The 15th of January is Adult's Day. In Japanese law, the person over twenty years old is considered an adult. Smoking and drinking is prohibited so to speak to those under twenty years old. They also get the right to vote. But in order to be elected, you must be at least twenty-five years old.

Adult's Day is a National holiday, every local governement hold a congraturation ceremony for those who are becoming adults and invite them to the city hall. The members of local governement give a speech, some famous person(for exemple famous sports player, actor or actress etc.)give the speech, and the local governement gives a memorial present to them( for exemple, a dictionary, a wrist watch etc).

The ceremony is not so interesting, but many students come back to their hometown to attend it, so they can meet many friends from their school days. It's why they are glad to gather. In this ceremony, many women wear Kimonos. It's another pleasure. Some people rent the Kimono, but many families prepare Kimonos for their daughers and take pictures for their good memory. A Kimono is expensive, so it's a good chance to wear a Kimono for the first time. Many boy-friends want to see their steadies in this specfial Japanese outfit, so they promise to go out together after the ceremony.

On Adult's day in Tokyo this year(1998), it was snowing very much and the wind was strong. It was a rare climate in Tokyo, many trains stoped, it was hard to go out wearing a Kimono, but some went to the ceremony by taxi. It's a special day that new adult women can totally dress up,even a big snowstorm can't prevent it.