Coming of Age Day, Seijin no Hi, Okinawa Japan

Coming of Age Day is a national holiday in Japan held on the second Monday in January. The day celebrates those who have turned 20 that year and are now officially seen as adults.

A Seijin shiki ceremony takes place at the city office where the young women wear kimono (usually rented) and have very big hair. I was told the average cost for kimono rental, hair and makeup is 200,000 yen or around 2,000 dollars. The guys wear either suits or traditional hakama. On Sunday, I went down to central Naha to get a few photos. Surprisingly, outside the prefectural office there was an almost complete absence of kimono and hakama, but a lot of police uniforms.

Recently there have been a few problems in Okinawa as a small percentage of these new adults end up taking their celebrations too far, driving or riding around causing trouble.  The police had decided to clamp down on any excessive celebrating, and were making their presence known with a large number of uniformed and plainclothes officers. It was all a little bizarre, I managed to get a few photos of the  two groups of young people who wandered past. I was then (rudely) questioned by a policeman as to why I was taking photographs and was told the situation was embarrassing for Okinawa. He seemed to  think I was waiting for mayhem to ensue and that I would try and disgrace Okinawa with images of violence and debauchery.

Coming of Age Day, Seiji no Hi, Okinawa, Japan

I took my photos and went on my way, but slightly disheartened. The policeman seemed to presume the worst of me, and likewise the worst of the young people who were meant to be celebrating. You could argue that he has to be prepared for every eventuality, but are we as a society getting a little less tolerant, a little too judgmental, a little less friendly.

Coming of Age Day, Seijin no Hi, Okinawa, Japan