Coming of Age Day in Japan

Coming of Age is celebrated in various ways around the globe. In Japan, this celebration is called “Seijin-no-Hi”. Try out the quiz below to see just how much you know about the history and traditions of this special day in Japan!

Questions:

(1) At what age are citizens officially considered “adults” in Japanese society?
a. 18 years old
b. 13 years old
c. 20 years old
d. 21 years old

(2) What destination do new adults travel to and offer prayers?
a. Local cemetery
b. Shinto shrines
c. Local official’s residence
d. Mt. Fuji

(3) What attire is typically worn by young, unmarried women during the celebration?
a. Yukata
b. Uchikake
c. Juni-Hito
d. Furisode

(4) During the archery ritual known as Momote Shiki, a priest shoots a turnip shaped arrow that produces what?
a. Whistling
b. Flames
c. Fireworks
d. Water

(5) What date in January is “Seijin-no-Hi” celebrated?
a. Third Thursday
b. Second Monday
c. First Friday
d. Last Sunday

(6) What societal change has been detected from the celebration?
a. Low birth rate
b. Increased tourism
c. Decreased interest
d. Increase of informality

Answers:

(1) C: 20 years old. Originally when “Seijin-no-Hi” was celebrated during the Edo period (1603-1868) boys were considered adults at 15 years old and girls at just 13 years old. At this time each child would receive a physical mark to distinguish themselves as adults of society. Boys would get their forelocks cut to the top of their eyebrows, while girls would have their teeth dyed black. In 1876 the decision was made to make 20 years old the standard for both young boys and girls.

Source: http://www.yamasa.org/

(2) B: Shinto Shrines. The Shinto Shrines are locations where spirits, called “kami,” reside. Young adults will visit the shrines during “Seijin-no-Hi” and offer prayers. Each shrine has within it a sacred object, which represents the “kami” within and is not shown publicly. One of the most well known features of the Shinto Shrines is the “torii” or gate marking the entrance to the sacred ground.

Source: http://www.youngzine.org/, http://www.sacred-destinations.com/

(3) D: Furisode. The furisode is the most formal kind of kimono a young woman can wear before her wedding day. One distinguishing feature about the furisode is its floor length sleeves—the swinging of which is recognized as a flirtatious behavior! Other formal robes for women to wear are the uchikake, which is for a woman’s wedding, and the juni-hito, which has twelve layers to represent various seasons, class status, and things in nature. The yukata is a cotton kimono designed for warmer climates.

Source: http://library.thinkquest.org/

(4) A: Whistling. The sound produced from the red-colored, turnip-shaped arrow is said to drive away evil in all four directions. Immediately after the priest shoots these arrows, ten archers—dressed in traditional Samurai attire—shoot two arrows each. This tradition takes place at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo and roots the celebration in the ancient archery ritual.

Source: http://www.youngzine.org/

(5) B: The Second Monday in January. This year celebrations will take place on the 14th of January. Before 1948, January 15th was regarded as the traditional day of celebration, but the National Holidays Act of 1948 designated the second Monday in January for the “Seijin-no-Hi” celebrations.

Source: http://web-japan.org/

(6) A: Low birth rate. In the news over the last couple of years, lower numbers of attendees to the celebrations have been noted. This reflects a dip in the birthrate that is expected to peak within the next three to four years. Besides smaller celebrations, Japanese society is facing other adjustments due to this “population crisis.”

Source: http://www.yamasa.org/, http://news.bbc.co.uk/

For more related articles, read Diversity quiz: Japan about Japan’s diversity and culture facts.