Good big brother day

Today, and November 23rd annually, is Good Big / Older Brother Day. November 23rd, 11/23, can be read as "ii (11) ni (2) san (3)" in Japanese. The "ii" means good and "nisan" means big / older brother. There are two separate words in Japanese for brother. "Nisan" for older brother and "ototo" for younger brother.

Nowadays we tend to say "older brother" for "onisan". Because "big brother" has become a metaphor for mass surveillance. It is associated with an overly intrusive and controlling government that constantly monitors its citizens, leading to a loss of privacy and individual freedoms and has a negative connotation. The term originates from George Orwell's novel 1984, where Big Brother is the fictional totalitarian leader of a state that watches everyone through "telescreens".  

The origins of "Good Big / Older Brother" in Japan are unclear. It is not the only sibling related "day" in Japan. March 6 is "Younger Brother's Day", June 6 is "Older Brother's Day", September 6 is "Younger Sister's Day", and December 6 is "Older Sister's Day".