Rites of Passage childhood n The shrine blessing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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