January 11, 2011 in All about Japan, Sekaione Press by adminsekaione

All about Japan: Seijin no hi – coming of age day

Coming of Age Day (????, Seijin no Hi) is a Japanese holiday held annually on the second Monday of January. It is held in order to congratulate and encourage all those who have reached the age of majority (20 years old (???, hatachi)) over the past year, and to help them realize that they have become adults. Festivities include coming of age ceremonies (???, seijin-shiki) held at local and prefectural offices, as well as after-parties amongst family and friends.

Coming of age ceremonies have been celebrated in Japan since at least 714 AD, when a young prince donned new robes and a hairstyle to mark his passage into adulthood. Read more »