Mariko

Seijin no Hi, Coming of Age Day. Every year in January, Japan holds a countrywide celebration of all who became 20 years of age. Throughout Japan, the newly turned 20 year olds express Japan's ancient culture in traditional dress.
Mariko was my conversational English student, and she and her family honored me with a “trial run” for the national day. The kimono is very difficult to wear; it’s very tight, with many layers of clothing. Sometimes a towel is wrapped around the waist under clothing to fill in the waist and give a straight line to the figure. The beautiful, extravagant obi is top heavy, making balance difficult. A particular stance must be taken when standing, toes of left foot turned inward and left foot slightly back of right, but feet close together, to keep the balance. Hair arrangements are very important and complex. I mentioned that the hairdresser must be very busy on the 15th. “Yes,” replied Mariko, “I must get up very early that day. I must be at the hairdresser’s at 5:30 in the morning. She has 15 persons on that morning.”