Seijin no Hi

Holy cow! That first girl is babe-o-licious

FatB,
Thats why I chose her as the first photo ^^;

I'm wondering if it's normal over there for people to just take pictures of strangers? Usually they end up on sites where people will oogle you... I guess it's just a different culture. Cool stuff though!

Explain to me why all the girls are wearing faux fur wraps? Is it cold? And it's weird to see all these people with dyed yankee hair styles dressed in traditional clothing.

PS. I'm 20

I heard about this but is it a national holiday? I'm 21 going to make 22 at 28 of this month

Nice looking girls in traditional Japanese clothes. Me wants.

I'm 30 last year ^^;;;;
body feeling old haha =_=;!

The guys in the golden kimono give off a yakuza-ish vibe :D

I think Japanese guys are really hot when in their traditional garb...

@FatB: Don't forget the girl on the last "girl photo". ;)
I turned 20 last year, so if I were in Japan I could've participated. ^^

I'm 27, turning 28 in march of this year.
I also sure look younger (by 10 years+) but already think like an old man.
That and satirical, cynical thoughts that I like to express.
Don't worry, I still remain optimistic and hopeful when it is needed. ^^
If you hate me, let me know, but be sure I'll remain here for a long time. ^^;

I wish I participated in such a ceremony when I was 20... By the way.

Ohhhh!!! Seijin no Hi! Our Japanese Teacher explained it to us today! Coincidentially, here Jan 15th a different holiday is celebrated: the "Teacher's Days"... so no classes, yay!

BTW, omedetou to all the new "hatachi people" in Japan XD

It would be nice to see Stormtrooper in a kimono @ Seijin no Hi festive. :)

Im going to be 24 this year, and still RONERY ;__;

I was 20 last year. Will be 21 this year within 3 months. Still ronery though. ;__;

Darn so cool, I wished I had such a ceremony when I was turning 20.

But alas I'm already 25, no more chance for me.

@Hangmen : with your full armor and replica firearms, those scares the chicks away.

Still, RONERY ;__;

Great post! I'm just 2-3 years older than you, Danny, but fortunate to have women friends in their mid-20s tell me I look 27-28!

Must be the Vegas climate, lol. ^_^;

@e-jump: SCREW YOU! Chicks dig armor! Halo's Master Chief has a female AI insi- wait, that still sounds ronery even if I was him. ;__;

I'm with you in regards to feeling younger than I actually am. I'm 30 but I certainly do not think/act it (to some extent). Which I too attribute it to my 'otakudom'

I wonder how many of them will join the AV industry

There certainly were some great sights out and about yesterday.

Chronologically 24, look 18, feel like 65 (i want to retire now). =(

LOLOL I just turned 16 today.
Jan. 14

i love the outfits, they are so beautiful ^^ I'm 21 will be 22 in February. I still feel and act like a teen so I'm all good with that.

haha...i just turned 20 four months ago. I wish I had a big event like that to celebrate

Woah... envy... again! I can't stop to envy Japanese for whatever they have and do lol...

Well i'm 26 and turning 27 this year... and i feel sort of burned out.
Maybe cause i used to be a workaholic untill last years march and never took real holidays or stuff. Hell i had a sleeping bag in my office which i used frequently. :(

Now i consider to change my job field from webdesign to system integration or something which has a good chance to work in japan and then i go over there, hell yea! And THEN i will feel like 20, you bet! :D

I certainly do not feel my 37 years. I still feel like a 20 year old - but I think my toy boy husband helps :P He's only 32.

We both are like much younger people though, with our interests in toys, movies, music and travel.

Who wants to get old and boring? Not us.

I feel older than my actual age, though at times, I've been told that I also look older than the average 18/19 yo (partially because of the way I dress, less casual and more orderly). People also come to me for some advice because apparently, I'm a bit wiser. It's bullocks of course, because I just offer logical reasoning rather than the headstrong approach many kids my age often take :p

e-jump and Hangmen13: Stop acting like kids, you make me feel depressed.
Do I complain? No. ^^;

necrophadian, I'm glad I'm not alone in that case. ^^

I'm 20, but everyone is surprised I'm that old, which may help when I get older but for now it just means I get ID'd for everything.

@D_Blade, why depressed? That you are older than them? Or is it the Ronery part?

