Today, 12 January, is one of the Japanese national holidays 成人の日 (Seijin no Hi). It is Coming of Age Day in Japan, and people celebrate new 20-year-olds.
Oxford Guide to British & American Culture says coming of age is "a person's 18th birthday, when they become legally an adult". But the coming of age in Japan is 20.
Local governments invite new 20-year-olds to their ceremonies called 成人式 (Seijin-shiki). The new 20-year-olds dress up and go to parties. A lot of girls wear kimono, because they don't usually wear kimono. (Kimono is now a dress for special occasions such as Seijin-shiki and marriages.) On the other hand, boys wear suits or hakama.
Seijin-shiki also has a perspective of alumni meetings. They can see friends from junior high and senior high again.
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