Coming-of-Age at 30 years old


“Ceremony of Coming-of-Age at 30 years old” in Iwaki City in December 2013.

Attendants left their messages about their hometown. (Provided by Ceremony Committee)

Second Monday of January is a national holiday in Japan called, Coming-of-age. At the age of 20, Japanese people are officially recognized as adults and they are entitled to various rights as well as responsibilities. Many young people leave hometown after graduating from high schools, but they come back home to celebrate coming-of-age day with their old classmates. They look so distinguished in Kimonos or suits as if it were implausible to believe they were in high school just two years ago.
Now that they have become a member of the society as an individual, they are so positive toward their brilliant future.

As is known, coming-of-age is 20 years old in Japan. But for the past few years, there have been phenomenon to setup a reunion called “Coming-of-Age at 30 years old.” Legally, one becomes recognized as an adult when turning 20 years old, but it is just the start line. In fact, many of them are still students or inexperienced even if they are already working. They are not mature enough to call adults in a way.

Contrarily at the age of 30, whether one wants to or not, anyone goes through various occasions in the real world for the 10 years since their official coming-of-age celebration. One may have graduated from universities or not, one may have found work place easily while the other may have changed jobs several times. Some may have got married; others may have got divorced. The decade in the 20’s is significantly different from that in the teens. Through such life experiences, young people in recent days seem to realize that they could finally grow up to be called adults in a true sense.

30 years old. It is quite good time that people at that age have been accustomed to their jobs to some extent and they are eager to make contributions to the society. Reunion at their home town reminds them of their old good times when they were full of dreams and hopes. This shall also trigger them to expand their visions as well as to find tips how to develop their business. Or because they get together with their fellows as their passions toward their hometown gather, they come up with creative ideas to reinvigorate their local economies. It is so happy to see this phenomenon has gradually spread through the nation.

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Reference: News article in SANKEI NEWS Expanding effects of “Coming-of-Age at 30 years old.” The real adults gather to work out plans to revitalizing their local communities. It’s effective in searching a partner for marriage and business. *Article in Japanese only.
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/life/news/140112/trd14011223460009-n1.htm