Im 26 turning 27 in April. Aries B!tches... awwwwww yeah. For the guys that look younger, dont worry. Chick dig it when you are older (at least young in the face). Hell, everyone is still young here, so go out, have fun.. (and save to go to Japan to pick up a cute chick if you are lonely).

looking at the statistics, i dont feel so old anymore (but some how always tired). Hurray for the "16-20" age group!

I'm turning 24 later this year... but I always consider myself to be 5. It's great to be a kid :p

DRAGUN, it was a matter of speech. But otherwise, it didn't have to turn into an open contest of obnoxiousness (I know that both won on that matter) to see who was the most "Ronery" of them.

Nah, I'm fine as I am right now, except maybe for sharing my deepest feelings. ^^;
I'm more preoccupied by people that tend to underestimate me because of my appearance. Drives me cuckoo. ^^

I personally really like the traditional male clothing, don't understand why they wouldn't want to wear em since they look to be so comfortable and less restricting on the body. by the way, whats with the fluffy part on the female clothing?

I'm turning 27 this year; feels like I'm 21~2; but wish I were 17.

@Krim: Yeah, they look like samurai of lore. I'd love to wear stuff like that.

turned 22 couple weeks ago...
i still feel like i'm 19...
but i act like i'm 16....that normal?! lol

it looks so nice...
and considering age... i recently turned 21... and im feeling old :)
but i think the age is not the problem, i just dont seem to fit in any age clasifications with all my interrests lol

...though i gotta say, the girl second from the bottom is a cutie..ow ow

YoShI, as long as you're happy with yourself and respond to a minimum of expectations (better is preferred of course, but hey), there shouldn't be troubles.

*Returns to the darkness... I mean to the coursepack*
(And for those who believe I'm in a bad mood, I'm not really. Just stressing against the idea of procrastinating right now).

Thanks to these guys and girls I got a day off work...thanks a bunch folks !

22. though mind's frame of thinking has a pretty wide range.

i'm 24 yrs old turning 25 this coming april but i have the body of a 12 yr old and people who don't know me much always mistaken me for a 1st yr. junior high student XDDD

my mind is also younger 'coz of my otaku interests lolz XDDD

I'm 19, going to turn 20 in 4 months.

Wonder how it's going to feel, leaving teenager hood and entering adult hood..

I'll be twenty-two next month...just another year to me...don't feel any different though...

Nice, very nice.
I'm 27, and don't feel/act that old too.
I've been on that temple (or complex of temples)!

So, this is the famous date otakus commemorate they'll be able to buy hentai stuff? :P

Turning 19 this year. I might look adult and gruffy on the surface but am still young at heart :D

For me, I felt that no matter how old one is, one side of you must still be young, life can be really a bore if one is too/overly serious and mature.

My young age and my personality never match ages. I have been told a hundred times that i act as if i was way older than i actually i am. BUT, people often follow stereotypes and judge me according to physical age, which really pisses me off. Thats why i dont usually tell my age to people on the internet until they know me well haha (^ ^;)>

Ive got a question here not quite related to the question given by danny. I like getting drunk and swearing and fighting a lot, so if i got to Japan and do that will i be kicked out? Japan is very important to me, but i am not used to giving in and not following my personality. So if there is an annoying policeman, or some brats, or drunks looking for a fight, i might get in trouble if i am involved... right?

@Bulat, if you like getting drunk and getting into fights, then I would say that you dont act mature. Please dont take this as an insult, but if you do not want to be judged by your physical age, then maybe you should impress upon people your MATURITY. Getting drunk and getting in fights doesnt really emphasize this trait.

@D_Blade, what is it about your physical appearance that people arent accepting of? If you dont mind me asking (and airing it out in the open.. with your semi-anonymous friends)

man those are nice pictures,even the guys get to wear some cool clothes.i turn 24 later in the year but at my job i usually act less mature than the rest of my coworkers;most are younger than I am.Say NO to maturity.

@Bulat
I suppose you're gaijin yes? Generally, getting drunk and fighting will get you into trouble anywhere in the world. And you'd also be setting a bad example and reinforcing the japanese public's image of misbehaving gaijins. So if I were you, I'd leave the fighting behind. Of course, if someone picks a fight with you, you should defend yourself (or ignore them in the first place), but picking fights is a big no no.

i look younger than my girlfren when in fact she is younger than me by 1 yr.

