National Foundation Day speech template (Japan)
Published 10 October 2026 · Date checked on 5 October 2026 · Written by the Cue Card Converter team at EventProgrammer, event production professionals
National Foundation Day, Kenkoku Kinen no Hi, is a public holiday in Japan on 11 February. It celebrates the traditional founding of the nation and a shared sense of national identity. The date is linked to the traditional account, recorded in Japan's ancient chronicles, of the accession of the legendary first emperor, Jimmu. The holiday was established in 1966 and first observed in 1967. It is a quiet day for most people, though flags are displayed and some local and civic groups hold ceremonies.
- Date
- February 11
- Next dates
- Thursday 11 February 2027
Friday 11 February 2028
Sunday 11 February 2029 - Country
- Japan
- Tone
- Celebratory
- Typical events
- Japanese community associations and Japan societies abroad, Japanese schools and cultural centres, local civic ceremonies and company gatherings held around 11 February.
- Length
- 184 spoken words · about 1.5 min at 130 words a minute · 4 cue cards
The National Foundation Day speech, ready as cue cards
A complete host script in 4 cards, about 1.5 minutes of speaking. Open it in the editor to add your names, change the card size or highlights, and print.
- YŌKOSO, WELCOME1 / 4
Good afternoon, and yōkoso. I'm {Your name}, and on behalf of {Organisation} welcome to our National Foundation Day celebration. February is still deep winter in much of Japan, so this is a fine time to gather somewhere warm and celebrate Japanese culture, past and present, with friends. - A STORY OF BEGINNINGS2 / 4
The date comes from Japan's oldest chronicles, which tell of Jimmu, the legendary first emperor, taking the throne. It is a founding story handed down through tradition, not an event of recorded history. Since 1967, the day has been a national holiday to remember the nation's founding and to foster love for the country. - THE SOUND OF TAIKO3 / 4
To mark the occasion, we have something you will feel as much as hear. Please welcome {Taiko group or performers}.
[TAIKO PERFORMANCE]
Thank you. If anyone was feeling the winter chill, I think that has warmed us all up. - KANPAI4 / 4
Please raise your glass, whether it holds sake, tea or juice. To Japan's long traditions, to the people who keep them alive today, and to the friendships that bring us together. Kanpai. Please enjoy the food and the company, and thank you for celebrating with us.
Red is used only for names, titles, organisations, dates, times and section headings. Replace the words in {curly brackets} with your own details; lines in [SQUARE BRACKETS] are stage directions and are not read aloud.
How to adapt it
- Present the founding as tradition rather than history. The date reflects the legendary account of Emperor Jimmu's accession, and wording that respects the tradition without treating it as recorded fact suits Japanese and international guests alike.
- The same date was a national holiday before the Second World War, and views on this day still differ in Japan. Keep the script cultural and inclusive, and leave out politics, military themes and debates about national identity.
- Kanpai is the usual Japanese toast. Offer tea and soft drinks alongside alcohol, and wait until every guest has a glass before leading the toast.
- Japanese embassies hold their main national day reception on the Emperor's Birthday, not on 11 February. Japanese cultural groups, schools and societies are the natural partners for an event on this date.
Print and rehearse
“Edit and print these cards” opens the script in the free cue card maker, where you can choose A5, 4 × 6 or 3 × 5 inch cards, print several per sheet with cut lines or export PDF, PowerPoint and Word, and rehearse full screen in practice mode. To write your own programme around it, see how to write an MC script and the run of show template.
Sources
Date and background checked on 5 October 2026 against: 国民の祝日について - 内閣府. Customs vary between organisations and regions; always follow the official programme of your event.
More Japan speech templates
- Constitution Memorial Day · May 3
- Day to Commemorate the War Dead and Pray for Peace · August 15