
We love all of the unofficial holidays in Japan. From Fundoshi (also known as Japanese loincloth) Day to Cat Day, people all over the country have special events (and discounts) to look forward to all year round.
But May 23 marked Kiss Day in Japan and netizens all over the country celebrated the seemingly romantic occasion with some decidedly strange drawings in a bizarre illustration battle on Twitter.
Usually Japanese unofficial holidays are created as a result of the way a date can be read. For example, Good Meat Day lands on November 29 because the numbers 1-1-2-9 can be read as ii niku, literally “good meat.” But May 23 was dubbed Kiss Day, not for it’s double meaning, but because November 29, 1946 was the first time a kissing scene had been shown on the silver screen in Japan.
▼ Japan’s first kissing scene from Hatachi no Seishun. So scandalous!

You may think Kiss Day is celebrated by giving your honey a big peck on the cheek or lips, but Japanese netizens seem to have a different way of doing things on this unconventional holiday, giving rise to the longest hashtag we’ve ever seen: #5月23日はキスの日らしいのでリプで一番目に指定されたキャラが二番目に指定されたキャラにキスをする (#Apparently May 23 is Kiss Day, so I’m going to have the first character you pick kiss the second character). The rules of this trending hashtag are simple: once someone posts the phrase, fellow tweeters are welcome to throw out the name of a person, fictional or not, and the first two mentioned will be drawn by the original tweeter…and this is Kiss Day so those two people have to be kissing. A dangerous recipe for some weird combinations…let’s check them out:
▼ Japanese surveyor and cartographer, Inō Tadataka gets a little peck on the forehead.

▼ And here’s Inō Tadataka kissing Ronald McDonald…

▼ Is he kissing a mirror or himself?

▼ Looks like someone doesn’t want to get kissed on Kiss Day.

▼ Sakata Gintoki and Kagura from Gin Tama…it’s a one-way street in this smooch fest.

▼ No-Face from Spirited Away and Anpanman bring on the weird.

Officially creeped out yet? Even though March 23 is Kiss Day only in Japan, that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun with it…leave us a comment and let us know your favorite (or creepiest) kissing mashup! Our vote goes to Mr. Sato and Prime Minister Abe.
Source: My Game News Flash

East Japan Railway announces plans to abolish magnetic-strip tickets
Japan’s cheap beef bowl chain goes upscale with Matsuya Premium, but is it worth the higher price?
7-Eleven Japan joins the craze for Korean Gamja Cheese Balls
7-Eleven Japan reinvents convenience store fruit sandwiches with new salty pink sakura peach variety
New Square Enix Cafe reveals Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Nier, and Fullmetal Alchemist menu items
East Japan Railway announces plans to abolish magnetic-strip tickets
Japan’s cheap beef bowl chain goes upscale with Matsuya Premium, but is it worth the higher price?
7-Eleven Japan joins the craze for Korean Gamja Cheese Balls
7-Eleven Japan reinvents convenience store fruit sandwiches with new salty pink sakura peach variety
New Square Enix Cafe reveals Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Nier, and Fullmetal Alchemist menu items
Shakey’s Japan creates matcha mochi, Kyoto fish, and Kansai Chili Con Carne pizzas
Anne Hathaway creates PR frenzy in Japan after mentioning Tottori in Devil Wears Prada interview
Super Mario Galaxy Happy Meal toys now available at McDonald’s Japan
Date handsome cockroaches in a new dating sim from one of Japan’s leading pest control companies
Starbucks adds new Fruit Gummy sweets to stores in Japan
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
Japanese rice cooker recipe gives us a tasty new way to enjoy vegetables and wieners
New Tokyo sweets shop offers 648 different mochi ice cream dumpling combinations
Family Mart commits “reverse fraud” in new Giant All-Star Festival, and we couldn’t be happier
Colour Hunting: The hot new street photography trend changing how we see Japan
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
Body of missing American college student found in Kyoto mountains
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Shakey’s Japan creates matcha mochi, Kyoto fish, and Kansai Chili Con Carne pizzas
Anne Hathaway creates PR frenzy in Japan after mentioning Tottori in Devil Wears Prada interview
Super Mario Galaxy Happy Meal toys now available at McDonald’s Japan
Date handsome cockroaches in a new dating sim from one of Japan’s leading pest control companies
Starbucks adds new Fruit Gummy sweets to stores in Japan
Trigun Legacy Cafe coming to two Japanese cities this summer to salute series’ original form
Bears appear at one of Kyoto Prefecture’s most popular tourist spots[Video]
7-Eleven Japan releases a chocolate chip sandwich… that tastes like ice cream
A Japanese toast sandwich remix: The toasted rice rice ball[SoraKitchen]
Family Mart commits “reverse fraud” in new Giant All-Star Festival, and we couldn’t be happier
Godiva melts minds by releasing a new corn chocolate drink in Japan
Burger King Japan offering all-you-can-eat quad-burgers, whoever eats the most gets more in December
Osaka is hosting a “hentai” event, but it’s probably not what you think
Starbucks Japan releases new “torori” drinks exclusive to 7-Eleven convenience stores