Japanese calendar and Sonic R: Difference between pages

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{{Infobox CVG| title = Sonic R

{{mergefrom|Holidays of Japan}}

|image = [[Image:SonicR.jpg|200px|box cover]]

{{mergefrom|Japanese festivals}}

|developer = [[Traveller's Tales]]

|publisher = [[Sega]]

|designer =

|engine =

|released = [[1997]], [[1999]]

|genre = [[Racing game|Racing]]

|modes = [[Single player]], [[multiplayer]]

|ratings = [[Entertainment Software Rating Board|ESRB]]:Kids to Adults(K-A)

|platforms = [[Personal computer|PC]], [[Sega Saturn|Saturn]]

|media =

|requirements =

|input =

}}[[Image:Super_Sonic_Racing.jpg|200px|thumb|right|A screenshot of the [[Personal computer|PC]] version of ''Sonic R''.]]

'''''Sonic R''''' (the R stands for racing) is a [[racing game]] developed by [[Traveller's Tales]] and [[Sonic Team]] for the [[Sega Saturn]] and [[Personal computer|PC]], the latter version being ported to the [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]] and [[PlayStation 2]] in ''[[Sonic Gems Collection]]''. It features characters from the ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' series. The game is characterized by the same sense of environmental openness in the Sonic [[platform game|platformers]]. It contains colorful [[3D computer graphics|3D]] [[computer graphics|graphics]] combined with a strong soundtrack by [[Richard Jacques]] (including songs performed by [[Great Britain|British]] [[singer]] [[T. J. Davis]]). The Saturn version has a severe case of graphical pop-up while the PC version is generally much cleaner (although it sometimes has issues installing/running on [[Windows XP]] and later).

Since [[January 1]], [[1873]], [[Japan]] has used the [[Gregorian Calendar]], with local names for the months and mostly fixed holidays. Before 1873 a [[lunisolar calendar]] was in use, which was adapted from the [[Chinese calendar]].

==YearsGameplay==

There are several collectable rings across each of the five racetracks. Each ring regenerates after a short period of time. These rings can serve one of three purposes.

Since the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, three different systems for counting years have or had been used in Japan:

*The Western [[Common Era]] (西暦, ''seireki'') designation

*The [[Japanese era name]] (年号, ''nengō'') based on the reign of the current emperor, the year [[2005]] being Heisei 17

*The imperial year (皇紀, ''kōki'') based on the mythical founding of Japan by [[Emperor Jimmu]] in 660BCE

* Stepping on a speed boost will consume all of a player's rings, to a maximum of 50, and boost the player ahead along a preset path. The boost is at a speed approximately three times the normal maximum speed of a character and lasts for a duration [[Proportionality (mathematics)|proportional to]] the number of rings deducted.

Of these three, the first two are still in current use; the imperial calendar was used until the end of World War II.

* Special doors on the tracks can open if a player reaches them with twenty or fifty rings (depending on the door). Twenty-ring doors frequently hide tokens, shortcuts, or both. Fifty-ring doors frequently hide Chaos Emeralds, shortcuts, or both. After being opened, the doors remain open for all players for the duration of the game.

* Some characters can perform an attack for 10 rings (see below).

There are also inexhaustible emblem bonuses. Touching an emblem gives the racer one of multiple possible rewards, including a random number of rings and the bubble and lightning shields that appeared in ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]''. The bubble shield allows the racer to walk on water once, after which it disappears. The lightning shield attracts rings to itself, but is eliminated upon touching water (or after having it for a long enough time).

==Months==

The modern Japanese names for the months literally translate to "first month", "second month", and so on. The corresponding number is combined with the suffix -gatsu (month):

There are five racers in each race. The four racers selected depend on what character the player chooses. If the player chooses a secret character, he'll face the other secret characters that have been unlocked. If the player chooses a starting character, he races against the other starting characters. For the purposes of selecting the racers, Dr. Robotnik is treated as a starting character.

