In Japan, 'Coming of Age Day' Marks a Winter Festival for Young People, Celebrated on the Second Monday of January

In Japan, 'Coming of Age Day' Marks a Winter Festival for Young People, Celebrated on the Second Monday of January

Yokohama, Japan — Japan's 'Coming of Age Day' is a significant marker of the winter festival, arriving after the New Year's celebrations and before the cherry blossom parties of early spring. This national holiday is celebrated on the second Monday of January and draws attention to the elaborate outfits worn by young people to commemorate this important life milestone.

On this day, young people gather to celebrate their transition into adulthood. Although the legal age of adulthood has been lowered from 20 to 18, most of the participants are still 20 years old. Men typically wear suits, while women are adorned in kimonos, which are decorated with beautiful floral patterns and vibrant colors. Many women also sport intricate hairstyles and carry fancy handbags.

In photos by chief Tokyo photographer Eugene Hoshiko, crowds of young people are seen milling about the streets of Yokohama. Women in kimonos wear fur muffs to keep warm. One woman is seen talking on her cellphone, while others take selfies, smile, joke, and hug one another.

On this day, kimono-clad women stood on the stage to celebrate 'Coming of Age Day,' a traditional and national holiday that marks the milestone of transitioning from childhood to adulthood.