A coming-of-age ceremony and Kimono fashion

Last Sunday, I had a coming-of-age ceremony(成人式) in my hometown, Ishikawa prefecture. Generally, this ceremony is held on coming-of-age day in second Monday of January. However because of my hometown’s terrible winter weather, it is held in first Sunday of April, beautiful cherry blossom season. In this ceremony, people who have turned or will turn the age of 20 during the current year are cerebrated as new members of society. Then almost all girls wear Kimono that called Furisode and lately most of boys wear suits but some boys who want to stand out in this ceremony tend to put on Hakama that kind of Kimono for men.

Every year, in coming-of-age ceremony season, the latest trends of this ceremony’s fashion such as way of girl’s hair, makeup and Kimono style are usually featured on TV programs or magazines. We can know there are many way to dress Kimono and it is very interesting to realize change of Kimono fashion. I think it become more modern year by year. I could see many people who wore Kimono in my city’s coming-of-age ceremony and they tried to dress it by their own style.

Lately many girls tend to arrange their hair make more largely. This style is called “Mori Hair” (盛りヘアー) that is popular in Japanese GAL culture. This culture is also penetrating into Japanese traditional fashion style such as Kimono.


And some people seemed to enjoy their own unique and original style. This is my good friends. This girl’s style is rare in my city’s ceremony. She is looked like trying to mix with European and Japanese style to use hair dress and lace gloves. And he is also looked like rare because most of boys who wear suits are wearing a tie but he is putting on bow tie.



Most surprising thing for me was some girl’s way to dress Kimono. They tried to take off it to their shoulder and show it. This style of wear Kimono is used by Japanese famous singer Kumi Koda, so it seemed they are attracted by her original style.


Through This coming of age ceremony, even if the way to put on Kimono is changing, it is one of Japanese traditional thing that we should be proud of it. I could feel I am a Japanese and to be grown-up!


If you have an opportunity, I want you to try to wear Kimono and Hakama in Japan!


Forth pic is taken by here.