🗾 Japan Occasion Playbook 2025–2026
When to promote, what people search — derived from PicCollage Japan search data
📅 Jul 2025 – Jun 2026
🔍 12 months of search data · 3 categories (Stickers, Backgrounds, Templates)
3 categories: Stickers · Backgrounds · Templates
How to use this playbook
Start Promoting = when the occasion first appears meaningfully in user searches — have content live by this month. Content creation should begin 2–4 weeks prior. Peak Demand = highest search volume month. Top terms are drawn from the peak month across all three categories.
📊 Full-Year Promotion Timeline
| Occasion |
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
お正月・年賀状New Year / Cards |
PEAK |
· | · | · | · | · |
· | · | · | · |
▶ START |
PEAK |
成人式Coming of Age Day |
PEAK |
· |
▶ START |
節分・バレンタインSetsubun / Valentine's |
▶ START |
PEAK |
· |
ひな祭りHinamatsuri (Mar 3) |
· |
▶ START |
PEAK |
· |
桜・春・卒業Sakura / Spring / Graduation |
· |
▶ START |
PEAK |
· |
入学式School Entrance (Apr) |
· |
▶ START |
PEAK |
· |
こどもの日・母の日Children's / Mother's Day |
· |
▶ START |
PEAK |
· |
梅雨・紫陽花・父の日Rainy / Hydrangea / Father's |
· |
▶ START |
PEAK |
· |
夏・花火・海Summer / Fireworks / Sea |
· |
▶ START |
PEAK |
· |
七夕Tanabata (Jul 7) |
· |
▶ START |
PEAK |
· |
暑中見舞いSummer Greetings |
· |
▶ START |
PEAK |
· |
夏祭りSummer Festival |
· |
▶ START |
PEAK |
· |
敬老の日Respect Aged Day |
· |
▶ START |
PEAK |
· |
ハロウィンHalloween (Oct 31) |
· |
▶ START |
ramp |
PEAK |
· |
運動会・お月見Sports Day / Moon Viewing |
· |
▶ START |
PEAK |
· |
七五三Shichi-Go-San (Nov 15) |
· |
▶ START |
PEAK |
· |
クリスマスChristmas (Dec 25) |
· |
▶ START |
ramp |
PEAK |
▶ START = content should be live (begin creating 2–4 wks earlier)
ramp = growing interest
PEAK = highest search volume
Key insight: お正月 and 年賀状 are the second wave after Christmas — start promoting in November. Both peak together in December as users create New Year cards and collages. 成人式 follows immediately in January; start queuing kimono and coming-of-age templates in December.
🌸 Stickers (Dec)
お正月正月New Year🥂年賀状馬(zodiac)2026
🖼️ Backgrounds (Dec)
正月お正月年賀状和柄和風2026
✨ Templates (Dec)
年賀状お正月正月2026寒中見舞い
💡 Early signals in November
年賀状 #18 Nov BG · お正月 #15 Nov BG · Nov templates #6
🏆 Top Used Content · Dec 2025–Jan 2026 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
Sparkling New Year
Glitzy New Years
JP New Year Brush
🖼️ Background Packs
Golden New Year
Minimal New Year
Japanese New Year
👑 VIP Templates (Top 5) · by opens in Japan
✨ Templates (Jan — #3 term: 936 searches)
成人式春振袖おめでとう
Note
Template-driven. Photo-album & collage templates for kimono photos.
🏆 Top Used Content · Jan 2026 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
JP New Year Brush
Sparkling New Year
Glitzy New Years
🖼️ Background Packs
Golden New Year
Minimal New Year
Japanese New Year
👑 VIP Templates (Curated) · no usage data yet
Key insight: Spring is the most content-rich quarter — 桜 explodes to 4,809 sticker searches in March (#3 term), 卒業 hits 1,769 template searches, and バレンタイン peaks in February. Critically, 桜 first appears in February (sticker #13, 1,377 searches), so cherry blossom content should be live by mid-February.
