Aug 15 (Japan Times) - The spread of the novel coronavirus has left many coming-of-age ceremonies scheduled for August postponed or canceled, ruining a key opportunity to celebrate a new chapter in life.
Coming-of-age ceremonies are usually held on Coming of Age Day in January, but some communities choose different times of year due to the cold winter climate and other reasons.
Many municipalities have decided to postpone or cancel ceremonies amid the spread of the virus, although a handful plan to go ahead while taking precautions against the disease.
In Iwate Prefecture, nine municipalities usually hold coming-of-age ceremonies during the Bon holiday period in mid-August to avoid the snowy season and make it easier for new adults to attend.
But the nine have canceled such events this year. In Iwate, no coronavirus case had been confirmed until the end of July, and only a few positives have been found so far.
While most municipalities in Nagano Prefecture, have postponed ceremonies to January next year or later, the village of Shimojo decided to hold a ceremony on the initially scheduled date.
But the village imposed the condition that some 20 new adults who had left the village produce negative results in coronavirus tests before joining the ceremony.
The testing costs are covered by the village. Nine living outside the prefecture are slated to attend the ceremony as they have tested negative.
