HATACHI

　　　　　It has been getting warmer in Japan and I am assuming many people will post about the beauty of Japanese spring or Hanami events since we have free topic for blogs this time. However I have decided to write about the “Coming-of-Age Celebration”.

　　　　　For the Coming-of-age celebration we have a ceremony hold by individual cities or a public organization in Japan in June. Most of girls tend to wear Japanese traditional dress “Kimono” and boys wear a suit. 

　　　　　Nowadays not many people wear Kimono or have chance to wear it so that many girls get excited to get to wear fancy (also pricy) Kimono for the ceremony. Which means that the Kimono industry trys really hard to get those Hatachi (20 years old) customers even before the year they turn to 20. This may sound extreme but they even get your information from somewhere and often call your house to offer fancy Kimono. 

　　　　　I received tons of mails or catalogs of Kimono as well. I was thinking to get a nice pretty Kimono for the ceremony when I was in senior year of high school. But once I realized how much they cost for total I changed my mind completely. (It depends on where you buy or rent them, but average is $2,000).  So I did not wear Kimono and decided not going to the ceremony but going there to take pictures of people who were dressing up afterwards. After the ceremony many people were just chatting with their old friends and taking pictures together.

　　　　　When they finish enjoying those conversation or becoming uncomfortable with tight Obi (tied over Kimono) they start going home and change to their formal Western style dress for the after party which usually hold by your junior high school at an another place such as hotel. 

 

 　　　　　This after party is a great opportunity to talk to your old friends better and easier than after the ceremony since there are only people from your junior high school years. There are lot of foods, drinks, and sweets to have a great time with. Also most of the time your old teachers come to the party and talks about the memories. You can enjoy seeing how people have been changed by having conversation with them or the way they dress. Or this can be a great opportunity to reunite with your friends.