Japanese New Year’s Day is a sure sign of winter, coming after New Year’s celebrations and before cherry blossom parties in early spring.
The national holiday is held on the second Monday of January. People come out to see the fancy clothes worn by young people to celebrate the transition from childhood to adulthood. Although the age has been lowered from 20 to 18, the majority of participants are still in their 20s.
Men tend to wear sober black suits, but women resplendent in kimonos woven with shimmering patterns – often floral – and an array of bright colors, many with elaborately styled hair and luxurious handbags.
Crowds of young people thronged the streets of Yokohama, a city that is part of Greater Tokyo, on Monday. Women wore fur muffs to keep from getting cold. There were lots of big smiles and selfies, selfies, and hugs.
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