Yokohama coming-of-age ceremony amid COVID surge

Japanese people turning 20 held a coming-of-age ceremony in Yokohama on Monday, but rising coronavirus numbers meant it was far less sociable than in previous years. Many young women wore formal traditional garments called furisode, a kind of kimono with long sleeves.

Less traditional were the COVID-19 countermeasures on hand, such as temperature checks, alcohol disinfection points, and socially-distanced seating. Antigen tests were also provided to participants prior to the event. Yokohama city authorities requested all new adults to refrain from gathering over meals before or after the ceremony to prevent the spread of the virus.

Three prefectures, Okinawa, Yamaguchi, and Hiroshima, have gone into a quasi-state of emergency due to COVID-19 surges. In Tokyo, 1,223 daily cases were confirmed on Sunday. Throughout the pandemic, Japan has never imposed a lockdown but has implemented varying levels of restrictions, including school closures and event cancellations.

About 80% of the population have received their second vaccine shots. Boosters have barely started, with fewer than 1% receiving them despite repeated promises by the government to speed up their rollout. Japan has set up stringent border controls, barring most incoming travel except for returning residents and citizens. Japan has reported about 18,300 COVID-19-related deaths so far.