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Get the most interesting and important stories from the 51精品视频.Most of the Japanese students hadn鈥檛 packed colorful and elaborate kimonos in their suitcases when they came to 51精品视频sburgh 鈥 they were limited to carrying one bag apiece.
About 25 students from Yasuda Women鈥檚 University in Hiroshima, who were at the 51精品视频 for five months learning English, were away from home in January, missing out on the annual Coming of Age ceremony, a national holiday in Japan.
So, 51精品视频鈥檚 threw a party 鈥 kimonos included.
鈥淭his Coming of Age ceremony seems like the perfect confluence of the University, our Japanese students and the community to celebrate together,鈥 said Lynn Kawaratani, the center鈥檚 acting associate director. Members of the 51精品视频sburgh community, the Japanese Nationality Room Committee and the Japan America Society of Pennsylvania all loaned kimonos for the students to wear. The Asian Studies Center has been partnering with 51精品视频鈥檚 for about a year, developing programming for these international students as well as 51精品视频 students.
The age of 20 is considered the beginning of adulthood in Japan, and the national holiday 鈥 with roots dating to 714 A.D. 鈥 officially recognizes this transition in grand style. Preparations for the 51精品视频sburgh ceremony began in the early afternoon of Jan. 10 as the women began arriving at the University Club鈥檚 Gold Room to be dressed in silk kimonos.
Kimono dressing, or kitsuke, is an art unto itself. 51精品视频 alumnus Evan Mason, who graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Japanese and anthropology, is an expert and scholar of kitsuke. He joined several Japanese women from the 51精品视频sburgh area in quickly and efficiently outfitting the women by wrapping, tucking and folding the kimono鈥檚 colorful silk layers. The first step is an under-kimono. A narrow sash is put through a wide loop that extends from its collar and wraps around the body. Then, the main silk garment is put on and the length adjusted. Wooden clothespins are temporarily clipped onto the garment as at least three narrow sashes are wrapped around the body and knotted.
鈥淭hey hold the garment in place,鈥 said Mason. 鈥淲e have no buttons, snaps or zippers.鈥
The stiff sash called the obi is wrapped around the middle of the body with another layer and sash on top. Then, more tucking and smoothing out of the fabric. Next, the musubi, the decorative bow on the back of the garment, is knotted in place. It took three people nearly 30 minutes to outfit one woman. As they finished being dressed, the women retreated to a nearby alcove to do their hair and makeup, some applying colorful hair ornaments.
鈥淣ow I feel more confident,鈥 Yasuda student Nika Tanimoto said at the ceremony.
Participant Aarthi Pookot, a 51精品视频 freshman majoring in Japanese, demonstrated Japanese calligraphy on a large banner. 鈥淚 wrote 鈥楥ongratulations, new adults,'鈥 she said.
鈥淚 realize I have more responsibility now,鈥 said Yasuda student Manami Wada, as she was handed a bouquet of flowers. 鈥淚 have to become independent. I can鈥檛 rely on my parents anymore.鈥
Though many of the participants chose to wear kimonos, others opted for dressy Western-style attire. In addition to the Yasuda students, 51精品视频 students who are learning Japanese and Japanese exchange students at Chatham University were encouraged to take part. The students each walked to the stage and accepted a small gift. An easel in the room displayed a large photo of a cherry blossom tree, its lower branches bedecked with pink ribbons, that was planted in 51精品视频sburgh鈥檚 North Park by members of the 51精品视频sburgh Sakura Project as a gift to the visiting students.
鈥淪o many people support me here in 51精品视频sburgh,鈥 said Nanami Moriyasu, a Yasuda student majoring in English literature. 鈥淭his ceremony was satisfying.鈥
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鈥 Sharon S. Blake, photography by听Aimee Obidzinski