Coming-of-Age Day

Do you know what day it is today? It is coming-of-age day here in Japan and is the second Monday in January every year. We call it “Seijin Shiki.” Seijin means becoming adults, and Shiki means a ceremony in Japanese.

Male wear either a suit or hakama and females wear kimono. Both hakama and kimono are traditional Japanese clothes for special occasions.

The ceremony is usually held at a public venue in each city, and people go back to their hometown for the ceremony. This is why it becomes a kind of reunion to meet old friends again.

People are considered to be adults once they turn 20 years old. After they reach 20, they can drink alcohol, smoke, and gamble. (not strongly recommended, though!) It is almost the tradition that we see the news on TV that new adults get too drunk and fight or cause accidents… Keep calm and become an adult!!