Monday, January 14, 2008

Coming of Age

Today is Seijin no Hi, Coming of Age Day. In Japan twenty is the age of adulthood and today is the day that anyone turning that age celebrates.

A New Zealander that I ran into today said it so well, "It a lot of young, cute 20 year olds dressed in their finest. Who could ask for more."




I took these at Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya. There are more photos on my Flickr page and I'll continue to add to that page as I get the truckload of images that I took sorted out.

11 comments:

CIELO said...

Uh, beautiful beautiful young people! Is Seijin no Hi a girl or a boy??? :) I wish I'd be 20 again!... so sweet, and coming of age!

Have a lovely day!

Cielo

Chris said...

Oh that top pic had me laughin'!!
Nice hair boys! Looks like someone has been reading old Hit Parade magazines circa 1986!

lina said...

the yellow (orange) hair kinda ruin it for me.
aaahhh... the memories of my 20's.

Anonymous said...

Coming of age day should involve fighting a wild animal or something, like they fight lions in some African countries. At least a friggin kendo match or something.

Come on!

Melanie Gray Augustin said...

Thanks for the comments everyone!

Hey Cielo, "Seijin no hi" translates to "coming of age day" and is celebrated by both boys and girls, anyone that is turning 20 in that year. I have photographed mostly girls as they look gorgeous in their kimono. Most of the boys wear suits rather than the traditional outfit nowadays.

Hey Chris, yep, and the funny thing is, I can see which boys in my high school class will have those haircuts in a few years....

Hey Lina, na! That hair just makes it for me, the traditional hakuma with the mad i-think-I'm-so-cool hair!

Hey Billywest, or at least some I'm-finally-of-age-but-have-been-drinking-for-so-many-years-that-it's-time-I-give-up-for-a-while detox like I did.

OzBurger said...

Those are some pretty cool photo's.

So are you going to give up drinking now?

Melanie Gray Augustin said...

Hey Contamination

Thanks! Actually, I will be giving up drinking mid-year in pre-baby trying preparation. That and caffeine, sugar, processed foods... basically, anything fun :(

Anonymous said...

except for the baby-trying part

Melanie Gray Augustin said...

:) How right you are Billy!

lina said...

I thoroughly enjoyed my baby making prep. Have fun! :-)

Melanie Gray Augustin said...

Thanks Lina, will do ;)