The Coming of Age festival is celebrated on the second Monday of January. The day used to be celebrated always on January 15 until the year 1999. This year it was celebrated on the 14th and as usual it was a National Holiday in Japan.
Its Japanese name is Seijin no hi. All young people who turn twenty years old in that year are celebrated during Seijin no hi. Twenty is the age considered as the beginning of adulthood. It is also the minimum legal age for voting, drinking, and smoking.
No matter where you are in Japan you will see many girls dressed in their traditional clothing, a Kimono, and guys generally in suits, out and about celebrating Seijin no hi.
After the formalities are over it`s time to do what every other 20 yrd old in Japan does, go out and get drunk hoping to make the last train. I managed to take a few pics before the messiness that no doubt ensued. After a few discreet photos and feeling like a scruffy old man i was approached by a young lass asking me to take a photo of her and her Friends … times that by 6 for each them to pass me the camera and 1 for myself and i was done.
Ironically i chose the Keio Plaza hotel as my location for a few photos, the same location Miss Nippon 2008 will be held at in a few weeks time. Here`s a few shots from the hotel and then as i made my way home.
For more Japanese Girls visit my latest post Harajuku Bridge to Yoyogi Park or maybe the recent Miss Japan 2008 / Miss Nippon 2008 is more your style!
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Hmm very interesting. Never knew such festival took place in Japan. Why didnt you take a picture with them? =P
I’m much happier on this side of the camera Choo.
interesting post, Neil!now I know why my japanese Girlfriend had this photo as well
Which one might she be? !
I meant this kind of photo with such dress.
Hi Neil – I came over to say thanks for your kinds words on Problogger and I’m pleased to see your blog is about Japan. I’m doing a bit of research on Japan as I’d really like to visit at some point, so I’ll be subscribing to your blog.
Great pictures by the way. Catherine
That’s great news Catherine and congratulations on winning the contest!
Oh my goodness – now I have realised which Neil you are. Sorry I was cheeky about your pic over on Blogging Experiment. It just looks like the sun was getting in your eyes or something. Sorry!!
No problems Catherine, didn’t see the comment anyway. It was a 40 degree day and i was sat out the back of a Friends place … i recall it well, he asked why i did a fresh shave on such a hot sunny day. Glad you put the the face to the name anyway!
All the young ladies in traditional Kimono are all so beautiful. Thanks for the photo.
Hey Neil, thanks for stopping by.
Been checking out the blog. Lots of great stuff here! Makes me miss my too short and too infrequent trips to Japan.
No probs Kevin, it sure is a wonderful place!
I definitely think I should visit Japan again
Didn’t even realize there were such events..
-Mike
There is something about japanese ladies wearing kimono’s – so elegant yes? Many asian girls would also look good but its not so popular outside japan. The fabrics and patterns are so rich. I like kimono designer Jotaro Saito, he will big one day. Do you know him?
http://japansugoi.com/wordpress/hip-kimono-fashion-designer-jotaro-saito/
Great pics! That brings back memories.
Monday – I did stroll around Tenjin myself, didn’t get any great pics but did come across this same scene. Living in city, is great – however a handful of years ago I lived in one of Japan’s greater inakas – Saga – hmmm, how to say this – Seijin no Hi brought out the cleaner, more respectable looking side of many of the younger adults in the area…
Nice way to describe it!. I did see some news reports showing a few lads getting a little out of hand later on in the evening, alcohol fuelled no doubt.
Very nice pictures of the 成人の日, feels like I am actually part of the crowd. I would love to see this and many other festivals for myself in Japan. I actually plan to be an exchange student for a year in Japan, within 2 or so years, so I will be taking all kinds of pictures then!
Thanks for commenting on my blog also, nice site you have here!
Wow, the picture with the one girl in the skirt and the girl in the kimono on the pink phone in front of the bus: The wheel well is perfectly framing the one girl’s shoulders. Very nice.
About time some one noticed that!
Hi, we are actually students from Singapore who are doing a project on Seijin No Hi. We would like to interview you via email if you don’t mind. Can you get back to us if you are willing to do the interview and this is my email address rogeristified@hotmail.com. Thank you.
Its a shame, this festival is like putting silk on a pig. None of these girls know how to wear a kimono properly and just walk around as if they were merely dressed up. It’s sad how japan has become the mcdonalds of asia.
“Silk on a pig” … very amusing phrase!
Lots of young gals showing off their best. It is fun to see for sure.
I love this time of year, its’ so colorful with all the girls wearing their lovely kimonos
http://www.japansugoi.com/wordpress/japanese-coming-of-age-seijin-no-hi/