2027 Coming of Age Day

Coming of Age Day, Seijin no Hi, is a Japanese public holiday on the second Monday of January that celebrates young people who have reached adulthood. It was fixed on January 15 from 1948 until the 'Happy Monday' reform moved it to a Monday in 2000; although Japan lowered the age of majority from 20 to 18 in 2022, most municipalities still hold their ceremonies for those turning 20. Local governments host a seijin-shiki ceremony with speeches and small gifts, after which the new adults visit shrines, take photographs and reunite with school friends over drinks. Young women wear furisode, a long-sleeved formal kimono, and men wear suits or traditional hakama; kimono rentals, hairdressers and photo studios are booked up to a year in advance. Because it forms a three-day weekend right after the New Year break, it is also a popular time for short trips. This countdown ticks to midnight Tokyo time at the start of Coming of Age Day.