6 Japanese Words You Need to Know For Coming of Age Day
Japan just celebrated Seijin no Hi, 成人の日（せいじんのひ）or Coming of Age Day.
On this day, people who have just turned the legal age of adulthood in Japan are celebrated.
This celebration used to be held for new 20-year-olds, but in 2022 the new legal age was lowered to 18 years old.
I had never heard about this ceremony before and only found out about it because I turned 20 when I was living in Japan as an exchange student and was given an invitation.
In this article I’ll explain more about this Japanese custom and some words and phrases that are associated with it.
Contents
1. Seijin no Hi-Coming of Age Day
2. Seijin-Shiki-Coming of Age Celebration
3. Furisode
4. Montsuki haori hakama
5. Hatachi
6. Shin-seijin
7. Jyuu-hasai
What being an adult in Japan means
Coming of age is different from a birthday celebration
1. Seijin no Hi – Coming of Age Day
Japanese: 成人の日
（せいじんのひ）
This phrase refers to the actual day, which is a national holiday in Japan. Each year it’s held on the second Monday of January. In 2023 that was on January 9th.
While there’s a celebration held for the new adults, everyone gets the day off school or work. Anyone can attend the ceremonies since most of them are open to the public.
Example:
Raishuu getsuyobi wa seijin no hi desu. — Next Monday is Coming of Age Day.
Japanese: 来週月曜日は成人の日です。
（らいしゅうげつよびはせいじんのひです。）
2. Seijinshiki – Coming of Age celebration
Japanese: 成人式
(せいじんしき)
This word refers to the actual ceremony which takes place on Coming of Age Day.
Most commonly it is held at a ward office, which is a government building. However, it can also be held at an event center, hotel, or even Disneyland. The ceremony that I went to was at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku and was so packed that some people had to stand the whole time.
During this celebration a government official will give a speech about the responsibilities these new adults will take on. At the ceremony I attended, a student from my school gave a speech and there was a golden ball that was pulled apart on stage to reveal a congratulatory banner for the new adults.
Example:
Seiko-san, Shibuya kuyakusho no seijin-shiki ni ikimasu ka? — Seiko, will you be attending the Coming of Age celebration at the Shibuya ward office?
Japanese: せいこさん、渋谷区役所の成人式に行きますか？
（せいこさん、しぶやくやくしょのせいじんしきにいきますか？）
3. Furisode – Kimono with swinging sleeves
Japanese: 振袖
(ふりそで)
This is the kind of kimono that women usually wear to the seijinshiki. This kimono is more formal than other kimonos and is differentiated by its wide and long sleeves.
People usually rent kimono for special occasions or wear a kimono that’s been in their family for generations. Women also go to beauty salons to get their hair and makeup done before the ceremony.
Example:
Mao-san, furisode kireidesu ne. — Mao, your furisode is beautiful.
Japanese: まおさん、振袖綺麗ですね。
（まおさん、ふりそできれいですね。）
4. Montsuki Haori Hakama – Formal kimono for men
Japanese: 紋付き 羽織 袴
（もんつきはおりはかま）
This is the traditional option of formal wear for men. Men attending the ceremony can also wear a western style suit. However, this hakama consists of a long garment with wide pants and a half coat. At the ceremony I attended, suits were more common but there were a few men wearing these hakama.
Example:
Keisuke-san, montsuki haori hakama no iro ga suki. — Keisuke, I like the color of your montsuki haori hakama.
Japanese: けいすけさん、紋付き 羽織 袴の色が好き。
（けいすけさん、もんつきはおりはかまのいろがすき。）
5. Hatachi–Twenty years old
Japanese: 二十歳
（はたち）
If you’re already familiar with counting you’ll know that this word seems to not match the numbering system for other 10s words like Sanjyuu, 三十（さんじゅう） or Jyuu-sai, 十歳（じゅうさい）. However, there is another word similar which is hatsuka, 二十日 （はつか) which means the 20th of the month or 20 days.
Commonly people would say that hatachi was different because it signified the importance of age 20 and all the things that came with becoming an adult.
Example:
Mina-san, hatachidesu ka? — Mina, are you 20 years old?
Japanese: みなさん、二十歳ですか？
（みなさん、はたちですか？）
6. Shinseijin–New adult
Japanese: 新成人
（しんせいじん）
The term for a “new adult”. If you’re part of the seiji no hi because you turned the legal age that year, you’re a shinseijin.
You’re only considered shinseijin during the year you become an adult; so only during age 18.
Example:
Jyuu-hasai omedetogozaimasu. Ima, anata wa shinseijin desu. — Congratulations on turning 18. Now, you’re a new adult!
Japanese: 十八歳おめでとうございます。今、あなたは新成人です。
（じゅうはっさいおめでとうございます。いま、あなたはしんせいじんです。）
7. Jyuu-hasai – 18 years old
Japanese: 十八歳
（じゅうはっさい）
The new legal age of adulthood in Japan. Now if you’re this old you can vote, drive, drink, smoke tobacco. Coincidentally this age now aligns with people just starting college.
Example:
Watashi wa jyuu-hasai desu. — I am eighteen years old.
Japanese: 私は十八歳です。
（わたしはじゅうはっさいです。）
What being an adult in Japan means
When you become an adult in Japan you gain the ability to buy alcohol, rent an apartment, get a driver’s license, buy a car, get married, and vote.
However, prior to 2022, 18-year-olds were able to vote in elections despite not being considered full adults yet.
Coming of age is different from a birthday celebration
Seijin no hi while it occurs on a specific day is different from a birthday celebration despite it celebrating someone’s age. This coming-of-age ceremony just celebrates all the new or soon-to-become 18-year-olds becoming adults.
While there may be cake and festivities it’s about the shinseijin as a collective and not one person as an individual.
The seijin no hi is more serious and is more like an orientation for new adults.
So now you know all about Seijin No Hi! If you happen to visit Japan in January, make sure to try to attend one! Plus, next time you’re talking to a language exchange partner or a Japanese friend you can ask them about their seijin no hi and how they celebrated it.