I always thought that the day had 24 hours, starting at 0 at midnight and ending 24 hours later the midnight after. At least all the time instruments I have seen have told me that, and when I want to set my alarm on my phone I can only choose between 0.00 and 23.59. Since moving to Japan however, I have come to have that idea questioned time and time again. Here, I have seen signs indicating that the day has 25 hours, 26, and even 27 hours to use. Maybe this is true in other places as well, but I want to remember not having seen this until I came to Tokyo.
Being a quite tired dad of a very very active and full of energy two-year-old, I could surely need a few more hours at night to have a chance to catch up with myself sometimes. Or catch up on some sleep. But unfortunately, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is, and when I sometimes wonder what kind of time portal I must have passed through on my way to Japan, it is most likely a result of the day having too few hours instead of the opposite.
Anyway, I find it very entertaining and ingenious for a walkway or restaurant or store or bar to be open until 25 or 27. In a society where late night work is not uncommon, being able to go to the restaurant and still feel like there are a few hours left of the day although the clock has passed midnight, might be an attractive proposition. At least that is one of my theories behind the use of numbers over 24 to describe the hour of day. But whatever the reason, I have come to love it. If only it was true.
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