Camellia Tea CeremonyJan 12

🚸🧒COMING OF AGE DAY👩‍🦱👘

Today is 'Seijin-no-hi' (成人の日), a national holiday set aside to congratulate those who have reached -or are soon to reach- the age of majority (20 years old).

The tradition of celebrating 'coming of age' is recorded as early as 714!
#Japan #Kyoto #成人の日

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'Coming of Age Day' has been a national holiday in Japan since 1948 (held on the 2nd Monday in January from 2000).

On April 1st 2022 the age of adulthood was reduced from 20 to 18, but many authorities have decided it's easier to keep the tradition of celebrating 20 year olds on this day.
#京都

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Our director, Atsuko-san, has kindly shared a photo taken for her coming-of-age (a few years ago🤔). The furisode (振袖) was bought specially for the occasion, and she still has it!

#Kyoto #Japan #furisode #振袖 #成人の日 #CamelliaKyoto #teaceremony

Show threadCamellia Tea CeremonyJan 12
The age of adulthood may have been reduced for the first time since 1876, but you will still need to be 20 years old to drink alcohol, smoke or gamble.
Interestingly, the age of marriage for women has now increased from 16 to 18 (bringing it in line with men).
#成人の日 #Japan
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In the Nara period a coming of age ceremony called 'Genpuku' (元服) appeared, the idea borrowed from Tang China.
Originally for the children of aristocracy only, boys and girls would adopt adult names, clothing and haircuts in readiness for accepting grown-up responsibilities.
Jan 12 at 5:39amWeb
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Rather interestingly, in the Heian period children were known as 'children of the gods (kami)', and as such were not gendered until their official coming-of-age. For that reason similar clothing, accessories and even make-up were worn by both boys and girls.
#Japan #ComingofAgeDay
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Unlike modern times, historically there was never a set age or date for coming-of-age ceremonies, but it generally happened between the ages of 10-20.
Throughout Edo times 'wakashū' (若衆) referred to a young boy who had started his education (usually 5-10), but before genpuku.
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In an attempt to give young people hope for the future following WWII, the town of Warabi (蕨市) in Saitama Prefecture hosted a 'Youth Festival' (青年祭) on November 22nd 1946. It was this celebration that would inspire the creation of 'Coming-of-Age Day' in 1948.
#Japan #成人の日
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Local authorities host ceremonies to welcome the new adults into society, but the day is also a chance for more raucous celebrations and reunions.

Many young women opt to dress in a style of kimono called 'furisode' (振袖 lit. 'swinging sleeves').
#Kyoto #Japan #振袖 #成人の日

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Worn by young, unmarried women* in Japan, this style of kimono was once commonly purchased by parents for a daughter's coming-of-age. Notable for their long sleeves, furisode (振袖) often feature bright colours and bold designs.

#Kyoto #Japan #Furisode #振袖 #成人の日 #Kimono

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*In the not-too-distant past furisode (振袖) indicated that a young woman was single and of marriageable age.

Interestingly it was only in the 19thC that furisode became gendered, and only in the 20thC that they (in part due to Western influence) were restricted to girls/women.

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🌏🌍KIMONO OF THE WORLD👘🌎

Staying with the furisode theme, here is a spectacular selection of kimono from the 'Imagine One World Kimono Project' (begun in the run up to the 2020 Tōkyō Olympics).

🇯🇵Japan's depicts flowers from across the 47 prefectures.

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🇫🇷France (フランス), with a tricolour-inspired (トリコロール) obi.

🇩🇪Germany (ドイツ), with a baumkuchen-motif (バームクーヘン) obi😋🙌

#着物 #kimono #France #Germany

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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Naturally I'm biased, but I love the fat little dragons on Wales's (ウェールズ) kimono (you can also spot castles and daffodils)🐉🏰

#Wales #ウェールズ #着物 #kimono #Japan

Show threadNessJan 13
@camelliakyoto The French lilies are beautiful! But I can't resist the German one. It's got music, food, and computer graphics on it! What a combination!
Show threadDizzyJan 12
@camelliakyoto Fantastic! My daughter wore something like this for her coming of age.
Show threadSozaboyJan 12
@camelliakyoto I was at a japanese design exhibition in Bologna...does it look familiar to you? ;-P