Overview
- Kitakyushu held its ceremony for 20-year-olds at Kitakyushu Messe on Jan. 11, with attendance reported in the thousands and estimates ranging from about 5,200 to about 8,800.
- Outside the venue, exuberant kimono and hakama dominated photo scenes, while reports said most attendees inside wore standard furisode or suits.
- The participant-led Hatachi Kaigi organized the program, which included a mini live performance by THE JET BOY BANGERZ.
- Local rental shop Miyabi says black and silver designs are trending and that social media one-upmanship is driving ever flashier choices.
- Individual preparations can cost several hundred thousand yen, and Miyabi’s designs have been invited to a New York fashion show as the city positions the style as cultural content.