Seijin Shiki
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Seijin no Hi (成人の日, Coming of Age Day) is a Japanese national holiday which honors young people who have reached/will reach the age of 20 during the current year. In Japan, the age 20 is what is considered as an adult age, as people who have reached this age are subject to adult laws and gain the right to vote in elections, as well as to drink alcohol.
Seijin no Hi is a national holiday which is on the second Monday of January, and on this day, seijin shiki (adult ceremony) is held to honor the "new adults". The ceremony is generally held in the morning and all of the young adults who maintain residency in the area are invited to attend. Government officials give speeches, and small presents are handed out to the new adults.
Many women celebrate this day by wearing furisode, a special kind of kimono. Most women can't put on a kimono by themselves, so they go to a beauty salon or other facilities to dress and to set their hair. Many people rent their furisode due to the great expense, but some wear hereditary furisode. On the other hand, a majority of young men wear business suits, although some are seen wearing dark-colored kimono or hakama.
After the ceremony, the young adults often gather in groups and go to parties or go out drinking. Young women not used to wearing the slippers known as zori can often be seen limping as the afternoon wears on and evening approaches. Later in the evening, it is not unusual to see wobbly young adults staggering in the trains, heading happily home after a day of celebration.
The form of the seijin shiki differs according to the district, and there are many kinds of events being held all over Japan, and as time rolls on, the ideas on what this celebration should be is changing. Nowadays, there are sometimes some young people mistaking the intent of this ceremony, acting in a foolish manner on this important day. However, the primary meaning of seijin shiki as being "a ceremony to encourage young people who are aware of their responsibilities as adults" has not and will not change, and this is something that is common all over the nation. It can be said that seijin shiki is a very blessed traditional ceremony for the young adult turning to be the "new adults" and their families.