Rites of Passage: childhood

1. Rites of Passage: childhood • The shrine blessing rite for infants • shichi-go-san七五三 November 15 • Usually at a shrine; sometimes a temple

2. Other festivals for kids • setsubun節分 February 3 • On the occasion of lunar New Year • “out with the ogre, in with good fortune”

3. Rites of Passage • coming-of-age day January 15 • Japan’s age of majority (adulthood) is 20 • municipal office visit and shrine visit • Becoming a shakaijin社会人

4. Rites of passage: Marriage • Ceremony described in Edwards • Origin in Meiji imperial weddings • However, a western-style ceremony is now very much in vogue

5. Rites of passage: Dating • College students do pair up • High school students usually, too • boifurendo and gaarufurendo • But marriage is not usually the result • group activities common • rather than individual couple activities • Pre-marriage relationships occur • In the office or in the community

6. Rites of passage: Marriage • Getting married in Japan • Traditionally managed by the family • nakōdo and omiai • The rise of the ren’ai, the love marriage • The demographics of marriage • women ~28, men ~32 • Urban-rural divide • Marriage and society • As a basic unit of society • As a reproducer of social roles

7. Breaking up • Breaking up is rare • The divorce rate is low • But breakups do happen • Confrontation is difficult • A new phenomenon: • The wakaresaseya, or “breaker uppers”

8. Yakudoshi and retirement • Yakudoshi, or “bad luck years” • based on Chinese calendar • Bad luck years in both age and birth • The “fire horse” year for women • Retirement • Sometimes as early as age 60 • Can be a difficult time • Pensions modest • What to do? (sometimes a second job)

9. Rites of Passage: Summary • Childhood • Shrine blessing • Shichi-go-san • Coming-of-age, at age 20 • Marriage • The evolution of the ceremony • Demographics • The reproduction of social roles