I am 25

The girl in yellow is cute...

Already 18, kind of unbelievable when I think about it. My mom keeps on reminding me that I have entered adult hood and I should be more mature. But I still pretty much act like a 14 year old, so it will take me a much longer time before I finally "mature". :p

heh And my family n friends think I am stupid for moving to Japan.

Every time I see photos like these, eat some crappy american sushi and have movies like Alvin and the Chipmunks shoved down my throat, I am reminded of why I work so hard to earn my English teaching degree. Half way there baby! Yeah!

16. i'm finally inclined to find a part-time job so that I can pay for whatever I want to get.

Well i'm 32 but all people i know tells me that i looks like a tweny...^^
I feel younger too, maybe is my state of mind, my wife alaways remember it to me with "c'mon grow up a little!" o better "how old are you? 10 or something?"...^^ I love her!

I'm 14 turning 15 later this year..
Not many people here is in my age group huh..

17 turn 18 at 17 august
if traffic is easier here in indonesia...

@radical anime fan
this might be personal, but can i ask about this? what are u working for part time?

Very nice photos!

I'm 22 but people often mistake me for a 15 old boy after I shaved my beard. :D

I was asked for ID when trying to enter a "over 18" booth for Ninja Gaiden at the Tokyo Game show *last year*.
I said "thank you!" and then walked away - those folks at Microsoft can be odd at times.

The girls look über-cute o_O

age is all in the head. ;)

alot of "golden"(what at color name? bronze? or ?) hair ...
im not 22 years old, but all my friend also say im not look like 22 years old.

Im 28, though i feel about twice that due to my pessimism and bleak view at the moment! It changes each month!

Great pics - i managed to see the coming of age celebrations the very first time i went to japan in jan 2006, though i missed it on my recent trip by a few days! Most cutesome ladies.

Why do the majority of young japanese girls dye their hair that same gingery brown colour? Its not a complaint - i like it - just something ive wondered.

coming of age... they still look like kids to me. on a maturity level i think a lot of them have a long way to go. but weren't we all that way at 20?

Well DRAGUN, I got some juvenile face (hopefully without adolescents' skin troubles) and a less than average height and weight.
Anyway, if you were to see me in person or get a picture of me, you wouldn't believe your eyes.

The recurrent question I get from people is "When will you graduate?".
Well, they are far from the truth.

@AndyH, Cheer up mate! Seen your work; you're goin places, no worries.

Why brown? To make you wonder if the carpet matches the drapes. Woot!

Bulat, the answer to your problem is simple. You just have to channel your energy in the right way.

Simply said, if you want to visit Japan, not only you have to keep a low profile (by giving up your bad habits) but also show a certain degree of politeness and respect and this for everyone.
I would even say it's a behavior that is preferred everywhere.

I look (and act) a lot older than I am, but if I reveal my age to others, they start attributing me to stereotypes attributed to people my age.

Well, I'm usually thought of as 8 or 9 years older than I am, so much until I've long gotten used to it.

Yo D Blade, won't sugarcoat words cause you're not it that. Just know that when ppl around you start turnin into overweight, wrinkly gasbags and you're still lookin young. You're gonna smirk. Trust.

I am 17 years old but feel like a 60 year old geezer most of the time...

Its a little strange seeing keitai and kimono at the same time.

Those girls look so cute I'm having trouble believeing they're 20; more ike 17 or 18.

@hendrik: I'm inclined to work, but I havn't found any yet... and with my holidays ending soon, that "inclination" would remainas it is until the next long holiday. Sorry if I gave any indication otherwise.

I consider myself young, my body and mind are still the same age I think... So yea...

I just love kimonos, would love to have one myself (a male's kimono though). Girls look so lovely in them, especially the brightly colored furisode.

..and I'm 26, so just entered the 26-30 category.

Well, looks like the fashion for fur has transfered to the Kimino/Yukata as well...

Btw Danny... you seem to have stuff about events OUTSIDE 109...

I think it would be cool though, if you did an article about the INSIDE of 109/109-2... especially the 109 ladies/mens section :P

.. Kinda funny to see them dressed so nice and traditional one moment- then see them flip out a handphone the next. @_@

But I do think the traditional Japanese clothing is nice ^^ Just maybe the fur is a little.. not appealing ^^;

Soon (in May) 25! w00t~

Btw, a friend of mine is in Japan atm, and he took some pics too. Said most girls rent their kimono's, cause a new one is about 5000€, renting about 900€. O.O chou takai!!

