Japan Celebrates 20-Year-Olds With Massive Annual Party

Some culture lionise an individual ’s coming of years into maturity with ritual , with purdah , with thoughtfulness , or with a expectant party . In Japan , the yearly Seijin - no - Hi vacation take place the 2nd Monday in January . This year that ’s   Monday , Jan. 9 , and it ’s held in honor of   anyone who turn 20 between April 2 of the previous year and April 1 of the current one . Why such a specific range of dates ? Unlike some countries , which dole out change right and responsibility of adulthood to mass when they turn 16 , 18 or 21 years former , for instance , Japan bestow the majority of its effectual adulthood to people when they wrap up their second X . Voting , drinking , smoking and other activities give up to those who are 20 . The official age of maturity has varied over the centuries , but was set at 20 in 1876 . Last year estimate placed   more than 1.5 million 20 - year - olds take part in the festivities .