Coming of Age Day 2012, 成人の日 Seijin no Hi

Coming of Age Day is a Japanese holiday that takes place annually on the second Monday of January. It is a holiday that celebrates the coming of age of everyone who is 20 years old or turning 20 for that year.

Check out the wiki page Coming of Age Day for a nice overview and history of the holiday. 

I spent the day playing in a basketball tournament with my friend Teru. After the game we met in Shibuya with Celia and Yurie for dinner. 

Pictured: Jon, Teru, Célia, and Yurie at Hachiko exit Shibuya Jan. 9, 2012

That particular Monday night just happened to be the Coming of Age Day and all of the restaurants were packed, the streets crowded, and there was excitement in the air. 

Pictured: Célia, Yurie, Teru, and Jon at an izakaiya restaurant enjoying delicious food, enthralling conversation, and endless laughter.

What I enjoyed most was the beautiful women dressed up in their winter kimonos, celebrating their Coming of Age: an absolutely stunning sight to behold. So much so that I just had to take a picture with them. So before returning for the night, I had a picture taken with a group of four lovely, kimono-clad women just outside the Hachiko exit of Shibuya JR station. 

  Pictured: Myself with the four lovely, kimono-clad, Japanese women I met at the entrance to Shibuya station on Coming of Age Day, January 9th, 2012.