young people
Japan’s Coming of Age Day, held in January to celebrate young people who have turned 20 in the last year, involves dressing up in fancy kimono to attend an official ceremony, followed by a trip to the shrine or (more likely) an afterparty.
Or, to put it another way, every 20-year-old in the country is invited to a party to celebrate the fact they’re old enough to drink alcohol. Perhaps it’s no surprise then that in recent years, each Coming of Age Day has brought with it a small number of arrests, as rowdy enjoyment spills over into reckless driving and alcohol-related incidents.
Okinawa in particular boasts some of the wildest Coming of Age celebrations in Japan. This year, filmmaker and Okinawa native Hisashi Hamamoto headed to some of the busiest spots to film the partygoers. Join us after the jump for kids blocking traffic, shaking champagne about and generally having a riot, Japan-style.
Solitary Non-Employed Persons is a term that perhaps many are unfamiliar with. It defines those who are unemployed and, if you exclude relatives, those without any ties in society. These ‘without occupation or social network’ wanderers are referred to in short as “SNEPs”. More specifically, the term can be applied to anyone of the working age 20-59 years who is not enrolled in education, is unemployed, unmarried and has no ties outside of one’s family. And according to reports online, Japan is witnessing a sudden increase in these such people.


Majority of Japanese women in survey regret marrying their husband, but that’s only half the story
Japan’s kid-friendly ski program is now selling Pikachu snowboards for a limited time only
Mister Donut and Godiva continue their sweet sweets relationship with new treats on sale now in Japan
Which Japanese beef bowl chain’s near-identical demon grater onioroshi ponzu gyudon is the best?
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Studio Ghibli Rollbahn notebooks are both dynamic and subtle salutes to anime classics【Pics】
How to say “I love you” in Japanese – 47 different ways 【Videos】
New Pokémon Center to open in Kyoto with exclusive goods featuring adorable Maiko Pikachu
Special warm face masks for winter go on sale in Japan, and we test them out
Believe it! Naruto live-action stage play returns, shows off huge new cast and costumes【Photos】
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Princess Mononoke magnets return just in time to treat yourself to awesome anime decorations
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
Japanese women showing rebounding interest in giving Valentine’s Day chocolate【Survey】
Umamusume anime girl plushie recalled for having parts she absolutely should not have【Pics】
What’s inside Starbucks Japan’s fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Studio Ghibli Rollbahn notebooks are both dynamic and subtle salutes to anime classics【Pics】
How to say “I love you” in Japanese – 47 different ways 【Videos】
New Pokémon Center to open in Kyoto with exclusive goods featuring adorable Maiko Pikachu
Special warm face masks for winter go on sale in Japan, and we test them out
Believe it! Naruto live-action stage play returns, shows off huge new cast and costumes【Photos】
The Yellow Lucky Bag from Village Vanguard is so bad it may damage Japan-US relations
Say hello to Japan’s new stationmaster cat!【Video】
Sanma-men, the best ramen type that everyone in Japan forgets about
Hokkaido has an Ice Festival that’s less famous than the Snow one, but beautiful in its own way
Burger King Japan’s Ugly Burgers go head-to-head in a battle for flavour
New adults go wild at Seijinshiki Coming-of-Age ceremony in Kitakyushu, Japan 【Photos】
Japan super budget dining – What’s the best way to spend 1,000 yen at Hama Sushi?
Internet survey sheds light on how Japanese women deal with the hair ‘down there’
Pokémon Lego kits are finally on their way!【Photos】