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Coming of Age in the GSDF

Monday is Coming of Age Day in Japan, when everyone turning 20 will celebrate their adulthood. Here’s a report on how the 20-year-olds serving at a Ground Self Defense Forces base in Fukuoka Prefecture celebrate the occasion:

Each young soldier stood on a platform in front the garrison and shouted out the announcement of their choice. Some soldiers shouted out their wishes and goals, while others took the opportunity to tell jokes.

14 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - January 11, 2008 at 3:30 pm

Categories: General Japan Tags: celebration, coming of age, gsdf, japan, japanese, military, news, video

Raza

Someone please get me a translation, actually I think i need something for all the japanese videos I watch. If there are no subtitles, I am lost.

sadface

shazzb0t

I think you actually need to learn Japanese. Try it. Its not hard.

Ryry

Liar.

shazzb0t

Haha. Well.. maybe its a bit difficult, but its do able. Just takes time and a long stint in Japan.

;0-)
Karisu

@shazzb0t

Can I stay at your place?
Raza

I am actually trying to do so. Anyway, like Karisu said, can I live at ur place 2?

I allready learned french which is on its own pretty hard. I know a total of 3 languages right now, though I must learn japanese, because I want to travel their. Do you have any recommendations on what I should do to learn it?

http://alecinjapan.com Alec

Gosh, Japanese people love to shout. I think things sound more meaningful to them when shouted. Every single Japanese drama I’ve watched have people talking at a regular distance, walking away from each other, and then one turning around and shouting ‘arigato’ or ‘sayonara’ or something of the sort which apparently sounds better when shouted.

kaito

I believe shouting is common in any military…

KokuRyu

The new recruits first shout their names, then the fact they’ve turned twenty, and then attempt to tell a joke or gag. The officers (and their sempais) listen. At the end, they receive a small gift for turning twenty.

Gosh, Japanese people love to shout.

This is the friggin’ military.

shazzb0t

Haha, thats what I was thinking when I read Alec’s post.

Use your noodle folks.

dan

Im sorry but I just want to do a little correction, the coming of age its not for people that turned 20 last year but for people that will be 20 this year.
morningstar

The tradition is exciting,different and alot of fun. All the young ladies are so beautiful in there Kimone .
morningstar

Tis traditon is different, exciting and fun. All the young ladies in there beautiful kimono look like the were having a great time.
David

Gaijin here who went to his seijinshiki! ‘Cause I was that age when living in Japan I was sent an invitation like everyone else. The girls did look hot in their kimonos, some guys looked quite cool in their hakata (although most wore suits). The goth loli people came as well. There was a speech which no one listened to – I was quite shocked, I thought Japanese kids were supposed to be well behaved but they chatted and made noise all through the ceremony! Afterwords everyone went outside and reminisced about old times.

Coming of Age in the GSDF

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