🌸 Stickers (Feb: 1,785 searches)
節分鬼豆
🖼️ Backgrounds (Feb: #3 term)
節分鬼
✨ Templates (Feb: #5 term, 1,002 searches)
節分鬼豆まき
💡 Early signals in January
節分 #29 Jan stickers · #14 Jan BG · #24 Jan templates
🏆 Top Used Content · Feb 2026 · Japan
👑 VIP Templates (Curated) · no usage data yet
🌸 Stickers (Feb)
Valentine's Day💘バレンタインハートいちご春🌸
🖼️ Backgrounds (Feb)
バレンタインValentine's Day💘いちご春
✨ Templates (Feb: 1,238 searches)
バレンタインVALENTINEハートいちご
💡 Early signals in January
バレンタイン #13 Jan BG (220) · #13 Jan templates (591)
🏆 Top Used Content · Feb 2026 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
With Love
Little Valentines
Love Words
🖼️ Background Packs
Be My Valentine
Love
90's Valentine
👑 VIP Templates (Top 5) · by opens in Japan
🌸 Stickers (Mar: 1,079 searches)
ひな祭りいちご桜春🌸
🖼️ Backgrounds (Mar)
ひな祭りひなまつりいちご桜
✨ Templates (Mar: 506 searches)
ひな祭りさくら卒園
🏆 Top Used Content · Feb–Mar 2026 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
Flower Language
Hello, Spring!
Blue Spring
🖼️ Background Packs
Spring Gradients
Spring
Sakura Dreams
👑 VIP Templates (Curated) · no usage data yet
🌸 Stickers (Mar: 1,666 searches)
卒業ありがとうおめでとう桜
🖼️ Backgrounds (Mar)
卒業桜春
✨ Templates (Mar: 1,769 + 664 + 353 searches)
卒業卒業式卒園おめでとうありがとう
💡 Early signals in February
卒業 #3 Feb templates (1,196 searches) — already surging
🏆 Top Used Content · Feb–Mar 2026 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
JP Kindergarten Grad
Crushing It
Start of School Year
🖼️ Background Packs
Spring Gradients
Spring
Sakura Dreams
👑 VIP Templates (Top 5) · by opens in Japan
Start Promoting
Mid-February
🌸 Stickers (Mar: 4,809 + 1,790)
桜さくら春🌸春花
🖼️ Backgrounds (Mar: 1,404 searches)
桜春さくら花
✨ Templates (Mar + Apr)
春桜さくらSAKURAflower
💡 Early signals in February
桜 #13 Feb stickers (1,377) · #6 Feb BG (442) · #7 Feb templates (884)
🏆 Top Used Content · Mar–Apr 2026 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
Cherry Festival
Flower Language
Hello, Spring!
🖼️ Background Packs
Spring Gradients
Spring
Sakura Dreams
👑 VIP Templates (Top 5) · by opens in Japan
Start Promoting
Early March
✨ Templates (Mar: 299 searches)
ホワイトデーありがとう春
Note
Bundle with Valentine's template push. Template-only signal.
🏆 Top Used Content · Mar 2026 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
With Love
Love Words
Grunge Hearts
🖼️ Background Packs
Be My Valentine
Love
90's Valentine
👑 VIP Templates (Curated) · no usage data yet
✨ Templates (Apr)
入学式入学SAKURAさくら春
Note
Overlaps heavily with 桜/春. Bundle together in March–April push.
🏆 Top Used Content · Mar–Apr 2026 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
Start of School Year
JP Kindergarten Grad
Hello, Spring!
🖼️ Background Packs
Spring Gradients
Spring
Sakura Dreams
👑 VIP Templates (Top 5) · by opens in Japan
Key insight: 母の日 (Mother's Day) is the standout — it appears as early as April templates (#3, 710 searches) and peaks as the #1 template term in May (1,305 searches). 梅雨/紫陽花 is uniquely Japanese and has strong template demand (紫陽花 is the #2 template term in June with 1,121 searches).
🌸 Stickers (May)
鯉のぼりこいのぼり
🖼️ Backgrounds (Apr: first signal)
鯉のぼりこいのぼりこどもの日
✨ Templates (May: 423 searches)
こどもの日鯉のぼり5月
🏆 Top Used Content · Apr–May 2026 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
Japanese Children's Day
Summer Sports Day
Cherry Festival
🖼️ Background Packs
Spring Gradients
Pastel Spring
Spring
👑 VIP Templates (Top 5) · by opens in Japan
🌸 Stickers (May)
母の日母の日💐花ありがとうリボン
🖼️ Backgrounds (May)
母の日花薔薇バラ
✨ Templates (May: #1 term, 1,305 searches)
母の日ありがとう花thankyou
💡 Early signals in April
母の日 #3 Apr templates (710 searches) — already top 5 in April!
