On which day is Japan’s Coming-of-Age Day traditionally observed?

Japan’s Coming-of-Age Day is traditionally observed on the second Monday of January.

Known in Japanese as Seijin no Hi, the national holiday honors people who have reached the age of adulthood. Municipal ceremonies, often called 成人式 (seijin-shiki), commonly include speeches, congratulations, and formal gatherings for local residents.

The holiday was originally held on 15 January. Japan moved many national holidays to Mondays under the Happy Monday System, and Coming-of-Age Day became a second-Monday holiday in 2000.

Traditional formal clothing remains strongly associated with the event. Many women wear furisode, a type of long-sleeved kimono, while men may wear suits or, less commonly, formal Japanese clothing. The legal age of adulthood changed from 20 to 18 in Japan in 2022, although many municipalities continue holding ceremonies for 20-year-olds.