Glamorous Close-up Shots at Kitakyushu’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony

Once a storm of criticism, now a part of Japanese culture recognized around the world!

2024-01-22

Young people with hair dyed rainbow or gold and dressed in sparkling costumes. They exclaimed to this reporter, “The most important thing is friends!” they exclaimed to the reporter.

Congratulations to you all!

On January 7, a flamboyant “Coming-of-Age Ceremony” (a ceremony to commemorate 20 years of age) was held in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. With Corona moving to Class 5 and the removal of restrictions on admission, more than 8,000 people, nearly triple the number of last year, attended the event. A pair of women dressed in gorgeous wedding kimonos (second photo) were singing in hushed tones.

I’ve saved up for this day with my part-time job. Please take a look!　The total cost, including the dressing fee, is one million yen!

This year’s festival was marked by a variety of unique wedding kimonos. A man who works at a fresh fish store wore a hakama decorated with stuffed marlin tuna and eels. Others wore their favorite Kitty dolls or dyed their regents in seven different colors for good luck.

In the past, the ceremony was ridiculed as “the most unsafe coming-of-age ceremony in Japan” because of the drinking and violent acts that were reported, but the number of troublesome acts has been decreasing every year. This year, too, the ceremony went on without major trouble.

But that is not all. Last fall, the “flashy hakama,” which are synonymous with the ceremony, were exhibited at one of the world’s four major fashion shows, the New York Collections. It has become a part of Japanese culture that is recognized around the world. Masashi Ikeda, representative of the kimono retailer Miyabi, which helped spark the trend, says, “In addition to the unique hakama, there are many other styles of hakama.

In addition to the unique hakama, we received many orders for banners with our name on them. We also made rakes for the first time. With so many of these items being carried, the festival was even more spectacular than in previous years.

Kitakyushu’s coming-of-age ceremony became even more gorgeous and unique. The venue was overflowing with the energy of the young people who had reached this milestone.

The sumptuous costumes, which cost a total of 1 million yen, appealed to the crowd. The gold and silver-colored costumes were decorated with dragons.

A group of five people wearing pure white hakama. They brought custom-made Dom Perignon bottles printed with a group photo from their junior high school days for their friends who did not attend.

A man shows off his rainbow-colored hakama matched with a rainbow regent. A large peacock was painted on his back.

We also spotted a couple who had been dating for six months. They even shared a passionate kiss when the cameras weren’t rolling.

The couple was dressed in pink, from the banner to their ceremonial kimono and fans. They were holding bouquets of flowers in both hands as a token of their gratitude.

Kitakyushu City’s “Flashy” Coming-of-Age Ceremony Gets Even More Gorgeous! Close-up shots of the participants!

Kitakyushu City’s “Flashy” Coming-of-Age Ceremony Became More Gorgeous than Ever! Close-up shots of the participants!

Unpublished cuts from the magazine Kitakyushu City’s “flamboyant” coming-of-age ceremony was even more gorgeous than ever! Close-up shots of the participants!

From the January 26, 2024 issue of FRIDAY

PHOTO： Hiroto Kato

Glamorous Close-up Shots at Kitakyushu’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony

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