🏆 Top Used Content · Apr–May 2026 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
Mother's Day Message
Flower Language
Sparkling Drops
🖼️ Background Packs
Floral Hearts
Floral Love
Spring Gradients
👑 VIP Templates (Top 5) · by opens in Japan
🖼️ Backgrounds (Jun)
雨梅雨紫陽花あじさい
✨ Templates (Jun: 紫陽花 = #2 with 1,121 searches)
紫陽花梅雨雨あじさい6月
💡 Early signals in May
梅雨 #27 May BG · 紫陽花 #18 May BG · 梅雨 #20 May templates
🏆 Top Used Content · May–Jul 2026 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
Tsuyu
Sparkling Drops
Iridescent Shores
🖼️ Background Packs
Spring Gradients
Floral Love
Cotton Candy Summer
👑 VIP Templates (Top 5) · by opens in Japan
🌸 Stickers (Jun: 904 searches)
父の日ありがとう花
✨ Templates (Jun: #9 term, 570 searches)
父の日ありがとう花
Note
Smaller than 母の日. Bundle with rainy season content launch.
🏆 Top Used Content · May–Jun 2026 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
Rad Dad
Summer Sports Day
Crushing It
🖼️ Background Packs
Confetti
Beachside Stripes
Cotton Candy Summer
👑 VIP Templates (Top 5) · by opens in Japan
Key insight: Summer is the broadest season. 夏, 花火, and 七夕 dominate July. By August, searches start signaling next-season occasions (秋, ハロウィン, 敬老の日) — a reminder to queue autumn content while summer is still peaking.
🌸 Stickers (Jul peak)
夏花火ひまわり夏☀️海祭りスイカ
🖼️ Backgrounds (Jul peak)
夏花火海ひまわり夏祭り
✨ Templates (Jul peak)
夏花火海夏祭り夏休み暑中見舞い
🏆 Top Used Content · Jul–Aug 2025 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
Summer Sunshine
Pool Party
Summer Strokes
🖼️ Background Packs
Summertime
Summer Evenings
Summer
👑 VIP Templates (Top 5) · by opens in Japan
🏆 Top Used Content · Jun–Jul 2025 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
Summer Sunshine
Pool Party
Summer Strokes
🖼️ Background Packs
Summertime
Summer Evenings
Summer
👑 VIP Templates (Top 5) · by opens in Japan
✨ Templates (primary category)
暑中見舞い暑中お見舞い夏ひまわりsummer
Note
Template-heavy occasion. Promote summer greeting templates early July.
🏆 Top Used Content · Jul–Aug 2025 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
Summer Sunshine
Pool Party
Summer Strokes
🖼️ Background Packs
Summertime
Summer Evenings
Summer Lit
👑 VIP Templates (Top 5) · by opens in Japan
🏆 Top Used Content · Jul–Aug 2025 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
Summer Sunshine
Pool Party
Summer Strokes
🖼️ Background Packs
Summertime
Summer Evenings
Summer
👑 VIP Templates (Top 5) · by opens in Japan
Key insight: Halloween is the runaway autumn hit — ハロウィーン🎃 hits 5,420 sticker searches in October, making it the #2 sticker term that month (behind only ハート). First signals appear in August, giving you a 2-month ramp. Also note: クリスマス already appears in October backgrounds (385 searches), so start queuing Year-End content before autumn wraps up.
🌸 Stickers (Sep)
ありがとう秋花キラキラ
🖼️ Backgrounds (Sep)
敬老の日秋花
✨ Templates (Sep)
敬老の日敬老ありがとう秋
💡 Early signals in August
敬老の日 appears in Aug templates (#19)
🏆 Top Used Content · Sep 2025 · Japan
🏗 Content being created — check back soon
🌸 Stickers (Oct peak: 8,461 total)
ハロウィーン🎃ハロウィン秋秋🍁かぼちゃ
🖼️ Backgrounds (Oct)
ハロウィンハロウィーン🎃秋夜空
✨ Templates (Oct)
ハロウィンhalloweenHalloween秋
💡 Early signals in August
ハロウィン in Aug BG (#16) & templates (#23)
🏆 Top Used Content · Sep–Oct 2025 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
Happy Halloween
Halloween Fun
Spooky Silhouettes
🖼️ Background Packs
Trick or Treat
Fall Time
Fall
👑 VIP Templates (Curated) · no usage data yet
👑 VIP Templates (Curated) · no usage data yet
🌸 Stickers (Oct)
運動会野球サッカー
🖼️ Backgrounds (Oct)
運動会野球
✨ Templates (Oct)
運動会スポーツ野球サッカー
🏆 Top Used Content · Sep–Oct 2025 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
Summer Sports Day
Good Job
Crushing It
🖼️ Background Packs
Autumn
Warm Campfire
Confetti
👑 VIP Templates (Curated) · no usage data yet
✨ Templates (Oct — primary signal)
お月見月見秋月
Note
Mostly template-driven. Bundle with autumn content.
