Japan's Sweet 16: Coming of Age Day

Hello! My name is Lily Duddles, and I am excited to start contributing to Mitsue-Links UX blog. As we revitalize our blog this year, I want to delve into the unique and interesting topic of cultural differences in Japan, including things like holidays & traditions, communication differences, and user behavior. Today, I'd like to start with a holiday celebrated on the second Monday of January - Coming of Age Day.

Many different countries, cultures, and religions around the world have their own versions of it - for Jewish families, it would be the Bar Mitzvah, for Mexican/ Latin American families, it's the quinceañera, and for US and Canadian families, it's the Sweet 16. These are all different types of coming-of-age celebrations, that can also be varied upon, that involve celebrating individually and usually with parties, but Japan's Coming of Age Day is just a little different.

Otherwise known as, Seijin no Hi(成人の日), Coming of Age Day this year fell on January 8th and is the celebration of, well, becoming an adult! Up until a few years ago, Japan defined those 20 years old and up as adults. However, on April 1st, 2022, a law change took effect and now adults are considered 18 years and up (although they still cannot smoke or drink alcohol until they turn 20). As mentioned, one big difference between a Sweet 16 and Coming of Age Day in Japan is that instead of celebrating individually, the whole country celebrates together on one day - as a holiday. This year over a million young adults across the country got to celebrate.

How is it celebrated?

Celebrations take place in almost every municipality in Japan. Where and how celebrations are done depends on the town and the individual though. Generally speaking, however, the first thing individuals do is get dressed and meet at a public space (a town hall, gymnasium, etc.). There, the mayor or someone else of high status will give a speech to the new adults to encourage them to become good and self-reliant members of society - this is known as the Seijin-shiki (成人式)or Coming of Age Ceremony.

Next comes the after-party. Who, where, and how the new young adults celebrate is up to the individual - like a truly independent adult! Many enjoy an after-party with either their classmates, friends, and/ or family. After asking a few members of our team what they did on their Coming of Age Day, I got some insights into how different their after-parties could be. For example, one member of our team is originally from Kochi (in Shikoku, the fourth largest of Japan's islands), and she said that after the ceremony she changed out of her furisode (more on this later) and went to a type of class reunion/ prom-like event illustrated by her school for the rest of the evening. I then asked another member of our team who is from Tokyo, and he said that after the ceremony he went with his friends from middle school to go eat at a restaurant. Outside of our team members, this year there were over 2,000 adults who celebrated at Tokyo's Disneyland and Disney Sea. Based on these very few examples, it would seem that there isn't really a set tradition for what an after-party should look like and could be associated with something like a Sweet 16 birthday party.

What's the dress code?

Traditionally, for females on Coming of Age Day, they wear a type of kimono called furisode (振袖). This type of kimono is only worn on very formal occasions and has long sleeves that hang down to the ankles or calves. For men, a hakama (袴) is traditional, but you'll often see them wearing formal western suits instead.

In one part of Japan, however, the dress code is just a little different. In Kitakyushu City, young adults don't just wear traditional clothing - some choose to innovate. There are bright colors and flashy designs, with eccentric hairstyles coming into the mix as well. The Kitakyushu Media Dome held one of the biggest coming-of-age ceremonies this year with about 8,000 new adults attending. The unique styles have gained international attention too. One store located in the Kokura area of the city and which designs and supplies both traditional and distinctively modern clothing for the coming-of-age ceremony, was featured at last year's New York Fashion Week.

Sweet 16: Similarities & Differences

For those who may not be familiar with the custom, Sweet 16 is primarily the celebration of a girl's 16th birthday within and around the US and Canada. How individuals celebrate very much varies. For example, my family and I never made a big deal out of birthdays so for my "Sweet 16" I ate sloppy joes with my friends and family and received some birthday presents, which was fun for me. However, that isn't to say that my case is also the case for everyone else. Many people in America and Canada celebrate their Sweet 16s much more lavishly: For example, by throwing a large extravagant party, the girl dressing up in a beautiful gown, and, although a more traditional custom, participation in a candle-lighting ceremony.

So, what do these two types of coming-of-age traditions have in common?

Well, while both celebrations share the common theme of transitioning from youth to adulthood, the differences lie in their cultural origins, age, and specific customs. The Sweet 16 emphasizes the individual's 16th birthday, with a focus on personal growth and maturity, celebrated through (sometimes) extravagant parties and rituals. However, Coming of Age Day in Japan emphasizes the celebration of legally defined status as an adult - at age 18 - and is marked by more formal ceremonies that reflect broader cultural values and societal expectations. Both celebrations, however, underscore the universal significance of reaching maturity and undergoing the rite of passage for receiving new rights and responsibilities.

If you're interested in the previous blog about Japan's holidays (Christmas and New Year's), please see Culture Shock: Japan's Winter Holiday Season by Jonathan Weeks (Dec. 27th, 2016).