TOKYO: Young adults dressed to the nines in kimonos gathered at venues in Japan on Monday, Jan 11 to have fun reaching the age of majority, though lots of the usually jubilant occasions had been canceled over coronavirus fears.
More than 1,000,000 individuals in Japan turn 20 this yr, the age at which they’ll legally drink alcohol, smoke, and get married without parental approval, they’re traditionally feted each January on “coming-of-age day” with a ritual ceremony, originally a ceremony of ancient samurai households – and now typically followed by raucous drinking sprees.
However, a record surge in COVID-19 cases and a month-long virus state of emergency declared in and around Tokyo has led many native authorities to scrap or postpone the 2021 festivities.
At Yokohama Area – throughout the area under the state of emergency, which is much less strict than the harsh lockdowns seen in different nations – ladies in ornate kimonos, fluffy white stoles, and masks sat in socially distanced seating for the ceremony, with the boys dressed mainly in suits.
The arena’s capacity was restricted to 5,000, with 4 separate ceremonies held both there and at one other Yokohama venue on Monday. Individuals had been informed to maintain their distance and converse quietly to keep away from spreading the respiratory disease.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has urged young individuals to abide by the state of emergency, which asks residents to keep away from non-essential outings and requests restaurants and bars to shut early.
Last week he stated more than half of recent new infections in greater Tokyo had been among the many under-30s.
The fishing metropolis of Yaizu in central Japan held a “drive-in” Coming-of-Age occasion on Sunday, drawing some 470 automobiles to the harbourside celebration.
