By: Mika Matsumura, GVJCI Social Media and Marketing Intern 

In Japan, a person officially becomes an adult at the age of 20. To welcome these new adults into society, Japan celebrates Coming-of-Age Day or Seijin no Hi. This holiday is celebrated every year on the second Monday of January (January 11, 2021 this year). Before 1999, Seijin no Hi, used to be celebrated on January 15th. This day is also sometimes called Adult Day and honors young Japanese who turned 20 at any point in the 12 months since the start of April in the last year. At this age, they are able to legally drive, consume alcohol, smoke, and gamble. The voting age changed in 2015 from 20 to 18. In 1876, the age of adulthood was set, but in 2018 the government enacted a bill that will lower the age from 20 to 18 and will take effect in 2022. However, they cannot participate in adult activities until 20 still. There are several theories of the origins of this holiday and some date back as far as the 700s. The official holiday began in 1946 in Saitama (currently, Warabi City) to encourage hope for younger generations after World War II. 

Most women wear a beautiful and elaborate kimono or furisode, a long-sleeved kimono for unmarried young women. The cost of owning a kimono can well be over a thousand dollars, thus many rentals are available. Many also wear a fake fur scarf/stole, wear traditional zori sandals, and get their hair & makeup done. Men usually choose to wear a traditional men's kimono with hakama (loose trousers with many pleats in the front) or Western formal attire. Local governments usually have a ceremony called Shijin Shiki to honor the new adults. Tokyo ceremonies at the Shinjuku and Shibuya are some of the largest and enjoy lots of media coverage. Attendees and their families will be present for these ceremonies around 11:30 AM for photos and the speech. Many families will also go to their local shrine to pray for health and success. 

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Sources & Photos From: 
https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-51091877
https://theculturetrip.com/asia/japan/articles/everything-you-need-to-know-about-japans-coming-of-age-day/
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Other Sources: 
https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/japan/coming-of-age-day
https://www.japanvisitor.com/japanese-festivals/adults-day
https://savvytokyo.com/seijin-no-hi-celebrating-japanese-youths-rite-passage/
​https://jw-webmagazine.com/seijin-no-hi-the-celebration-of-coming-of-age-in-japan/

By Taylor Ingman, Marketing and Social Media Intern

​Source: justonecookbook.com

Source: justonecookbook.com

Sources:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2014/01/05/language/impress-your-hosts-with-osechi-meanings/​
​https://japantoday.com/category/features/food/the-meaning-behind-each-item-in-‘osechi’-—-new-year-cuisine
https://www.justonecookbook.com/osechi-ryori-japanese-new-year-food/
https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2020/12/meaning-osechi-ryori-japan-traditional-new-year-food/

By: Mika Matsumura, GVJCI Marketing and Social Media Intern

​Osouji is a Japanese custom that is typically done at the end of December. The word Osouji translates to "big cleaning/cleanup." Osouji is done before New Year's Day and is done to purify the home, work place, schools, and neighborhood. This custom was first seen as a purification ritual to symbolize cleaning not only one's house, but also the mind and soul. 
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Osouji originated from another Japanese custom, known as Susuharai which translates to "Soot Sweeping." Susuharai is an annual ritual also performed in December that is symbolic when greeting the Shinto deities of the New Year. As seen in the images below, a team of people are cleaning the Matsumoto Castle. They use long bamboo sticks with brooms on the bottom to sweep the walls and clean the roof tiles. To tie it all together they hang a Shimenawa which a huge straw rope that are located on gates and the castle tower. The shimenawa acts and represents a barrier between our world and the world of the gods. The rope also prevents evil spirits from entering. These ropes are hung all year around at Shinto shrines, but specifically hung during this time by many businesses and homes.  

These historical custom of susuharai in Imperial Palaces traces back all the way from the Heian era. Later this custom spread to temples in the Kamakura period. By the Edo period, common people also took part in this annual cleaning of osouji. Another reason Japanese participate in the deep cleaning of osouji is to welcome the Shinto deity of the New Year, Toshigami-sama. Osouji must be completed before they can visit the shrine.  It is also seen as a purification ritual. Toshigami-sama is said to bring good luck and good health for the New Year. ​

Another Japanese word associated to osouji is "seiri" which translates to sorting items. For example to organize your closet.  Osouji is more than the home or shrines, but also the workplace and schools. In the workplace, everyone contributes dusting, scrubbing, and tidying up the area. The same is done in schools, students learn at a young age, the importance of cleaning.  There are many benefits to practicing osouji. Practicing osouji can help focus/clear your mind and even help develop a new/healthy habits. Of course it is difficult to clean and it is not a likable task, but it is one that must be done. It is easier to focus if you have a clean environment to work on. Cleaning your workspace will promote concentration and success. 

Although this Konmari Method Workshop is past the typical time of osouji, it is never too late to tidy up your home. Just was the saying goes, "New Year, New Me!" Join us in the New Year as we all learn a better way to declutter our homes by using the KonMari Method.  To learn more and register for this workshop, please click the button below. 

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​https://jpninfo.com/36791
https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0000817/
​https://www.smartparenting.com.ph/life/home/osoji-japanese-cleaning-ritual-a00285-20190104
​https://visitmatsumoto.com/en/culture/susuharai-soot-sweeping-ritual-and-hanging-of-the-shimenawa-at-matsumoto-castle/