[[Image:Koinobori4797.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Koinobori, flags decorated like [[koi]], are popular decorations around Children's Day]]

* January - 一月 (ichigatsu)

* February - 二月 (nigatsu)

* March - 三月 (sangatsu)

* April - 四月 (shigatsu)

* May - 五月 (gogatsu)

* June - 六月 (rokugatsu)

* July - 七月 (shichigatsu)

* August - 八月 (hachigatsu)

* September - 九月 (kugatsu)

* October - 十月 (jūgatsu)

* November - 十一月 (jūichigatsu)

* December - 十二月 (jūnigatsu)

Racers can run on water for a limited period of time, and can "swim" in it indefinetely, at greatly reduced speed. In addition, each of the ten playable characters has a different speed and a unique set of abilities. Unlike most racing games, these abilities are designed such that certain characters, even among characters that are initially playable, have a clear edge over others.

In addition, every month has a traditional name, still used by some in fields such as [[poetry]]; of the twelve, ''shiwasu'' is still widely used today. The opening paragraph of a letter or the greeting in a speech might borrow one of these names to convey a sense of the season. Some, such as ''yayoi'' and ''satsuki'', do double duty as [[given name]]s (for women). These month names also appear from time to time on [[jidaigeki]], which are contemporary [[television]] shows and [[film|movies]] set in the [[Edo period]] or earlier

===Main characters===

The name of month: (pronunciation, literal meaning)

The following are the characters that are initially playable:

* [[January]] - 睦月 (mutsuki, affection month)

* [[February]] - 如月 or 衣更着 ([[kisaragi]] or [[kinusaragi]], changing clothes)

* [[March]] - 弥生 (yayoi, new life; the beginning of spring)

* [[April]] - 卯月 (uzuki, hare month)

* [[May]] - 皐月 or 早月 or 五月(satsuki, fast month)

* [[June]] - 水無月 (minatsuki or minazuki, water month -- the 無 character is [[ateji]])

* [[July]] - 文月 (fumizuki, book month)

* [[August]] - 葉月 (hazuki, leaf month)

* [[September]] - 長月 (nagatsuki, long month)

* [[October]] - 神無月 (kan'nazuki or kaminazuki, no god month), 神有月 or 神在月; (kamiarizuki, god month – only in [[Izumo province]], where all the gods are believed to gather in October for an annual meeting at the Izumo Shrine)

* [[November]] - 霜月 (shimotsuki, frost month)

* [[December]] - 師走 (shiwasu, priests run; it is named so because priests are busy making end of the year prayers and blessings.)

* [[Sonic]] is the fastest of the characters that are initially playable. He can double jump.

==Days of the month==

* [[Tails]] can fly at a fixed level for an unlimited period of time.

* [[Knuckles]] can glide for an unlimited period of time, gradually losing height. However, he cannot latch onto or climb walls as in all other games in which he has appeared.

* [[Amy Rose]] drives a car and can hover over water. She also has the ability to use a speed boost, although she can't turn very well while doing so. She is extremely slow.

===Secret characters===

Each day of the month has a semi-systematic but irregularly formed name:

The secret characters, with the exception of [[Super Sonic]], can be unlocked by collecting all five coins on a racetrack and finish first, second, or third. Upon doing so, the player will be challenged by one of the following characters, depending on the racetrack:

* [[Dr. Robotnik]] ([[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]] in the [[Japan]]ese version), who races in his personal [[hi-tech]] [[aircraft]], can do a short-range [[heat-seeking]] attack at a cost of 10 rings. The attack will eliminate the target's shield if it has one and slow it down if it does not. He is particularly slow.

