In Japan, people become adults at the age of twenty under Japanese civil law today. The second Sunday of January is the coming of age ceremony day, which celebrates young people who will become adults that year (precisely, those who turn twenty from April 2 of the previous year to April 1 of the year). A celebration event called Seijin-shiki (Seijin is “becoming an adult,” Shiki is a “ceremony.”) is mainly a local government-sponsored event held in the nearest public hall in their neighborhoods and has a purpose to encourage them to recognize their responsibility as adults.
In the coming of age celebration in Honmon Butsuryu Shu, a HBS youth thank the Gohonzon (all of the Primordial Buddha, other Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, guardian deities of the Lotus Sutra, and three great masters: Nichiren, Nichiryu and Nissen Shonin) for the protection in his or her all life and make a vow of further contributions for propagation. Taking this opportunity, he or she begins to grow into a believer of high caliber that Nichiren Shonin praises and recognizes.
