Java Sparrow Day in Japan Date in the current year: October 24, 2024

This small passerine bird is known by many names: the Java sparrow, Java rice sparrow, Java rice bird, or Java finch. Native to the Indonesian islands of Java, Bawean and Bali, it has been introduced to many other countries such as Brunei, Christmas Island, Fiji, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and the United States (Hawaii).

The Java sparrow has been a popular cage bird in Asia since at least the Ming dynasty in China (14th–17th centuries). In Japan, Java sparrows have been bread since the 17th century (early Edo period), which can be confirmed by numerous paintings and prints. Initially, they were kept by the upper classes, but today these cute birds are available to the general public and are very popular because of their friendly and sociable disposition, as well as being relatively easy to care for.

In Japan, pet Java sparrows are most often raised from birth by breeders. As a result, they are very tame and attached to humans. Java sparrows can comfortably live in relatively small cages, as long as they are regularly let out to exercise and explore (thanks to being so attached to their owners, they are very unlikely to escape). They also need enrichment like bells and mirrors—or maybe even a companion from the same species.

Wild Java sparrows are primarily bluish-gray with a pink belly, black tail and head, and white cheeks, but domesticated birds come in a variety of colorations such as white, silver, cream, fawn, and others. The male and female birds are hard to distinguish visually; the main difference between them is that male Java sparrows sing while females don’t. However, female Java sparrows do emit other sounds like chirps, chips, and trills. In fact, these birds can be very talkative.

Since Java sparrows are so popular in Japan, it is not surprising that the Japanese have a holiday dedicated to them. October 24 was chosen as the date for Java Sparrow Day in Japan for two reasons. First, October is usually the month when the recently hatched Java sparrows became available in Japanese pet stores. Second, the date of 10/24 is a wordplay on the phrase “te (sounds like 10) ni (sounds like 2) shi (sounds like 4) awase”, which means “happiness in your hands” (isn’t it cute?).

The best way to celebrate Java Sparrow Day–and you don’t have to live in Japan to join the celebration, by the way–is to learn more about these amazing birds and look at cute Java sparrow photos and videos online. You can even consider getting a Java sparrow as a pet since these birds are pretty low-maintenance. However, you should look up first whether it is legal to own them where you live; for example, in the United States, Java sparrows are illegal to possess in California due to their potential impact on agriculture.