January 16, 2011

Japan's Future Smiling With Hope !


It was a cold winter day, but here was a spring-like pomp of the new adults who reached the age of 20. ( January 10th was Coming-of-Age Day.) 


Do you remember the day when you reached the age of 20?  I smiled like them and believed dreams would come true.

Coming-of-Age Day is a national holiday held on the second Monday of January -  January 10th, this year. Local governments hold large-scale ceremonies for all the young men and women who have turned 20 in the previous year.  At the age of 20, they get the right to vote, smoke, drink and marry without their parents' permission. Most of  women wear formal kimono with long sleeves, while majority of men are dressed in suits.  This is the day when all over Japan are filled with myriad of colors of kimono.

The number of the people who came of age in 2010 is about 1.24 million and is less than 1 percent of the total population.

 The new adults were born in 1990 when in Japan the bubble economy was going to burst and in the world Iraq invaded Kuwait to lead to the Gulf War.

Japan has been going through many difficulties and they are the generation who are to shoulder the burden of the country such as the huge national debt, the increasing pension premiums, medical costs, aging population, and more. I feel very sorry for them but it is impossible to choose the time to be born.

Let's stop seeing the negative side. Standing just at the threshold of the adulthood,  how thoroughly delighted they are!  They are the Japan's future smiling, brimming with hope!! I'm sure they will courageously confront the issues.


They are also the generation who are always tapping on their mobile phones and updating the information in their social network. They have the amazing ability to make free use of IT or digital devices. People, my age never catch up with them.

The new adults are interviewed by a reporter of a  newspaper company.
 We see the amazing fusion of the traditional and the modern  here and there!

   Bon voyage! May their smiles and happiness last for a long long time!          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

16 comments:

  1. lovely images! greetings from Bulgaria

    http://design-elements-blog.com/

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  2. Thank you to capture their smiles.
    Young folks really hope to get a place(a job) in this world. We have to think seriously why we can't give it to them in Japan.
    彼らがこのような明るい表情でいてくれる居場所を作る事が、我々大人の義務なのでしょうね。
    素敵な表情を捕えてくれてありがとう。

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  3. Maria,

    OH, from Bulgaria!
    Thank you for visiting my blog.

    Do you have this kind of ceremony in your country?

    See you!

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  4. Anzu,

    I agree with you. So many problems remain unsolved, especially job issues are serious.

    5 years later or 10 years later, I wonder what they will do? Will they be filled with hope and smiles?

    Thank you.

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  5. I or we don't want them to be burdened with heavy deficit that is likely to be passed on to them so that they won't think being adults is not good at all. I really wish things will turn up.

    By the way, the other day I paied a visit to Miwa Shrine and climbed Miwayama(467m). I am not a Shinto believer, but when I have something in mind,I like to go there. You know, Miwayama itself is a main sanctuary of the shrine, everyone and anyone can go up in the mountain wearing a white sash with a small bell attached to it across our chests. Though the cold wind cut me to the bone, I felt refreshing and prayed for the happiness and health of my family and everyone in the world.

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  6. Heartwarming smiles. . .
    The prayer to their happiness.

    The thing which waits for them.
    The various futures.

    Thank you.
    ruma

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  7. A guy wearing red Kimono (Haori?) with dyed hair in the 6th photo caught my eyes somehow, who reminded me of Shojo in the previous post! Well I am sure they got drunk after the ceremony:)
    Thanks for sharing and best wishes for them.

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  8. cosmos,

    Miwa Shrine with Mt. Miwa behind it is the oldest one. Main object of worship is the mountain and snake, considered as the deity of Sake.I want to visit there to feel the energy. I suppose, the place is one of the strongest power spots in Japan.

    A white sash with a small bell seems to be a symbolized item of a pilgrimag, doesn't it?.

    Thank you for your intriguing information!

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  9. ruma,

    I also pray devoutly for thier happy embarking for the future!! There were a few thousands new adults and I felt swirling energy emitted by them.

    Thank you.

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  10. Yoshi,

    Yes, he was standing out among the men in black suits. He not only colored his hair but also shaved his hair around the head to make zig-zag pattern. Young people are really fashion-conscious.

    I agree with you.After the ceremony, they must have drunk Sake like a fish.

    Thank you.

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  11. bump into your blog and loving it. i finally will be stepping foot in japan. even for a few days am still happy. so looking fwd for my trip and your blog.

    do drop by my blog, soon in march i will be blog about japan :D

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  12. Lily,

    Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving your comment!

    I went to your blog, wow, you are Travelholic.
    What a joyful and happy addiction you have!!

    Enjoy a nice weekend!

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  13. I remember my daughter's Coming of Age Day. I took her to a beauty salon by my car early in the morning. And I took her to the ceremony hall.Her friends in kimono gathered. They were very cute like your photo. After that seven years has past and they are working heard now. Also last night Japanese soccer team won. Lately young generation in Japan seem to do their best.I want to hope young power.

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  14. Pues si, disfruto de las olas siempreque puedo.
    Gracias por escribir en mi blog.

    Saludos.

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  15. sarah,

    While taking pictures of them, I thought what we could do. But as you said, they would work hard and do their best.

    I believe thier power and energy!!

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  16. Jose,

    Thank you for your comment.

    I wish I could read Spanish!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks a lot for visiting my blog and leaving warm messages. I will visit your site soon. keiko

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