Looks like those lads know how to party...

I think it just wouldn't be proper to celebrate turning 20 without getting drunk and yelling obscenities.

I'm 24, and I feel I'm getting old already. Have a few more years of studying to do still before finding a job... =(

26 turning 27 in October.. If can I want to stay 26 foreva~!

Today is my birthday! 16th January. ^^;

900€ for a rent kimono!!!! O_o

just turned 20 last month :( not even a teen anymore

I'm only 15- though alot of my friends are already 16 (lucky).

The outfits are beautiful, especially those men who dared to go traditionally dressed. The girls hair was so well done too.

Haha danny...
Unlike you, my client said i was 35 when i was actually just 18...

Now that I am turning 23 this march, i don't want to know people's opinion about my age -_-

I'm 19 now, and I'll be 20 in October.

Funnily enough, I feel more like a 16 year old now and I still watch cartoons. Guess some of us never grow up.

(BTW, that picture of the little girl in glasses wearing the yellow kimono just screams cuteness)

Young girls wearing kimono, that is my weak spot. BTW, most of these pictures taken last year.

mmmhhh......Phisically 39 y old
mentally just turned 16y old ;)
There is no young or old ......it's just a state of mind..

Brain Age says my brain is 20 years old...about 2 years younger than my actual age. ^^

Girls in kimono...aaaaah...lovely sight indeed. How much does a kimono cost nowadays anyway?

Very cool. I love to hear/read about different cultures and how they live/celebrate.

this may sound quite ignorant, but I noticed not all the guys wore suits. Some wore garb similar to outfits I've seen on fighting games. What are they called?

Turning 20 next month...like I give a damn. I still feel young

This April I'll be 35 (officially), but when I look at other people my age I always think they seem older. Either I'm immature or they're boring old farts.... I think they're farts :)
Also, I'll be in Japan this year for my birthday! What's a good thing to do in Japan on your birthday?!

I'm 26. I feel old when i think about it. And i totally freak out when i think about the fact that i'll turn 30 in a few years!! O_O

I turned 18 less than a month ago. 18's meant to be a big turning point right? (Least in the UK it is) But it dont feel any different lol.
And I think I feel younger lol... I still act pretty childish (all the cartoons, comics and figures I buy lol) although I can act mature if the situation calls for it. (Got uni interviews soon... ACK)

I turned 22 last month, didn't really feel any different.

I have become 20 in August.

Sometimes I don´t take things so serious then other do.

To think, that a lot of people are married or have a baby in my age, I feel a little childish. On the other hand, non of my friends (in the same age then me) are so "mature". xD

13 year old legend... kinda modest but hey!

i start feeling old too... turning 25 at the end of the month >.<
only 5 more years to go and i gonna be an EOL guy *big LOL*

I'm 20 or 21,don't remember...well,not important.

I'm 30, turning 31 in two months. Usually, I never go about thinking "man, my old". I yam what I yam.

However, it's when I'm part of a discussion and most people say things like "I've never seen Macross" or "My first anime is Evangelion (or Haruhi, etc)", that's when I feel ancient. ^_^

Hitting 30 this year!

That officially qualifies me as an old man! Man, I never thought it would happen this quick...

I'm turning 17 in march, still have much to see, learn and so on. I look forward to turning 18 and being finally able to leave this annoying town :/

Those traditional japanese clothes look great on both ,boys and girls. Would really like to try them on someday

i'm turning 19 on january 21

ハデヤノ〜．．．なんか、女子の方はめちゃくちゃ目立ちたいだけなのか、本当に美学がない．男子の方は、なんか、チンピラ？

to think that Japan's future rests in people like this some what makes me shiver. Then again, I say the same thing to America.

Here's the really story behind Seijin no Hi! ^^;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mymapofjapan/

Right after the photo of that sweet little girl who will be breaking hearts in a few years. ^^; Just you wait and see. ^o^

@D_Blade: I think many of us grow older in thought at an early age. Maybe it means we have an old soul. I too have a youthful appearance. People often underestimate me because they assume I'm young and know nothing. What is important is we know what we are capable of and always work to exceed our full potential I'm procrastinating too...

