Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Colorful kimonos at Japan's Coming of Age Day
Japanese women, especially the young, don’t
usually wear kimonos any longer. But only once in a lifetime, many of them do on
the second Monday of January in the year they turn 20. The day is called Coming
of Age Day. This national holiday is all about welcoming the country’s youth
into adulthood, whether they are students or workers. In Japan, youth are
officially considered adults at the age of 20 and allowed to drink, smoke, and
gamble legally. The legal voting age, however, was lowered to 18 in 2015.
On this day, the newly recognized adults
attend municipal ceremonies, pray at shrines, and enjoy gathering with their
old friends of the same age. Many young women prefer to wear a colorful long-sleeved
Kimono on this day. Since they usually wear this expensive and decorative, but
not practical kimono only on this special occasion, most of them rent one from
specialty shops. Also, they go to beauty salons to be dressed the kimono and
have their hair done in a special way for the kimono. So, if you want to see
Japanese women wearing kimono, visit Japan on the second Monday in January or
go to Kyoto to see Maiko dancers any time.
But what about men? Most of them wear a usual suit
but some wear a traditional men’s kimono with hakama, neither of which is visually
appealing. Some of them have big parties, get drunk, and go wild. They are
allowed to drink and smoke, but they are also responsible for what they’ve
done. It’s time to learn what adulthood means to them.
Enjoy seeing the photos of Japan’s Coming of
Age Day.
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