WORKSHEET A2-B1
COMING OF AGE DAY IN JAPAN
Part 1. Warm-up
- At what age do people become adults in your country?
- Is there a special celebration when young people become adults where you live?
Part 2. Vocabulary focus
Part 3. Reading – Coming of Age Day in Japan
The second Monday in January is a special national holiday in Japan. It is called Coming of Age Day. In Japanese, the name is “Seijin no Hi.” This day celebrates young people who become adults.
In Japan, a person becomes an adult at the age of 20. Coming of Age Day is for everyone who turns 20 between April and March of that year. On this day, young people celebrate this important moment in their lives.
Japan is an island country in East Asia. It has a long history. The country has an emperor, and the royal family is one of the oldest in the world. Today, about 125 million people live in Japan. Much of the country is mountainous, so most people live near the coast, where cities are large and crowded.
In Japan, every person and their family are registered at a local government office called a ward office. These offices keep official records about the people who live in the area. Coming of Age ceremonies usually take place at these ward offices.
During the ceremony, a local official gives a welcoming speech. Then, the 20-year-olds receive a small gift. The ceremony is an important and formal event.
No one knows exactly when this tradition began. Some people believe it started more than 1,000 years ago. There is a story about a prince who wore special clothes and changed his hairstyle to show that he was now an adult. Other people think the tradition began in the 1600s, when young people from rich families changed their clothes and hairstyles to mark adulthood. At that time, boys became adults at 15 and girls at 13.
The modern age of adulthood, 20 years old, was decided about 150 years ago. The national holiday began after the Second World War in 1945. At that time, many Japanese cities were destroyed. Officials in one city organized a celebration for 20-year-olds to bring hope and happiness. The event was successful, and other cities began to organize similar celebrations. In 1948, Coming of Age Day became an official national holiday.
At first, it was celebrated on January 15 every year. Later, in 1999, the government moved it to the second Monday of January. This created a long weekend for many people.
Clothing is an important part of the celebration. Many young women wear a traditional Japanese dress called a kimono. These kimonos have long sleeves and are often colorful. Because kimonos are expensive, many families rent them for the day. Young women usually have their hair styled early in the morning.
Most young men wear a business suit. Some choose to wear traditional Japanese clothing as well.
After the ceremony, many families visit a temple. Later, they often go to a restaurant or hotel for a special meal. Turning 20 is important because young people are now allowed to drink alcohol, smoke, and get married without their parents’ consent.
In the past, people had to be 20 to vote in elections. Recently, this changed, and now people can vote at 18. The government has also announced that the legal age of adulthood will be lowered to 18.
In recent years, fewer young people have been celebrating Coming of Age Day. Japan has a low birth rate, so there are fewer 20-year-olds than before. Today, the number is much lower than it was 50 years ago.
Like many public events, Coming of Age Day was affected by the coronavirus. Fewer people attended the ceremonies, and everyone wore face masks.
Coming of Age Day remains an important tradition in Japan. It celebrates growing up and starting a new stage of life.