Seijin Shiki, Japanese ‘adult to be’ ceremony

For Japanese, January 15^th is the day when seijin shiki will held every year. Seijin shiki is one of important moment in Japanese life. Japan’s rule said, someone become adult in law if already 20 years old. If already reach 20 years old, someone free to use their politics rights (touhyouken), free to be choose (senkyoken), free to be council member (saibanin), free to have own use (zaisanken), can adopt child (youshinken), free from parents control, free to get marry, free to smoking and drink alcohol (kitsuen, inshu), free to get drive license, and free to sign trade contract. Before you get in seijin shiki, those free things can’t being got.

This tradition already held since old age. Boys did Genbuku tradition, beside girls did Mogi tradition. This tradition always held until today as government’s care for their new generations. As an adult, now they have many new free things and responsibility to their country.

Boys and girls entering the hall

Seinen-sai ceremony (young generation ceremony) was held in November 22^nd 1946 in Warabi city, Kitaadachi district, Saitama Prefecture, by local young generation leader named Takahashi Shojiro. This ceremony was the beginning of seijin shiki today. In beginning, this ceremony held to give hope of bright future for Japanese young generation which is lost their spirit and ambition because of World War II, with a philosophy that is to build great country, so every single person must grow in mentally and physically.

In 1948, Japan’s government took Seinen-sai ceremony as a lesson and decided January 15^th next year (1949) as Seijin no hi (‘adult to be’ day).

In seijin shiki, not only citizens who busy In preparing the event, but also Japan’s government.

a girl with furisode, boys with hakama and coat

Seijin shiki also become news in whole Japan in that day. In seijin shiki, there are speech from local government, getting souvenir, foods, and take a picture together with local official. Near January 15^th, local and Japan’s government invite all citizens who already 20 years old to come to where ceremony will be held, like hotel ballroom, meeting building, etc.

In January 15^th, girls and boys come to the ceremony place with tidy look. The girls wear Furisode (formal kimono for girls) with make-up and hair-do.

Girls wearing red furisode

The boys wear Hakama or formal coat.

Because in January still winter, the girls usually wear winter kimono and adding white fur in their shoulder as heater. Usually they use bright color kimono. To look modern, they give modifications in their costume without hiding traditional side.