Have you ever wished you had just a little more time? Well, you should have been more specific!
Everyone knows about leap years. Once every four years, an extra day is added to the end of February so that the calendar year synchronizes with the astronomical or seasonal year. But, have you ever heard of a leap second?
A leap second occurs when an extra second added to astronomical time is necessary to keep in line with the universal atomic clock. Astronomical time was the universal standard until the atomic clock came into use in 1958. Then, it was discovered that irregularities in the earth’s rotation meant the two standards of time were out of sync.
▼ Nobody’s perfect. Not even the Earth.
Leap seconds have been used sparingly since 1972. The latest one was about one and a half years ago on July 1st, 2015. The International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) in France makes the final call, and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NITS) in Japan complies.
It has been determined that the next leap second will take place on December 31st, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. Accounting for the time difference, it will take place in Japan on January 1st, 2017.
▼ That means a whole extra second of fireworks!
That also gives you another second to eat Yoshinoya, study Japanese, wait for the train, or play Pokémon GO. Use it wisely!
References: Wikipedia (Leap Year), IERS
Featured images: Wikimedia Commons/Postelwijn
Images: Wikimedia Commons/NASA, Wikimedia Commons/Ondrejk
[ Read in Japanese ]
Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
This Japanese vending machine doesn’t sell drinks, but you can buy drinks through it
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli adds new anime tumblers to its cool streetwear brand in Japan
Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
This Japanese vending machine doesn’t sell drinks, but you can buy drinks through it
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli adds new anime tumblers to its cool streetwear brand in Japan
Starbucks Japan opens new Kyoto store in Place of Scenic Beauty
Go, Super Alloy Kitty! Hello Kitty takes robot form and stars in original animated video
Japanese ramen cocktail uses tonkotsu pork broth for alcoholic noodle flavour
Peko-chan Milky Time Cafe opens in Chiba and we go to check out all of the pastries and merch
Here’s what Japanese netizens think of the U.S.’s top 20 most-picked karaoke songs
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo
When will the cherry blossoms reach full bloom in Japan this year?[Forecast]
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
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
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
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】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan opens new Kyoto store in Place of Scenic Beauty
Go, Super Alloy Kitty! Hello Kitty takes robot form and stars in original animated video
Japanese ramen cocktail uses tonkotsu pork broth for alcoholic noodle flavour
Peko-chan Milky Time Cafe opens in Chiba and we go to check out all of the pastries and merch
Here’s what Japanese netizens think of the U.S.’s top 20 most-picked karaoke songs
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Five things that keep Japanese people chained to their jobs
Expo 2025 mascot Myaku-Myaku to release tastefully erotic photo book
Domino’s Pizza is offering a Sakura Pizza for cherry blossom season
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Act of Japanese kindness touches one man’s heart, provides hope for elevator etiquette
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Is “Nagoya skipping” a cause of the exodus of young people from the city?