Japan's Coming of Age Day sees shifts following lowered age of adulthood (2024)

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Japan's Coming of Age Day sees shifts following lowered age of adulthood? ›

Japan's Coming of Age

The day serves as a rite of passage, celebrating and marking the moment when young individuals are officially recognised as adults in society. The transition into adulthood in Japan carries with it various rights and responsibilities, including the right to vote, drive cars, and drink alcohol.

Since 18 has become the age of adulthood in Japan, one may think that almost everything somebody can do would begin around that age. However, this not the case and certain activities may require different age.

In Japan, when a person turns twenty years old, they are considered to have "turned into a person" and therefore become an adult. Additionally, activities that were previously forbidden because they were viewed as children, such as drinking and smoking, also become permissible from the Coming-of-age Day.

Here are some interesting facts about this holiday: - Coming of Age Day is celebrated on the second Monday of January each year. - The holiday was first established in 1948, but its roots can be traced back to the 714 AD when a young prince donned new robes and a hairstyle to mark his passage into adulthood.

In most cases the young people are kept apart from the community during the initiation period. They are taught what will be expected of them as adults. They also may be exposed to hardships. Some cultures hold group initiations.

In the past, boys marked their transition to adulthood when they were around 15, and girls celebrated their coming of age when they turned 13 or so. During the Edo period (1603-1868), boys had their forelocks cropped off, and girls had their teeth dyed black to mark their coming-of-age.

As part of revamping its laws relating to sex crimes, Japan has raised the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16 years.

Is it Common for Minors to Live Alone in Japan? Minors living alone in Japan is not as common as most anime would lead one to believe, but it is legally permitted in the country.

Under the Japanese Civil Code the minimum legal age of marriage is 18 years for boys and 16 years for girls. A person who is under 20 years of age cannot get married in Japan without parental approval.

Why is 20 a special age in Japan? ›

Age 20 was significant in Japanese culture. This was the age at which a person could vote, drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and marry without parental consent. In recent years, new legislation took effect which lowered the age of adulthood to 18.

In Japan, the age of adulthood has been set at 20 since the 9th year of the Meiji era (1876). However, policies have been advanced to allow 18 and 19-year-olds to participate in important national decisions, such as setting the voting age for public office elections and constitutional amendment referendums at 18.

“o*kuizome” (first meal) is the Japanese traditional ritual that parents perform around the 100^th day after the birth of their baby along with their family and relatives (sometimes friends, too) to wish the baby will never starve by sharing a celebratory meal.

Coming of age is a young person's transition from being a child to being an adult. The specific age at which this transition takes place varies between societies, as does the nature of the change. It can be a simple legal convention or can be part of a ritual or spiritual event.

This was later lowered down to 25, and eventually 21 became the common age of majority. In some places historically, 23 or 27 could have also been this age.

Definitions of Coming of Age

Acquiring a legally significant age (in the United States, either 18 or 21) Confirming an individual as a responsible adult within a religious community. Experiencing a moment of epiphany in which childhood is set aside. Puberty (or, in some cases, loss of virginity)

Coming of Age Day (seijin-no-hi) which is the second Monday of January is a national holiday. However all major tourist attractions will be open, except Tsukiji Market.

As many people traditionally return to their hometowns for Coming of Age Day, it is also very common for celebrators to hold class reunions (dousoukai), where former middle and high school friends will gather to celebrate their adulthood and new freedoms (such as the ability to drink alcohol).

It's not a "minor holiday", it's a National holiday. So banks and offices will be closed, but as a tourist this has little impact on you. It's kind of an "extended weekend", so shops that are open on Sunday (restaurants, etc.) will be open.

The modern Tango no Sekku on May 5th is a festival to pray for the health and courage of boys. Families with sons celebrate this day by flying carp-shaped windsocks called koinobori.