🏆 Top Used Content · Sep–Oct 2025 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
Elegant Celestial
Fall Pup Accessories
Autumn Flora
🖼️ Background Packs
Autumn
Warm Campfire
Fall
👑 VIP Templates (Curated) · no usage data yet
✨ Templates (Nov — #4 term: 880 searches)
七五三秋ありがとうキラキラ
Note
Primarily templates. Photo-book style content works well.
🏆 Top Used Content · Oct–Nov 2025 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
Elegant Celestial
Autumn Flora
Daily Lettering
🖼️ Background Packs
Autumn
Warm Campfire
Fall
👑 VIP Templates (Curated) · no usage data yet
Key insight: Christmas is the single biggest search occasion of the year — クリスマス hits 8,329 sticker searches in December (#1 term). It already appears in August backgrounds (124 searches) and ranks #6 in October backgrounds (385 searches). Start promotions in October for a full 2-month ramp. (お正月・年賀状 is covered at the top of this playbook under New Year.)
🌸 Stickers (Dec: 8,329 searches for クリスマス)
クリスマスクリスマス🎄サンタ雪プレゼント
🖼️ Backgrounds (Dec)
クリスマスクリスマス🎄冬雪
✨ Templates (Dec: 7,717 searches)
クリスマスchristmasChristmas雪冬
💡 Early signals
Aug BG #19 (124) · Oct BG #6 (385) · Nov: #1 sticker, #1 BG, #1 template
🏆 Top Used Content · Nov–Dec 2025 · Japan
🌸 Sticker Packs
Jolly Christmas Trees
Pine 3D Cards
Global Christmas
🖼️ Background Packs
Christmas
Christmas Patterns
Christmas Story
👑 VIP Templates (Top 5) · by opens in Japan
⚡ Quick Reference: Promotion Lead Times
| Occasion |
Date |
Start Promoting |
Lead Time |
Priority |
| 夏・花火・海 | Jul–Aug | June | ~4 weeks | HIGH |
| 七夕 | Jul 7 | Mid-June | ~3 weeks | HIGH |
| 暑中見舞い | Jul | Late June | ~2 weeks | MEDIUM |
| 夏祭り | Jul–Aug | June | ~4 weeks | MEDIUM |
| 敬老の日 | Sep 15 | August | ~6 weeks | MEDIUM |
| ハロウィン 🎃 | Oct 31 | August | ~2 months | HIGH |
| 運動会 | October | September | ~4 weeks | MEDIUM |
| お月見 | Sep–Oct | September | ~3 weeks | NICHE |
| クリスマス 🎄 | Dec 25 | October | ~2 months | BIGGEST |
| 七五三 | Nov 15 | October | ~6 weeks | MEDIUM |
| お正月・年賀状 | Jan 1 | November | ~6 weeks | HIGH |
| 成人式 | 2nd Mon Jan | December | ~4 weeks | MEDIUM |
| 節分 | Feb 3 | January | ~4 weeks | MEDIUM |
| バレンタイン 💘 | Feb 14 | January | ~4 weeks | HIGH |
| ひな祭り | Mar 3 | February | ~4 weeks | MEDIUM |
| 卒業・卒園 | March | February | ~4 weeks | HIGH |
| 桜・春 🌸 | Mar–Apr | Mid-February | ~5 weeks | HIGH |
| ホワイトデー | Mar 14 | Early March | ~2 weeks | NICHE |
| 入学式 | April | March | ~4 weeks | MEDIUM |
| こどもの日・鯉のぼり | May 5 | April | ~4 weeks | MEDIUM |
| 母の日 💐 | 2nd Sun May | April | ~5 weeks | HIGH |
| 梅雨・紫陽花 | June | May | ~4 weeks | HIGH |
| 父の日 | 3rd Sun Jun | May–June | ~3 weeks | MEDIUM |
Data source: PicCollage Japan Amplitude search data, July 2025 – June 2026 · 12 months × 3 search categories (Stickers, Backgrounds, Templates) · Top 30 terms per category per month