Coming of Age Day

Japan's national holiday is Coming of Age Day, celebrated in Tokyo. Traditionally, it is celebrated on the second Monday of January. On this day, they are invited to district and municipal administrations, where the heads of administrations give them instructions on "how to behave in adult life."
The age of majority in Japan is reached at the age of 20, from this moment on, locals have the right to vote, make real estate transactions and much more that was not allowed before.





In Japan, persons who turned 20 years old last year celebrate the majority of the year.



Until the middle of the XIX century, Japanese boys and girls became adults at different times.



Previously, girls, with the help of their elders, put on an adult kimono for the first time, blackened their teeth, and shaved their eyebrows.
Boys had their curls shaved off over their foreheads and braided (ebosi, the hairstyle of an adult man). At the same time, he changed his childhood name to an adult one.
This ceremony was called mogi. Upon completion, boys and girls were considered adults and could marry.



Since 1876, the age of majority has been set by the Japanese government at 20 years, but the official holiday was established only in 1948, and until 2000 it was celebrated on January 15.
Since 2000, it has been moved to the second Monday in January, thus giving three days off in a row.



On this day, the heads of local governments hold seijin shiki, an official ceremony for newly-minted adults. On it, young men and women are congratulated by politicians and local celebrities who make parting speeches, remind them of their civic duty, new rights and obligations, and give gifts.



Traditionally, 20-year-old celebrants visit the temple, where they pray to the gods and make wishes. At the Meiji Shrine, momote shiki is held in their honor, an archery ritual that is opened by two priests dressed in white. They shoot two blunt arrows that make a whistle in mid-flight. After them, arrows are shot by brightly dressed archers.



After all the ceremonies, rituals and lectures for students, the celebration ends in bars, restaurants or karaoke.



Japanese women celebrating their coming of age wear expensive winter kimonos of a special cut with long sleeves - furisode.
Other components of the costume are a fur cape, an obi belt that is tied in a special knot, traditional zori flip-flops, and a small bag that contains perfume and cosmetics.
The cost of such an outfit is comparable to the purchase of a new car, so preparations for the holiday begin several years in advance, or rent a kimono.



On this day, young men dress in a European costume, or in a traditional men's kimono and a haori jacket.
Since at present in Japan European clothes have practically replaced traditional clothes from everyday use, the purchased kimono is then almost not used. In many families, it is inherited.

Even 20-30 years ago, this ritual caused a sharp rejection among young people, among whom left-wing ideas were very popular at that time, and everything that came from the government, without exception, was perceived as "reactionary".



According to the memoirs of contemporaries, at that time, young people who decided to come to the holiday in municipal departments were subjected to ridicule and ostracism.



In the cities, the number of participants in official ceremonies was extremely small, but in rural areas, tradition (and discipline) was stronger.



Today, the majority of the Japanese population is quite apolitical and free from any ideology, and this holiday has turned into an additional day off for the overwhelming majority.



Perhaps young girls who have reached the age of 20 are directly interested in the celebration of adulthood. For them, this is an occasion to show off, walking with their girlfriends to the district council and back in a beautiful traditional outfit.



Since the holiday is held in mid-January, when it is quite cool in Tokyo, in the past few years it has become especially fashionable for girls to wear luxurious fur coats on their shoulders over kimonos.













©