National holidays in Japan

Yesterday I was in holiday, when I chated with my friends in China, they felt strange and surprise, because yesterday is thursday.
Ok, let me talk something about the national holidays in Japan,
The same as many other countries saturday and sunday are rest days in Japan, and there are some special days
are rest days too, this is the list
1/01  --  New Year's Day
The second Monday in January -- Coming of Age Day
2/11 -- National Foundation Day  (It is very surprised that many Japanese don't know why they needn't work in this day.)
3/21 -- Vernal Equinox Day
4/29 -- Greenery Day
5/03 -- Constitution Memorial Day
5/04 -- National Holiday (No cause)
5/05 -- Children's Day  (So we can see golden week comes from the near holidays in May)
The third Monday in July -- Marine Day
The third Monday in September -- Respect for the Aged Day
9/22 -- National Holiday (No cause)
9/23 -- Autumnal Equinox Day (That's why I needn't work yesterday)
The second Monday in October -- Health and Sports Day (Many schools will have their athletic meeting)
11/03 -- National Culture Day
11/23 -- Labor Thanksgiving Day
12/23 -- The Emperor's Birthday (for current emperor)

In this site you will get a detail introduction,unfortunately it is wrote by Japanese.