'Coming of Age Day' with record low number of new adults Updated: 2012-01-09 17:23 (chinadaily.com.cn)

TOKYO - Japan celebrates its annual Coming of Age Day Monday with a record-low 1.22 million people who turn 20 this year.

The number of new adults declines for the fifth consecutive year and falls for the first time below half of the peak in 1970, when the number hit 2.46 million.

Among those who turn 20 this year, 620,000 are male and 600,000 are female. The total comprises 0.96 percent of Japan's whole population, according to statistics by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry.

Ceremonies were held nationwide with girls dressed up in kimonos to celebrate the national Coming of Age holiday, which falls on every second Monday of January.



