Coming of Age day in Japan under Covid – in pictures
Young adults gathered in Japan to celebrate reaching 20, the age at which they can drink alcohol, smoke and get married without parental approval, although many events were cancelled due to coronavirus fears
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Women arrive for the Coming of Age ceremony in Yokohama in suburban Tokyo. Coming of Age day is a Japanese holiday held every January to celebrate those who have reached 20, the official age of adulthood in Japan
Photograph: Yoshio Tsunoda/AFLO/Rex/Shutterstock
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A participant wearing traditional clothes is taken through a body temperature scanner before being allowed to enter the event hall in Yokohama
Photograph: Stanislav Kogiku/Sopa Images/Rex/Shutterstock
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Social distancing is maintained inside the Yokohama Arena
Photograph: Takashi Aoyama/Getty
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A record rise in Covid-19 cases and a month-long state of emergency in and around Tokyo has led many local authorities to scrap or postpone the festivities
Photograph: Issei Kato/Reuters
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A 20-year-old has her temperature checked at the Todoroki Arena in Kawasaki
Photograph: Behrouz Mehri/AFP/Getty
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The celebrations at Todoroki Arena in Kawasaki
Photograph: Behrouz Mehri/AFP/Getty
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At Yokohama Arena, women wore ornate kimonos, fluffy white stoles and masks, while the men were dressed mainly in suits
Photograph: Issei Kato/Reuters
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The arena’s capacity was limited to 5,000. Four separate ceremonies were held there and at another Yokohama venue
Photograph: Issei Kato/Reuters
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Participants were told to keep their distance and speak quietly to avoid spreading coronavirus
Photograph: Issei Kato/Reuters
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Twenty-year-olds pose for portraits in Yokohama
Photograph: Issei Kato/Reuters
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Police officers restrain an overexcited adult outside the ceremony in Yokohama
Photograph: Issei Kato/Reuters
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Women leave the celebration at Todoroki Arena in Kawasaki
Photograph: Behrouz Mehri/AFP/Getty
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Women take a masked selfie in Yokohama
Photograph: Philip Fong/AFP/Getty
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Police officers detain a young man who is under the influence of alcohol in Yokohama
Photograph: Stanislav Kogiku/Sopa/Rex/Shutterstock
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The prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, has urged young people to abide by the state of emergency, which asks residents to avoid non-essential outings and requests that restaurants and bars close early. Last week he said more than half of recent new infections in greater Tokyo were among the under-30s
Photograph: Philip Fong/AFP/Getty