Coming of Age Day in Japan
In 1876, Japanese government established official adult age, however, national holiday on this occasion was held only in 1948. Until 2000 Coming of Age Day was celebrated on the 15-th of January, afterwards the date was replaced with the second Monday of January. The stated date gives three days off that makes Coming of Age Day one of the “happy Mondays”.
This day, city authorities keep official ceremony Seijin-shiki where local celebrities and politicians congratulate newly minted majors – and award care packages to every person of legal age.
Guests of honor also attend the temple to make wishes and say prayers to gods. When all the ceremonies and rituals are finished, boys and girls continue celebration in restaurants, bars, or karaoke. By the way, each person who reaches majority receives personal invitation to visit official ceremony.
One of the holiday traditions is the change of clothes, because young men and women receive right to wear adult festive costumes. Women put on furisode – a style of kimono with long sleeves, obi belt tied in a special knot, and traditional sandals zori. A small bag and fur cape often decorate the costume. Men wear traditional male kimono and haori jacket or usual European black suit.
The cost of traditional outfit may reach the cost of new car that is why people either rent kimono or start saving money several years before. As in modern Japan people do not usually wear traditional clothes, bought kimono is not used after that and may be propagated.
Japanese reached majority have a right to participate in elections, and also smoke and drink alcohol. With these rights, they get duties: from the age of 20 Japanese are unconditionally responsible before the legal system and pay taxes.
