Japan marks Coming-of-Age Day

Today is a national holiday in Japan called Seijin no hi which translates to Coming-of-Age Day and takes place on the second Monday in January.

In Japan twenty is the age considered as the beginning of adulthood. All young adults at 20 gain a legal right for voting, banking, drinking, and smoking. They have now property rights and, besides, are at a social and criminal responsibility before the law.

Coming-of-age rituals were carried out from ancient times, since 714, when the Crown Prince of Japan in a special ceremony formally adopted adult styles of hair and clothing.