Policymakers of the tripartite ruling alliance agreed Tuesday on a bill proposed by a legislator to celebrate Coming-of-Age Day on the second Monday in January rather than on Jan. 15.
The bill says the new arrangement to create a three-day weekend would be realized in 2000. In addition, the opposition camp is preparing to submit a similar legislator-proposed bill that also calls for Marine Day on July 20, Respect for the Aged Day on Sept. 15 and Sports Day on Oct. 10 to be moved to Mondays.
The so-called Happy Monday Bill was originally sought last year to help boost domestic consumption by creating three-day weekends. However, old guards in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party strongly opposed the plan, saying each national holiday is designated for specific reasons and the reasons should not be ignored merely to create three-day holidays.
As a compromise, promoters of the ruling alliance's legislation agreed to move only Coming-of-Age Day to Monday, and the legislation would take effect in 2000 instead of 1999 as originally planned.