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"

* [[Metal Sonic]] is an improved version of its counterpart. It has a very high single jump and doesn't fall into water if it constantly jumps.

|-

* [[Tails Doll]] can hover on water. Additionally, it can hover indefinetely a certain distance above the ground or water. Some say he can come out of the TV and "get" people, but that is not true

|1||一日||tsuitachi

* [[Metal Knuckles]] is an improved version of its counterpart. It has a much better glide than Knuckles. It is notably fast. Also, it is one of the more difficult secret characters to obtain.

|17||十七日||jūshichinichi

* [[Eggrobo]] is a [[humanoid]] [[robot]] whose head and body are shaped like an egg. Its abilities are similar to those of Robotnik, but it is slow compared to the other secret characters.

|-

|2||二日||futsuka

|18||十八日||jūhachinichi

|-

|3||三日||mikka

|19||十九日||jūkunichi

|-

|4||四日||yokka

|20||二十日||hatsuka (sometimes ''nijūnichi'')

|-

|5||五日||itsuka

|21||二十一日||nijūichinichi

|-

|6||六日||muika

|22||二十二日||nijūninichi

|-

|7||七日||nanoka

|23||二十三日||nijūsannichi

|-

|8||八日||yōka

|24||二十四日||nijūyokka

|-

|9||九日||kokonoka

|25||二十五日||nijūgonichi

|-

|10||十日||tōka

|26||二十六日||nijūrokunichi

|-

|11||十一日||jūichinichi

|27||二十七日||nijūshichinichi

|-

|12||十二日||jūninichi

|28||二十八日||nijūhachinichi

|-

|13||十三日||jūsannichi

|29||二十九日||nijūkunichi

|-

|14||十四日||jūyokka

|30||三十日||sanjūnichi

|-

|15||十五日||jūgonichi

|31||三十一日||sanjūichinichi

|-

|16||十六日||jūrokunichi

|colspan=3| 

|}

===Super Sonic===

In the traditional calendar, the thirtieth was the last day of the month, and its traditional name, ''misoka'', survives (although ''sanjunichi'' is far more common, and is the usual term). The last day of the year is ''[[Omisoka|ōmisoka]]'' (the ''big thirtieth day''), and that term is still in use.

[[Super Sonic]] is the fastest racer, and also the hardest to unlock. He can double jump and can run on the surface of water, provided that he does not slow down. To unlock him, the player must collect all seven [[Chaos Emerald]]s scoured throughout the five racetracks. When a player collects one, he must finish in first place to keep it.

When playing as Super Sonic in the Radiant Emerald stage, the music is different; it plays the Sonic R theme song (''Super Sonic Racing'') instead of ''Diamond in the Sky''.

==Days of the week==

The seven day week, with names for the days corresponding directly to those used in Europe, was brought to Japan around 800 AD. The system was used for astrological purposes and little else until 1876, shortly after Japan officially adopted the Western calendar. [[Fukuzawa Yukichi]] was a key figure in the decison to adopt this system as the source for official names for the [[days of the week]]. The names come from the five visible planets, which in turn are named after the [[five elements|five Chinese elements]] (wood, fire, earth, metal, water), and from the moon and sun ([[yin and yang]]).

===Other modes===

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"

Aside from the main game, there are three special gameplay modes accessible from Time Attack mode: reverse, in which racing occurs facing the opposite direction, break five balloons, and tag four players.

|-

|月曜日||getsuyōbi||Moon||Monday

|-

|火曜日||kayōbi||Fire||Tuesday

|-

|水曜日||suiyōbi||Water||Wednesday

|-

|木曜日||mokuyōbi||Wood||Thursday

|-

|金曜日||kin'yōbi||Metal/Gold||Friday

|-

|土曜日||doyōbi||Earth||Saturday

|-

|日曜日||nichiyōbi||Sun||Sunday

|}

==Versions==

== National holidays ==

For the PC version the graphics were somewhat modified. For example races occur in random weather conditions, either normal, rainy, or snowy, unless the default settings are altered. Snowy weather freezes the water so that racers can run across it without sinking.

Notes: Single days between two national holidays are taken as a bank holiday. This applies to May 4, which is a holiday each year. When a national holiday falls on a Sunday the following Monday is taken as a holiday.

