There is more than one story regarding its origins, but April Fool's Day apparently began in Europe. I grew up hearing that, at the latest, the day originated in the mid-1500s when France adopted the Gregorian Calendar. Under the Julian calendar, the new year began on Easter. The story goes that for some strange reason everyone did not get the news flash that we are all switching to a new calendar, and the new year would now commence in the middle of Winter. Those who didn’t pay attention had the dates wrong and became the butt of pranks and jokes.
Knowing that the Japanese numbering systems is COMPLETELY different from our own, I had assumed the instrument to be legitimate, the use of the number 13 to be attributable to a simple mistake. If it is a prank, whoever thought it up did a great job, as it has spawned a humorous kerfluffle.
