On January 9th, a total of 19 members from the idol groups AKB48 and SKE48 celebrated their coming-of-age day ('seijin no hi') with a photography event at the Kanda Shrine in Chiyoda, Tokyo.

The coming-of-age day is a public holiday that is celebrated on every second Monday of January. Those who have reached or will reach the age of twenty between April 2nd of the previous year and April 1st are celebrating that they have now become part of the 'new adults' in Japan.

For the idol group it meant that almost all of those born in 1991 switched into beautiful long-sleeved kimonos ('furisode') and flocked to the shrine. This age group in particular contains many of the group's core members, including Maeda Atsuko, Kashiwagi Yuki, Takahashi Minami, Itano Tomomi, Matsui Rena, Takajo Aki, and more.

Maeda made a vow for her new life as an adult and said, "My whole body has become tense, after all this is a very important day in becoming an adult woman. I'll have to proceed to the next level again this year."

The other members were full of ambitions as well.

Kashiwagi: "I want to become an adult with self-consciousness, who always pays attention to her surroundings."

Itano: "It was a really great last year and I hope this year will become even better."

Matsui: "I hope there will be many events that can be enjoyed together with all of our fans."

Leader Takahashi commented with a smile, "I was told that I look like a child during the Shichi-Go-San festival with this furisode. Personally, I think that I look really good in furisode...� I'd like to try my best in order to be seen more as an adult woman from now on."

Further she added, "It's finally time for us born in 1991 to celebrate our coming-of-age day. Last year was a really wonderful year for us, which naturally makes us greedy for more. (laughs) We want to become even more active and reach new heights. Together, we can make it."

[gallery link="file"]

Source: eiga.com