The Japanese historical ceremony marking a boy’s transition into adulthood was called genpuku.
Genpuku was a coming-of-age rite used particularly among samurai and members of the aristocracy. During the ceremony, a boy received adult clothing and a formal hairstyle, and he commonly took an adult name. These changes publicly signaled a new social position and responsibilities.
The age was not fixed in the modern sense. Boys could undergo genpuku at different ages, often during adolescence, depending on rank, period, and family circumstances. The ceremony was therefore a social and political institution as much as a personal milestone.
Genpuku is often confused with Seijin Shiki, Japan’s modern Coming-of-Age ceremony. Genpuku belongs primarily to premodern Japanese history, while Seijin Shiki is a modern civic celebration. Historical forms also varied across regions and eras, so descriptions should not be treated as a single unchanging ritual.