This coming Monday will be a holiday called seijin no hi (成人の日).  Seijin no hi (成人の日), when translated into English, is called ‘coming of age day.’  Seijin no hi (成人の日) is a day where individuals who are twenty years old become adults.  In the U.S., when you turn 18, you’re no longer considered a minor.  In contrast, age 20 is the age when you’re no longer considered a minor in Japan.  The ceremony in which youngsters turn into adults is called seijin shiki (成人式).  Seijin shiki (成人式) is a ceremony that almost every twenty year old attends.  It’s like a rite of passage and many twenty year olds get dressed up at the seijin shiki (成人式).

The seijin shiki (成人式) takes place in the local town or city hall.  The current governing official will usually make a speech where they will: 1) congradulate the youths  and  2) give the youth advice for the future.  You’ll see many women at the seijin shiki (成人式) wear something called a furisode (振袖).  A furisode (振袖) is a kimono with long sleeves.  The furisodes (振袖) have intricate designs and will often cost somewhere around 10,000 to 20,000 U.S. dollars.  Since this day only comes once in a lifetime, parents are often willing to splurge on a furisode (振袖). 

In addition to the furisode (振袖), women will wear what’s called a zoori (草履).  A zoori (草履) is a thick soled shoe made of plastic.  A zoori (草履) looks a lot like a western sandal, but unlike the sandal, a zoori (草履) has some height on its soles.  In addition to the zoori (草履), special socks called tabi (足袋) are worn on this occasion.  A tabi (足袋) is a sock that is divided into two compartments.  The big toe gets its own compartment while the rest of the toes share the same compartment.

Men will also wear a special outfit on seijin no hi (成人の日).  They either wear a western style suit or a hakama (袴) with a haori (羽織).  Hakamas (袴) are baggy pants while haoris (羽織) are long jackets that are tied at the waist.

Seijin no hi (成人の日) is a day of liberty for most twenty year olds.  They stay up way past curfew, drink and smoke to celebrate their new found freedom.  In Japan, minors are not allowed to walk outside after 12 am.  The police patrol the area to make sure no minors are out on curfew and they check I.Ds as well. 

Ok, that’s it for today, Happy seijin no hi (成人の日) everyone!