T
urning twenty years old is a big deal in Japan. It means that a young person is officially an adult. On this milestone birthday comes a few liberties, including: being legally permitted to drive, drink, gamble, and smoke.
Every year, on the second Monday in January, Japan honors young adults who celebrated their 20th birthday in the previous year. Seijin-no-hi or “Coming of Age Day is when all twenty-year olds come together in major cities for a ceremony and to celebrate with friends.
Young women wear beautiful, detailed kimonos in stunning colors, while young men dress in a suit and tie, or in traditional Japanese attire.
Miu turned twenty years old this year and to celebrate, she dressed in a gorgeous autumn-colored kimono that has been in her family. We went to Shomyoji in Yokohama to have her portraits taken outdoors. We caught the last of the autumn leaves!
Below are pictures of Miu dressed so beautifully in Japanese kimono at Shomyoji in Yokohama.
Miu looked so pretty all dressed up in Japanese kimono. Her grandmother handmade the colorful hair accessories, which made it more special.
I absolutely love this candid photo of Miu. Her expression is so joyful!
We also found some bamboo trees at Shomyoji in Yokohaama. The bright green bamboo was a beautiful backdrop for Miu’s portraits in her sunset-colored kimono.
Fun fact: women who are unmarried wear kimonos with floor-length sleeves, while married women wear kimonos with much shorter sleeves.
The Japanese kimono is tied with an obi. Miu wore a very special obi in a beautiful and complicated design. I love the gold fabric against her autumn colored kimono.
It was an honor to photograph you, Miu! Happy 20th Birthday!
Warmly,
