diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/values-ja/strings.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/values-ja/strings.xml
index d97b90f64eb6a..14460990f283d 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/values-ja/strings.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/values-ja/strings.xml
@@ -135,4 +135,8 @@
     <skip />
     <!-- no translation found for gps_notification_found_text (4619274244146446464) -->
     <skip />
+
+    <!-- in Japanese the day of week should follow the date -->
+    <string name="status_bar_date_formatter">%2$s\n%1$s</string>
+
 </resources>
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml
index 2b3118db8510e..03b82fd0516bf 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -41,8 +41,9 @@
     <!-- Title shown in recents popup for inspecting an application's properties -->
     <string name="status_bar_recent_inspect_item_title">Inspect</string>
 
-
-
+    <!-- For formatting day of week and date in DateView.  Day of week precedes date by default,
+         but this may be overridden on a per-locale basis if necessary. -->
+    <string name="status_bar_date_formatter">%1$s\n%2$s</string>
 
     <!-- The label in the bar at the top of the status bar when there are no notifications
          showing.  [CHAR LIMIT=40]-->
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/policy/DateView.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/policy/DateView.java
index 6ab03e1ae5c93..a171514256d81 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/policy/DateView.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/policy/DateView.java
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ import android.view.MotionEvent;
 import android.view.View;
 import android.view.ViewParent;
 
+import com.android.systemui.R;
+
 import java.util.Date;
 
 public final class DateView extends TextView {
@@ -90,7 +92,7 @@ public final class DateView extends TextView {
         Date now = new Date();
         CharSequence dow = DateFormat.format("EEEE", now);
         CharSequence date = DateFormat.getMediumDateFormat(getContext()).format(now);
-        setText(dow + "\n" + date);
+        setText(context.getString(R.string.status_bar_date_formatter, dow, date));
     }
 
     private boolean isVisible() {