KUALA LUMPUR - Shinjuku Ward in Tokyo celebrated its Coming of Age Ceremony on January 12, with about half of the 20 year olds eligible being foreign nationals.

On the public holiday for Coming of Age Day, local governments across Japan held ceremonies to mark the milestone of reaching adulthood.

Around 1,100 people attended the ‘Hatachi no Tsudoi’ ceremony in Shinjuku, which has the largest foreign population among Tokyo’s wards.

Although relatively few foreign nationals were seen at the event, they make up a significant portion of the age group. 

According to Kyodo, they accounted for 2,114 of the 4,268 eligible individuals in Shinjuku, or about half of the total.

Every year in Japan, coming of age ceremonies are held by local governments on the second Monday of January to celebrate young people who have entered adulthood.

While Japan lowered the legal age of adulthood from 20 to 18 in 2022, many municipalities continue to hold ceremonies for those turning 20.

The events mark an important milestone and typically feature speeches by local leaders, words of encouragement, and cultural performances. 

Participants often attend in formal attire, such as kimono or suits, reflecting the cultural significance of the occasion. 

Invitations to coming of age ceremonies are sent to people who are newly turning 20 in each municipality.

Foreign residents also receive the invitations if they are registered as residents in the area.

Shinjuku Ward is promoting a range of multicultural coexistence initiatives amid a growing foreign population.