Abstract
The significance of annual events in Japan changed after World War II. We studied how people in urban areas were concerned with annual events in order to clarify the factors effecting the view of annual events. The events in which many people participated satisfied the requirements as follows : befitting to the spirit of modern life, usefulness for the education of children, helpfulness in communication among family members and friends or effective as a commercial strategy. On the other hand, the events, which were recently introduced into Japan or were based on the agricultural rites, were unfamiliar with people in urban areas. The view of annual events varied according to generations, which were caused by the difference of social situations, such as World War II and the crest of rapid economic growth in childhood.
