1/12 Coming Of Age Day

Seijin Shiki is the Japanese coming-of-age ceremony.
It is held annually on Seijin no Hi, the second Monday in January.
Festivities include ceremonies held at local and prefectural offices and parties amongst family and friends to celebrate passage into adulthood.

This day is the Japanese national holiday!!

The age of majority in Japan is 20.
The seijin shiki covers all those who will reach this age during the current school year, which runs between April and the following March. The ceremony is generally held in the morning at local city offices and all young adults who maintain residency in the area are invited to attend.
Government officials give speeches, and small presents are handed out to the new adults.


Many women celebrate this day by wearing a furisode (a style of kimono with long sleeves that drape down). The furisode is made of very fine, brightly colored silk.
Since most are unable to put on a kimono by themselves due to the intricacies involved in putting one on, many choose to visit a beauty salon to dress and to set their hair. Yes, I did too!! I woke up at 5:00 and got ready for going to a beauty salon to get hair done. I did my nail done too the other day!

A full set of formal clothing is expensive, so it is usually either inherited or rented rather than being bought specially for the occasion. My family bought one for me!! I thought that im a foolish person ever and felt so sorry to my family because the furisode which i wore is soooooo expensive. omg I have never thought that it would be that price.... being able to buy a car.
Anyways, men sometimes also wear traditional dress (dark kimono with hakama).





After the ceremony, (after taking lots and lots of pictures) the young adults often gather in groups and go to parties or go out drinking. yeah
I went a alumuni of junior high school!


to be continued!!