo on left is not traditional shape but cool.
