242. Seijin Shiki (Coming of Age Ceremony)

In Japan the young people who will reach their 20th birthday during the course of the year gather for a series of ceremonies on the second Sunday in January funded jointly by the city and their local high schools. It is a public recognition of their adult status. The boys wear formal suits but the girls come out in a gorgeous array of stunningly beautiful kimonos -- as you will see below.

P.S. -- Irish-Japanese is a deadly combination ....