Today is a holiday in Japan, Seijin-no-hi, or Coming of Age Day, when everyone who turns 20 years old this year is officially recognized as an adult and a full-fledged member of society. Venture into any Japanese city right now and you’ll see hundreds of young people decked out in beautiful kimonos and smart new suits, greeting each other and taking group photos together. In Japan, the official age of adulthood is 20 (as commemorated in our wacky “You Must Be 20 Years Old to Purchase Tobacco and Alcohol” T-shirt), and today is a special day to endure long speeches by elderly community leaders, have lunch with friends, then maybe go drinking. For parents it’s a proud day, too, and doting fathers are all too happy to plunk down $5000 for a gorgeous kimono that their daughters will in all likelihood wear only once. In the past, Coming of Age Day was always held on January 15, even if that day fell on a weekend, but a few years ago the Japanese government began its “Happy Monday” initiative, which moved these holidays to the nearest Monday.
Sadly, there are fewer new adults in Japan than ever before: just 54,100, a drop of 2794 people from last year due to the low birth rate.
Coming of Age Day is a great time to catch up with old friends while wearing a kimono.
