Seijin No Hi: Celebrating Japanese Youth’s Rite of Passage

The day when Japanese youth officially become adults.

Seijin no Hi, or Coming of Age Day, is one of the most important national holidays in Japan. This is not only due to the scale of preparation and publicity but also because it’s one of the most colorful and picturesque events throughout the year.

The holiday, held on the second Monday of January, celebrates young people who have reached the age of 18 in the past year—Japan’s official age of adulthood since 2022. It’s a rite of passage reminding future generations that maturity is more than driving and voting legally.

When did Seijin No Hi begin?

There are several theories regarding the origins of the holiday. Some date back as far as the 700s, when a young prince presented his clothes and hair as a sign of becoming an adult. However, the official holiday began in 1946. A small city in Saitama organized an event to give hope to younger generations after World War II. Other municipalities began to follow, and in 1948, Seijin no Hi was established as a national holiday to commemorate young adults and celebrate their journey to a new life on their own.

How is Seijin no Hi celebrated?

© Photo by iStock: Liebe007

Before officially bidding their childhood goodbye, 18-year-olds are invited by municipalities to a ceremony at the local city hall. Lectures by established adults, often key city hall figures, discuss adulthood and young people’s responsibilities for building the future. Participants are usually given small gifts and souvenirs of the event. Parties and family events follow the main ceremony. Some more progressive municipalities even organize visits to shrines and other popular venues in their region.

Some of the largest Seijin no Hi ceremonies are held in Shibuya, Disney Land and Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo.

What To Wear

© Photo by iStock: JianGang Wang

The clothing worn is crucial for this holiday and involves much preparation—especially for the young ladies.

Women usually wear furisode, a long-sleeved kimono worn by unmarried women. Hair salons and photo studios begin running campaigns months ahead of time. They offer various hair styling and special photo options to mark the event.

Young men would also wear traditional Japanese clothing, hakama, though they have increasingly turned to Western-style suits or other variations.

Debates & Prospective Changes

© Photo by iStock: JianGang Wang

In recent years, Japan has debated the state of Seijin no Hi celebrations. They often turn into wild class reunions or graduation-style parties, largely instigated by a newfound sense of “freedom” and alcohol consumption. Hooliganism and arrests—widely broadcast by the mainstream media—are not uncommon. Several cities, including Saga, have officially proposed to rethink the holiday to address misbehavior associated with the celebrations.

Since April 2022, the adulthood age has been officially lowered from 20 to 18 following the Japanese government’s amendment to the civil code. New adults are allowed to marry, sign contracts and take out loans without the consent of their parents from the age of 18 but will still be banned from smoking, drinking alcohol and gambling until they are 20. This is the first amendment of its kind in Japan in 140 years.

Though the transition into adulthood comes with responsibilities and rules, on Coming of Age Day, it may be worth remembering that it is also important to preserve the magical aspects of our childhood—namely, those of curiosity, motivation and hope for the future. As C.S. Lewis once wrote, “Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again.”

Catch a glimpse of the new adults all dressed up for the next upcoming Seijin no Hi!

This article has been republished for 2025.

Comments

Geyao Zhang says:

November 25, 2023 at 1:25 am

My word. what a wonderful holiday

Phillip Phirestarter says:

October 16, 2024 at 1:03 am

What a splendid sounding holiday! I wish I lived in Japan growing up, ha!

Phil Phirender says:

October 16, 2024 at 1:05 am

Banzai!

Tom Toto says:

January 15, 2025 at 3:24 am

Just wait until they realize teenage years are the best and adulthood is a passage to true life worries and concerns. To all teenagers, enjoy your privilege of being freeloaders if you can…