Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japan celebrated Seijin no Hi, or Coming of Age Day, on Monday, which recognizes young people who have reached the age of adulthood.

In 2022, the age of adulthood was lowered from 20 to 18, although there are still some restrictions that apply at the age of 20, such as buying cigarettes.

Ceremonies are usually held at local government offices, where participants dress formally in kimonos or suits. It is one of the few formal occasions remaining in Japan when young women dress in beautiful traditional kimono.

Many families will visit a shrine to celebrate the occasion, but more recently groups of friends gather at pubs for a party.

Coming of Age Day is a public holiday in Japan and always falls on the second Monday of January.

The holiday aims to encourage all those who have reached the age of maturity or will reach that age between April 2 of the previous year and April 1of the current year and to help them realize their responsibilities as adults. 

Coming of age ceremonies have been celebrated in Japan since at least 714 during the reign of Empress Genmei when a young prince donned new robes and hairstyle to mark his passage into adulthood. Over the centuries, various rituals were observed on Coming-of-Age Day, such as changing to adult clothing, loincloth celebration for boys and Mogi (dressing up) and Keppatsu (tying the hair up) for girls. 

In ancient times, children as young as 10 could be transformed into adults, with many getting married at an early age.