Soloist Mano Erina has officially ‘come of age’!

Every second Monday of January marks a special holiday in Japan called ‘Seijin no Hi’, or Coming of Age Day. Young adults who reach the age of 20 go out en masse to temples and local government offices to celebrate becoming adults. Now that they’re 20, they’re allowed more civil liberties, such as being able to drink alcohol and vote. However, society also expects them to behave like adults from this point on, and thus accept greater responsibilities.

On this day, the 20-year-olds wear kimonos, but some opt to wear more modern formal wear. For many 20-year-old girls, however, the best moment of the day comes with wearing the ‘furisode‘, or long-sleeved kimonos which take a really long time to put on.

Going back to the topic at hand, Mano Erina has posted a joyous new entry on her blog!

She wrote,

Today is Coming of Age Day.

I have come-of-age! (。・ω・)ノ゛

(Even though I’m technically closer to 21 years old since I was born in April, haha)

When I was little, the older girls would walk around in my neighborhood wearing beautiful kimonos on this day. I’d watch, and be like, “Kimonos~”

Now I’m of that age…

Happily, I’ve worn long-sleeved kimonos for work three different times now. Today, however, I’m not wearing one~  o(・ω・`)o

I did want to wear one, but the live concerts have begun. Yesterday there were three shows, so I didn’t feel confident that I would be able to wake up early [to dress in the kimono].

…Or at least, that’s my excuse haha.

You only live this moment once~ …even though I feel like I wasted it a bit, but it’s OK (。-∀-)

To all those who are welcoming their adulthood~ Congratulations!

Congratulations to Mano and all those who came of age today!

—

Source + Image: Mano Erina’s official blog