Kimono-clad beauties in colorful kimono at Kitakyushu’s “Japan’s most flamboyant coming-of-age ceremony

It was indeed Japan’s most “flamboyant coming-of-age ceremony.

On January 8, the “Coming-of-Age Ceremony” was held at the Media Dome in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka. About 3,000 people attended the renamed “coming-of-age ceremony. Kitakyushu’s coming-of-age ceremony is known for its flamboyance, and this year again saw a large gathering of young people in a wide variety of outfits, including a group with blond regents and a group dressed in white furred shopping pink hakama. The event was greatly enlivened by the presence of Mr. Ban Nakamura, who has worked on “Breaking Down,” and others.

At the coming-of-age ceremony in Omuta City, also in Fukuoka Prefecture, a video of young people running on a sidewalk in a light truck caused a firestorm on the Internet. At the coming-of-age ceremony in Kitakyushu City here, an incident occurred in which attendees’ furisode (long-sleeved kimono) were sprayed with an ink-like liquid. There were at least 10 victims,” said a reporter from a national newspaper.

This is a very vicious incident. Although Kitakyushu City’s coming-of-age ceremony usually attracts attention only for the flamboyantly dressed men, many women also attend the ceremony. This issue of the magazine takes a close-up look at these “kimono beauties. Many of the women showed us their proudest furisode (long-sleeved kimono) and fashion.

We wish for the resolution of the incident and the future success of the newcomers.