Japan’s coming-of-age day is a sure sign of winter, which comes after New Year’s celebrations and before cherry blossom parties in early spring.
The national holiday is held on the second Monday in January. It turns out that people admire the elaborate clothing that young people wear to celebrate the transition from childhood to adulthood. Although the age of majority has been lowered from 20 to 18, many participants are still in their 20s.
The men usually wear sober black suits, but the women resplendent in kimonos woven with brilliant patterns – often of flowers – and bright colors, many with elaborate hairstyles and fancy handbags.
On Monday, many young people swarmed the streets of Yokohama, a city that is part of greater Tokyo. Women wore fur muffs to protect themselves from the cold. There were lots of big smiles and self-conscious poses, selfies and hugs.
