National Aug 14, 2020
Coronavirus casting shadow over coming-of-age ceremonies in Japan
Many municipalities have decided to postpone or cancel ceremonies amid the spread of the virus, although a handful plan to go ahead.
National Jan 13, 2020
Japan's coming-of-age ceremonies under cloud as 2022 revision to age law looms
Many local governments remain undecided on whether coming-of-age ceremonies should continue to be held for people aged 20 after the age of adulthood defined under the country's Civil Code is lowered to 18 from 20 in April 2022 following the planned revision of the ...
National Jan 13, 2020
Japanese youths come of age at the dawn of a new decade
by Ryusei Takahashi
For many 20-year-old women and those close to turning 20, Monday was a busy day that involved waking up early to apply makeup, arrange their hair and don a furisode, a style of kimono distinguished by its long sleeves. But above all, once preparations are ...
National Jan 10, 2019
More than 70 percent of youths and young adults prefer to celebrate their coming-of-age at 20, even though the age of legal adulthood in Japan will be lowered to 18 in April 2022, according to a recent online survey by a Japanese think tank. The ...
National / Crime & Legal Nov 20, 2018
Five-year jail term sought for ex-head of bankrupt kimono firm over alleged fraud
Prosecutors asked a court on Tuesday to sentence the former head of a bankrupt rental kimono firm to five years in prison for engaging in fraud to keep his business afloat. The company ultimately closed suddenly ahead of the Coming of Age Day celebration in ...
National / Crime & Legal Oct 5, 2018
Ex-head of kimono firm admits to defrauding banks before company failed
The former head of a bankrupt rental kimono firm admitted Friday to defrauding banks to keep his business running, until it suddenly shut its shops before this year's Coming-of-Age Day celebration in January, causing a furor among female clients who were left without formal ...
National / Crime & Legal Jun 24, 2018
In a bid to cover window-dressing, Harenohi, the kimono rental firm that went bankrupt in January, started changing its accounting firm annually from 2015, sources said.
National Jan 13, 2018
Hachioji group leads charge to redo Coming-of-Age Day for women ambushed by kimono firm's failure
by Sakura Murakami
Some of the new adults who were deprived of kimono for Coming-of-Age Day when a debt-ridden rental firm folded on Monday will get another chance to celebrate the event in style next month with help from volunteers, it was learned Friday. The Hachioji Seijin-shiki Present ...
National Jan 11, 2016
Japan's newest adults ponder politics on Coming-of-Age Day
by Tomohiro Osaki
Monday marked Coming-of-Age Day, bringing with it the usual festivities that saw Japan's 20-year-olds celebrate their newfound adulthood — each in their own way. While some took the holiday as sufficient reason to go crazy and carouse, others stopped to ponder what it means to ...
National Jan 8, 2016
Irked by loud attire, Kitakyushu urges young adults to dress right on Coming-of-Age Day
by Tomohiro Osaki
With Coming-of-Age Day taking place Monday, the city of Kitakyushu has an important message for the attendees: Dress fittingly. The city says it is tired of seeing what has become a common occurrence at the annual event — new adults dressing inappropriately, spoiling the solemn ...
Editorials Jan 17, 2015
This year's increase in the number of 20-year-olds celebrating Coming-of-Age Day was welcome. But the upswing is only temporary and there are questions about whether young people are ready to take up the adult challenges in Japan's rapidly aging society.
National / Media | BIG IN JAPAN Jan 10, 2015
Young adults may be going nowhere after Coming-of-Age Day
by Michael Hoffman
Monday is Coming-of-Age Day, in honor of those who will turn 20 this year. What do they see, these fledgling men and women, as they look into the future? Most of them — the lucky ones, those whom circumstances have not forced to mature too ...