13th January – 睦月

成人の日　-　Seijin-no-hi

The day to aware that one became an adult and decide to live independently. Celebration for the people who turn to be 20 in the year. Conducted on the second Monday on January.

This year 2020, Seijin-no-hi falls in Monday 13th January and there will be many 18-19 years old girls and boys wearing special clothes.

On Seijin-no-hi, Japanese hold a coming age celebration called 成人式(Seijinshiki).

This event used to be held on 15th January, however, it changed to second Monday in January in order to prosper the tourism and transportation (Three-days continuous holiday to activate the vacation plans), this policy is called ‘Happy Monday policy’.

At the moment in Japan, 20 years old is the official adult age, so from 20 people can drink alcohol, do gambling, go to the clubs, smoke cigarette and so on. This age regulation was settled around the time after the war. Before the war time, it was held for the people aged around 12 to 16 years old. From 2022 1st April, it will be down to 18 years old, so it is expected to have many changes for policies and society in Japan.

Some particular regions, there are special Seijin-no-hi celebrations.

For instance, in Chiba, Urayasu area, they hold Seijinshiki at Tokyo Disney Land. People who were born in that area can go to Disney Land for this event,and the park is closed and reserved for those Seijin (=adults).

Every year, North Fukuoka’s Seijinshiki is reported because of its ‘wildness’. Many Seijin wear crazy costumes to stand out and some of them fight during the ceremony. They invest huge amount of money and time for this event clothes, if you are interest, have a look at this video…pretty interesting

For the girls, they wear a special kimono-alike clothes called 振袖 (Furisode). Furisode is a formal dress for unmarried women and it is believed to prevent evils by wearing it. People rental it or purchase it for the Seijinshiki, and it can cost more than 10,000dollars for the great quality one to purchase (Even normally people wear Furisode on Seijinshiki only…).

As it is for the unmarried women, it was the way of indication for ladies who are looking to marry in the old days. In Japan, women were not allowed to tell the emotion of love to the men and women were used to shame of not married (Maybe this thought keeps going still). Furisode has the long sleeves going down but the kimono for married women has short sleeves, so wearing long sleeve was the way to show that they were still available.

If the men proposed women to marry, the unmarried women shake the sleeve left and right to tell they like them as well, however if they shake up and down, it means they don’t want to have a relationship with that man.