The version of the game in ''Sonic Gems Collection'' is similar to the PC version. Minor differences include that there is no Network option on the main menu and that the Options menu is slightly different.

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"

|- bgcolor="#efefef"

! Date !! English name !! Local name !! [[Romanization]]

|-

| [[January 1]] || [[Japanese New Year|New Year's Day]] || 元日 || ''Ganjitsu''

|-

| [[Moveable feast| 2nd Monday of January]] || [[Seijin Shiki|Coming-of-age Day]] || 成人の日 || ''Sējin no hi''

|-

| [[February 11]] || National Foundation Day† || 建国記念の日 || ''Kenkoku kinen no hi ''

|-

| [[March 20]] or [[March 21|21]] || [[Vernal Equinox Day]] || 春分の日 || ''Shunbun no hi''

|-

| [[April 29]] || [[Greenery Day]] * || みどりの日 || ''Midori no hi''

|-

| [[May 3]] || Constitution Memorial Day * || 憲法記念日 || ''Kenpō kinenbi''

|-

| [[May 4]] || National holiday * ||国民の休日||''kokumin no kyujitsu''

|-

| [[May 5]] || [[Children's Day]] * || 子供の日 || ''Kodomo no hi''

|-

| 3rd Monday of July || [[Marine Day]] || 海の日 || ''Umi no hi''

|-

| 3rd Monday of September || [[Respect for the Aged Day]] || 敬老の日 || ''Keirō no hi''

|-

| [[September 23]] or [[September 24|24]] || [[Autumnal Equinox Day]] || 秋分の日 || ''Shūbun no hi''

|-

| 2nd Monday of October || Health-Sports Day || 体育の日 || ''Taiiku no hi''

|-

| [[November 3]] || Culture Day || 文化の日 || ''Bunka no hi''

|-

| [[November 23]] || Labour Thanksgiving Day || 勤労感謝の日 || ''Kinrō kansha no hi''

|-

| [[December 23]] || [[The Emperor's Birthday]] || 天皇誕生日 || ''Tennō tanjōbi''

|}

† Traditional date of the founding of Japan by [[Emperor Jimmu]], in [[660 BC]]. Veracity of this claim is often questioned.

{{SonicGames}}

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Part of [[Golden Week]]

[[Category:PC games]]

[[Category:Sega Saturn games]]

=== Timeline of changes to the national holidays ===

[[Category:Sonic the Hedgehog games]]

* '''[[1948]]''' - The following national holidays were introduced: New Year's Day, Coming-of-Age Day, Constitution Memorial Day, Children's Day, Autumnal Equinox Day, Culture Day, Labour Thanksgiving Day.

[[Category:Racing computer games]]

* '''[[1966]]''' - Health and Sports Day was introduced in memory of the 1964 [[Tokyo Olympics]]. Vernal Equinox Day was also introduced.

[[Category: 1997 computer and video games]]

* '''[[1985]]''' - Reform to the national holiday law made May 4, sandwiched between two other national holidays also a holiday.

[[Category: 1998 computer and video games]]

* '''[[1989]]''' - After [[Emperor Showa]] died on January 7, the Emperor's Birthday became December 23 and Greenery Day took place of the former Emperor's birthday.

[[fr:Sonic R]]

* '''[[2000]], [[2003]]''' - Happy Monday Seido (ハッピーマンデー制度 Happī Mandē Sēdo) moved several holidays to Monday. Starting with 2000: Coming-of-Age Day (formerly January 15), and Health and Sports Day (formerly October 10). Starting with 2003: Marine Day (formerly July 20), and Respect for the Aged Day (formerly September 15).

* '''[[2005]], [[2007]]''' - According to a May 2005 decision, starting with 2007 Greenery Day will be moved from April 29 to May 4, while April 29 will be known as [[Showa Day]].

* '''[[2009]]''' - [[September 22]] may become sandwiched between two holidays, which would make this day a national holiday.

