Coming of Age Day is a Japanese holiday celebrated on the second Monday of January each year to congratulate people who turn twenty years old in the current financial year.
Twenty is the age of maturity in Japan as legislated in civil law. Although the voting age was lowered to eighteen from twenty in 2016, other adult activities such as drinking and gambling can only be done once one turns twenty.
Local governments hold celebratory ceremonies for the newly recognized adults on Coming of Age Day. However, as many young adults attend university in city centres, rural local governments hold these ceremonies around New Year’s Day or in mid-August during the summer holidays. The ceremonies held by local governments tend to become a reunion for most young adults as they are reconnected with their childhood friends who would’ve grown up and went to school in the same local government area.
Many women wear kimono to these ceremonies, especially the furisode which has wide sleeves and extravagant embroidery. This beautiful traditional attire is a common sight in many Japanese towns during Coming of Age Day.
Katsunori Kamibo
Director
