of kimonos & adulthood. seijin-no-hi, the coming of age day

The new japanese world have grown out of the traditional outfit of kimonos and have totally embraced the sophisticated modern world. At Sapporo, I rarely see someone sporting a kimono. Though modernization can be seen in every wake of life, Japan still holds on dearly to several of its traditions and try to promote them. As religious holidays are comparitively null in the japanese calendar, the festivals & holidays here have been crafted out to attend various elements of human life and nature. Also, recently, the japanese government shifted most of the holidays to the days before or after the weekends so that people can spend them meaningfully.

sijin no hicoming of age dayseijin no hiseijin no hi, sapporo, japan

seijin no hi

Seijin no hi 1, the coming of age day, is celebrated by japanese people on the 2nd monday of January to mark the transition to adulthood. Adult in Japan is legally defined as 20 years and above. So this day is celebrated with special cerimonies. "During the Edo period (1603-1868), boys had their forelocks cropped off, and girls had their teeth dyed black. 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. It wasn’t until 1876 that 20 became the legal age of adulthood. " says ChinaDaily. Yesterday when I asked about the day to Tanaka sensei, she told me jokingly that now it takes time for them to mature. Nowadays, males generally wear suits to their coming-of-age ceremony, but a lot of females still choose to wear traditional furisode (as in this photo)–a special type of kimono for unmarried women with extra-long sleeves and elaborate designs.

So yesterday, bicycling on my way to the lab, bumped into a lot of these colorful kimonos and no need to say, that made my day

1. seijin no hi: seijin = adult. hi = day (pronounced like he). adult’s day

23 Responses

  1. Dilip Bobb says:

    I edit the weekend magazine at the Indian Express, looking for someone with a substantial knowledge of Japan and Japanese culture and psyche, to write for us. Let me know if possible.
    alternate email: dilipbobb@gmail.com

  2. poco says:

    i am doing a report on Sijing-no-Hi it is very fun

  3. prizzi says:

    cool 😛

  4. rocksea says:

    reshma 🙂

    prasad, doitashimashite (you’re welcome) 🙂
    most of the anime from director Hayao Miyazaki are superb.

  5. prasad says:

    arigato 🙂
    “japanese anime movies, i love them! they have character, content, the spirit, the humor (well i have to sadly say the daily japanese life miss all of these).”
    yeah.thts precisely y i luv thm so much.i had never been an addict to movies(desi r english) till i encountered japanese anime stuff.i always wondered vat made me like ths stuff though they seem childish n unreal.
    i will chk for the movie u suggested.may b i shud dnld it frm torrents.
    n all ur posts in the blog r awesome.u wer sayin u ended up thr coz u luv japan 🙂
    c ya

  6. reshma says:

    awesome pics!

  7. rocksea says:

    $samudrika, welcome to the sapporo snow abode 😉 Love for japanese culture is what lead me here too!

  8. Samudrika says:

    Lovely pictures and lots of information on Japan. I have never been there but have been in love with their culture and ways ever since I read “Shogun” by James Clavell. Nice to see your blog. Will drop by more often now. Thanks for stopping by mine.

  9. rocksea says:

    $anu, glad to see someone interested in oceanography! so what kind of oceanography your son could be interested in? therez physical, chemical, biological, geological, archeological.. like that several branches, each interesting in its own way. my research is in physical oceanography. started with physics in college and then phys.oceanography for masters. since your son is at class X, therez still time for developing an idea. it is great that you’ve started thinking!

    anyways therez http://www.oceanographers.net (600 oceanographers now) a site am administrating. one could go thru the members-list and see which all areas they’re working. the posts and conversations there cud be a bit confusing at present.

    cheerz, rockz

  10. anu says:

    hey..! my son is interested in oceanography..plz could u give him some advice..? he is in tenth std.. and has not yet chosen his path,,
    txs a lot..
    plz write to goutama2002@yahoo.com or as a comment in my blog..
    txs once more in advance..
    :))
    hope its not a bother..

  11. anu says:

    beautiful pixs..! great blog..!
    txs for dropping in..
    :))

  12. g says:

    updates down to one insane post a day ..!
    have a nice day
    regards
    g

  13. rocksea says:

    $hagfish, $kris n $anu, 🙂

    $pidiyanae, oru pana-ola ittu thannal nee mindathirikkumo?

    $g, have a nice time with ur books 😉 all the best for ur exams.

  14. g says:

    ah rocksea, i would love to reduce the frequency of my posts but the random thought and humor section come as and when i come across them… the rest of it serves as a vent for feeling that come by .. if i am troubled by a thought or find the need to vent i blog about it. It helps me retain my sanity…

    i just got back from heaven (manipal) where i was a free bird to the cage that is dubai with my parents. Its the adjustment phase still and so honestly the frequency of the blog posts will come down in time…

    As for now.. with exams round the bend I’d be happy to stay sane enough to make a post (of substance) a day…

    Have a nice day
    love
    g

  15. Pidiyana says:

    cute!cute!cute!
    😉

  16. Anu says:

    Lively photographs, all that snow does not look so bad to be out in it;)
    keep up the good work.

  17. Kris says:

    Lovely snap…guess i missed it this time, used to see those lovely kimono clad ladies every year…;-)

  18. Hagfish says:

    What exquisite photography! I found your link at J.T. where I am also a member.

    I salute your talent.

  19. rocksea says:

    $g, arigato (thanks in japanese). hav replied u there 🙂

    $prasad, japanese anime movies, i love them! they have character, content, the spirit, the humor (well i have to sadly say the daily japanese life miss all of these). watch out for Miyazaki’s movies like ‘majyou no takyuubin’ (kiki’s delivery service). Most of them are available with english audio/subtitles.

    Ya, sadly kimonos are rare to see and used for special occasions nowadays. Sometimes japanese wear a lighter version, called yukata, which is easy to wear and walk.

  20. g says:

    he he.. i figured as much but i was practising my legal skills! once again thank you for the comment and openness.
    much respect
    regards
    g

  21. prasad says:

    cute pic man
    i watch lots of jap anime,in many of thm thr is a whole lot of stuff abt ‘kimonos’ etc.i thought they wer like saries in india.but as it seems they wear kimonos only on festival days.
    thnx for ur comment in my blog
    if u hav more cute pics of jap girls,lemme hav a view[:)]
    c ya

  22. g says:

    lovely pics rocksea , I agree that we all need some sort of physical reference when it comes to worship, but i was merely point out the hypocrisy of the church in calling everyone about them idolators.

    WHen u say human made religions i think u infer to the exsistance that there is some god made religion or so it would seem to me. In such a case i would love to know ur views on this and/or what this religion in your view is

    thank you once again for the comment on my blog and have a nic day
    regards
    g
    p.s keep up the great photography

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