== Seasonal days ==

Some days have special names to mark the change in seasons. The [[Jieqi|24 Sekki]] (二十四節気 ''Nijūshi sekki'') are days that divide a year in the [[Lunisolar calendar]] into twenty four equal sections. Zassetsu (雑節) is a collective term for the seasonal days other than the 24 Sekki. 72 Kō (七十二候 ''Shichijūni kō'') days are made from dividing the 24 Sekki of a year further by three. Some of these names are still used quite frequently in everyday life in Japan.

===24 Sekki ===

* Jan 6: 小寒 (Shōkan) a.k.a. 寒の入り (''Kan no iri'')

* Jan 20: 大寒 (Daikan)

* Feb 4: 立春 (Risshun) - Beginning of spring

* Feb 19: 雨水 (Usui)

* Mar 5: 啓蟄 (Keichitsu)

* Mar 21: 春分 (Shunbun) - [[Vernal equinox]], middle of spring

* Apr 5: 清明 (Seimei)

* Apr 20: 穀雨 (Kokuu)

* May 6: 立夏 (Rikka) - Beginning of summer

* May 21: 小満 (Shōman)

* Jun 6: 芒種 (Bōshu)

* Jun 21: 夏至 (Geshi) - [[Summer solstice]], middle of summer

* Jul 7: 小暑 (Shōsho)

* Jul 23: 大暑 (Taisho)

* Aug 7: 立秋 (Risshū) - Beginning of autumn

* Aug 23: 処暑 (Shosho)

* Sep 8: 白露 (Hakuro)

* Sep 23: 秋分 (Shūbun) - [[Autumnal equinox]], middle of autumn

* Oct 8: 寒露 (Kanro)

* Oct 23: 霜降 (Sōkō)

* Nov 7: 立冬 (Rittō) - Beginning of winter

* Nov 22: 小雪 (Shōsetsu)

* Dec 7: 大雪 (Taisetsu)

* Dec 22: 冬至 (Tōji) - [[Winter solstice]], middle of winter

Days can vary by ±1 day. See also: [[Jieqi]].

===Zassetsu ===

{| border="1" cellspacing="0"

|- bgcolor="#efefef"

! Day !! Kanji !! Romaji !! Comment

|-

|January 17 || 冬の土用 || Fuyu no doyō || &nbsp;

|-

|February 3 || 節分 || [[Setsubun]] || The eve of Risshun by one definition.

|-

|March 21 || 春社日 || Haru shanichi || Also known as 春社 (''Harusha'', ''Shunsha'').

|-

|March 18 - 24 || 春彼岸 || Haru higan || The seven days surrounding Shunbun.

|-

|April 17 || 春の土用 || Haru no doyō || &nbsp;

|-

|May 2 || 八十八夜 || Hachijū hachiya || Literally meaning 88 nights (since Risshun).

|-

|June 11 || 入梅 || Nyūbai || Literally meaning entering [[tsuyu]].

|-

|July 2 || 半夏生 || Hangeshō || One of the 72 Kō. Farmers take five days off in some regions.

|-

|July 15 || 中元 || [[Chugen|Chūgen]] || Sometimes considered a Zassetsu.

|-

|July 20 || 夏の土用 || Natsu no doyō || &nbsp;

|-

|September 1 || 二百十日 || Nihyaku tōka || Literally meaning 210 days (since Risshun).

|-

|September 11 || 二百二十日 || Nihyaku hatsuka || Literally meaning 220 days.

|-

|September 20 - 26 || 秋彼岸 || Aki higan || &nbsp;

|-

|September 22 || 秋社日 || Aki shanichi || Also known as 秋社 (''Akisha'', ''Shūsha'').

|-

|October 20 || 秋の土用 || Aki no doyō || &nbsp;

|}

Shanichi days can vary as much as ±5 days.

Chūgen has a fixed day. All other days can vary by ±1 day.

Many zassetsu days occur on multiple seasons:

* Setsubun (節分) refers to the day before each season, or the eves of Risshun, Rikka, Rishū, and Rittō; especially the eve of Risshun.

