The Coming of Age Ceremony in Japan

What do the numbers 18 and 21 have in common? For people in the United States, these numbers signify important ages, ages in which people are considered adults. For Americans, 18 and 21 are the ages in which a person is given more responsibility. The idea is also unique to Japanese culture. However, they recognize age 20 rather than 18 or 21. For the Japanese, this age is important as a turning point in which people are considered adults. They are given the rights to vote, entitled to marriage without parental consent, and they are able to buy alcohol and cigarettes.

Since 1948, the second Monday of January has become a national holiday, celebrating young people who have entered adulthood to become self-reliant members of society. The Japanese recognize a young person's entrance into adulthood as an important matter; therefore they host Seijin shiki, "The Coming of Age Ceremony."

This tradition actually dates back many centuries. In the ninth century, during the Sei...