@MrColobus: I'm the same way. No no, they are boring old farts. ^^

For those who are wondering, I'm 3.5 years old. ^^;

well it's not like i'm young i'm barely 19 but i still feel like a 15 year old kid ^^ XD

@D_Blade, who cares? I was really short for my age up until Junior year (11th grade). Then I shot up over 11 inches and now Im 6'2". I see no disadvantage to a shorter person other than one they place on themselves. I have a baby face too, no wrinkles or anything. Its okay! Girls love it! Dont let it get you down, theres someone out there for you. If I find a good-hearted girl out here, Ill send her your way, since there is a surplus of single cute girls in AZ.
You should read that book by Piers Anthony, I think its called Split Infinity.. something like that. I cant remember the first book in the series. Main character is a shorter guy, younger looking, and hes the F&$king man.

I wonder when Danny is going to set up the whole forum thing so we can just talk to each other and get to know one another better. Also, so you guys out there can meet the Otaku minded girls that frequent the web... even if they are shy and rarely comment.. except Meimei132.

I'm 25 myself

Well, on the next 4 month, I'll become 33.

And that's one nice event although a bit marred by some of the boys who got drunk ^^;;

I'm 32! I like these pics, especially the beautifull bright colours!!

Jesus. I never went through the whole 'all guys having insanely long, unmanageable hair' phase while I lived there.

It's a nice thought, becoming an adult. I'm closing onto 18, and the bachelor's life isn't too far away. Expectations await...

Well, its nice to see about the others who've responded, and the majority is leaning towards the youngin' adults. At least you're making sure to not let your life slip away so easily. Heck, you can still dance, DC. So, please don't let seniority drag you down. You're doing so well! (From the reader's point of view, that is)

And aren't you supposed to expect a kid sometime soon (within the years to come)? :)

Wow, some of them sure look pretty & elegant. I think Kimono looks better than the chinese "Kei Fok". It also has more variety with the different patterns.

I'm 31 now, I remember back in the day when I became 20 nothing special happened - was already drinking & Chasing girls !

I was 21 before I smoked weed, though..

I turn 18 at the end of March.

I only wish I was Japanese so I could be one of those girls dressed up in gorgeous kimono when I turn 20, ne~

At 24 I feel old.

Danny got instant demographics with this post ^_^

I'm 19 going on 20 in August. I do feel somewhat older than what I am sometimes. Although some people have trouble judging my age (it must be the moustach).

Thats cool, I just turned twenty about 2 months ago.

I put 15, but I'm going older very soon now...

Now a days, I guess rather young people outside Japan are getting interested in Animanga. It is actually going a little trendy, wich doesn't really make me happy, seeing rather stupid people drive foruns into stupid high-school chat's : /

Eh-h-h... I'm 40. Do I get the second "Seijin no Hi"? BTW - It feels no different from when I was 16.

Looks like an interesting tradition...

I'll be turning 20 in February, and I'm planning to have something a little out of the ordinary, such as twenty different cakes. :3

I'm 23 and I feel like I'm in my 40's. All I do is wake up at 5am, drive to work, work for 10 hours, drive home, eat my supper, watch 1-2 episode of anime, take a bath and go to sleep just to do the same thing next day.

I will be 21 in May

I feel as I continue to live, my need to pay back all the good thats happened to me becomes more and more eminent with the passing time.

Then I feel sad because I haven't gotten very far...

It's pretty funny because I was in japan when this happened... 13th 14th? don't remember, but the kimonos looked pretty dang cool.

@NekokoNeko
I hear ya. I'm turning 25 this weekend and i have the same working day procedure.

leben hart

Dang...I'll be 38 this year. I've been into anime for over 20 years now. Even though I get crap from my peers, so...so what! Don't change who you are because society tells you to. I still go to cons, buy figures, read manga and watch videos and at the same time keep my "adult" responsibilities.

19

Those Japanese girls are beutiful...sigh!

sorry to post so late, i'm 32 yrs now.
But i still feel young, like i'm just 25 or so.

Girls in kimonos are very pretty ^-^

a cultural festival for young folks?
that's amazing!

22, feel terribly old around all my friends who are 20... But when I'm alone I feel like a kid.

many nice furisode around.. darn..how i wish i am in japan juz for that day. :)

Looks festive. Those costumes actually look pretty cool.