* Doyō (土用) refers to the 18 days before each season, especially the one before fall whch is known as the hottest period of a year.

* Higan (彼岸) is the seven middle days of spring and autumn, with Shunbun at the middle of the seven days for spring, Shūbun for fall.

* Shanichi (社日) is the Tsuchinoe (戊) day closest to Shunbun (middle of spring) or Shūbun (middle of fall), which can be as much as -5 to +4 days away from Shunbun/Shūbun.

==Seasonal festivals==

The following are known as the five seasonal festivals (節句 ''sekku'', also 五節句 ''go sekku''). The Sekku were made official holidays during [[Edo era]].

# [[January 7]] (1/7) - 人日 (''Jinjitsu''), 七草の節句 (''[[Nanakusa no sekku]]'')

# [[March 3]] (3/3) - 上巳 (''Jōshi'', ''Jōmi''), 桃の節句 (''[[Momo no sekku]]'')

#: 雛祭り (''[[Hinamatsuri|Hina matsuri]]''), Girls' Day.

# [[May 5]] (5/5) - 端午 (''Tango''), 端午の節句 (''[[Tango no sekku]]''), 菖蒲の節句 (''[[Ayame no sekku]]'')

#: Boys' Day. Overlaps with the national holiday [[Children's Day]].

# [[July 7]] (7/7) - 七夕 (''Shichiseki'', ''[[Tanabata]]''), 星祭り (''[[Hoshi matsuri]] '')

# [[September 9]] (9/9) - 重陽 (''Chōyō''), 菊の節句 (''[[Kiku no sekku]]'')

Not Sekku:

* [[January 1]] - [[Japanese New Year]]

* [[August 15]] - [[Obon]]

* [[December 31]] - [[Omisoka|Ōmisoka]]

==''Rokuyō''==

The ''rokuyō'' (六曜) are a series of six days that predict whether there will be good or bad fortune during that day. The ''rokuyō'' are still commonly found on Japanese calendars today, and are often used to plan weddings and funerals. The ''rokuyō'' are also known as the ''rokki'' (六輝). In order, they are:

* 先勝 (''senshō'') - Good luck before noon, bad luck after noon

* 友引 (''tomobiki'') - Bad things will happen to your friends. Funerals avoided on this day.

* 先負 (''senbu'') - Bad luck before noon, good luck after noon

* 仏滅 (''butsumetsu'') - The day Buddha died. Most unlucky day. Weddings best avoided.

* 大安 (''taian'') - Most lucky day. Good day for weddings.

* 赤口 (''shakkō'') - The hour of the horse (11 am - 1 pm) is lucky. The rest is bad luck.

==April 1==

The first day of April has broad significance in Japan. It marks the beginning of the government's fiscal year. Many corporations follow suit. In addition, corporations often form or merge on that date. In recent years, municipalities have preferred it for mergers. On this date, many new employees begin their jobs, and it is the start of many real-estate leases. The school year begins on April 1. (For more see also [[academic term]])

==See also==

*[[Holidays of Japan]]

*[[Calendar]]

*[[Japanese era name]]

*[[Chinese Calendar]]

== External links ==

*[http://www.ndl.go.jp/koyomi/e Japanese calendar history by the National Diet Library]

*[http://www2.gol.com/users/stever/calendar.htm The Lunar Calendar in Japan]

*[http://koyomi.vis.ne.jp/mainindex.htm Koyomi no page] in Japanese

*[http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~nm9m-hsy/koyomi/ Koyomi no hanashi] in Japanese

[[Category:Japan]]

[[Category:Public holidays in Japan|*]]

[[Category:Specific calendars]]

[[fr:Fêtes et jours fériés japonais]]

[[id:Kalender Jepang]]

[[it:Calendario giapponese]]

[[ja:日本のこよみ]]

[[ms:Kalendar Jepun]]

[[sl:Japonski koledar]]

[[zh-cn:日本历]]