Coming of Age Day - Seijin No Hi

Festival Location: All Areas, Japan

Festival Type(s): Cultural Festivals , Traditional Festivals

Coming of Age Day - Seijin No Hi

by © Linda Gillis 2008

Throughout the country, at civic centers and shrines, 20-year-olds and their families gather to observe this annual rite of passage. The celebrants are easy to spot as you make your way around the cities and towns. The women dressed in their beautiful kimono are stunning. The handsome young men are proudly dressed in new suits or traditional kimono. They gather to hear their elders explain their rights and responsibilities as adults.

Seijin No Hi was declared a national holiday in Japan in 1948 and in Okinawa in 1961. It is a day of tradition, but also of fun. In addition, it is a day of advice and wise words and a day to begin exercising the rights of adulthood.

When an Okinawan reaches 20 years of age and becomes a legal adult he or she can vote, smoke, drink and take legal action without parental consent.

This day is also an expensive day. Some of these new adults have saved money for many months to pay for their new clothing. Some families buy their children ceremonial kimono that can cost between $4,000 and $10,000. Others choose to rent their kimono, often from beauty parlors. These can be as cheap as $550 but the average rental cost is around $1,000. Rental fees include helping the new adult get properly dressed. Appointments for beauty parlors must be made at least 6 months in advance.

In recent years, it has become a custom for many new adults to gather together after the formalities. They can be seen in ceremonial halls and local nightclubs eagerly drinking beer or other alcoholic beverages. The streets of Okinawa are filled late into the night with the happy revelers.

The significance of this day goes far beyond the new clothes, the parties and the ceremonies. This is a culture that takes the time to recognize the importance of the new generation, pass along the wisdom to help them uphold their responsibilities and sets the pace for the new adults to lead happy, productive lives.

by Linda Gillis

Coming of Age Day - Seijin No Hi Dates and Location

"Seijin No Hi" or Coming of Age Day is celebrated in Okinawa every January 15th. To the young people of the island who turned 20 during the past year, this is a most important day in their lives.