When I found out about this ceremony in High School it was because I was looking at kimonos. There is a special type of kimono that unwed women wear called a Furisode, and now-a-days it is most commonly seen at this ceremony. Originally I wanted to do this ceremony just so I could wear a furisode, but that is no longer true, sure it is still a big part of my reason to participate, but this is also a once in a lifetime experience and one that every Japanese person goes through. Although I am not trying to be Japanese, I want to experience something that every Japanese person goes through and takes for granted. When I figured out that I would be turning 20 in Japan, I thought it was fate that allowed this to happen (yay being young for my grade!) and I knew I had to do this.
Now, how did I get involved in the Coming of Age Ceremony in Akita? It is a pretty funny story, actually.
I went to the COS (which coordinates almost all the exchange programs/excursions for the international students) and asked if they knew anything about the ceremony, because I wanted to sign up for it. The stars must have been aligned again, because they had just received a flier from the Akita City Government about it. They asked if I wanted to sign up, and I said of course!
What I did not realize was that I had not signed up to merely participate in the ceremony by sitting in a furisode and listening to speeches, no. I had signed up to PLAN what was going to happen at the actual ceremony! Imagine my surprise when I was told that I would be going to the city to meet with the other members of the group- I thought I was meeting some of the people who were going to just be normal people in the audience, but no. This was the first meeting of the committee that would decide what was to happen at the ceremony, when and how much money to spend on what. I was lucky to have a COS worker help my at this first meeting by translating bits and pieces, but it was still nerve wrecking to realize that I was playing a whole different game than I had expected.
The second meeting was terrifying. I went to the meeting by myself, and sat through it without understanding most of the conversation, I strongly considered leaving the committee, but I decided that I needed to stick with it. This is one of my few "Japanese only" experiences, so I wanted to stay, and I was the first international student/person to have worked on this committee and I wanted to make a good impression. At this meeting there were photographers and reporters, I was super nervous and my Japanese stunk, but I didn't think much of it.
The third meeting went much better than the second, and I offered to help make a movie [because I am good with computers, and I can't really do much else for the group. ゜゜(´□｀。)°゜ ] that we will be showing at the ceremony. I was actually late because I went to the wrong building, but I think it all worked out in the end.
However! About a week ago, the 19th of November, a flier went out to almost all the residents of Akita (maybe even the prefecture?!) and guess who is on the front cover? Yours truly. The pictures and comments from the second meeting where placed on the front page and the next 2 pages, I am now a famous Gaijin in Akita, apparently. SO EMBARRASSING!!!
The little bio they gave me goes like this: "In America there is no Coming of Age Ceremony. When I realized that I'd be turning 20 during my time as a study abroad student, I thought it must be fate. "It is super interesting" ... Judith Claire Peterson (Student. Akita International University)
EDIT:
You can also see it online Here
Also! I have chosen what my Kimono will be. I tried on 3 (1, 2, 3) kimonos with my host mother at a cute little kimono shop, and I chose the first one I put on. The picture makes the kimono look really blue, but it is actually rather purple, but depending on the light it can look either blue-ish or purple-ish.
The man who I am renting my Kimono from is being super generous, and although I am still paying over $500 for the whole package, he helped me get a better deal on the hair salon (my possible hairstyle) and photography place. He is also lending me the fur shawl, tabi shoes and the obi accessories without charging more (although I will have to buy an under-kimono [think something similar to a slip] and tabi socks.)
All in all? I AM SO EXCITED!!!
