LONDON - A dragon-shaped costume and fur-trimmed kimono are among the eclectic and flashy outfits going on display in London on Wednesday, in an exhibition exploring how young people in a southwestern Japan city celebrate coming of age.
Hosted by Japanese cultural center Japan House London, the exhibition features flamboyant outfits worn by eight men and women at this year's ceremony in Kitakyushu, an industrial port city in Fukuoka Prefecture. It runs through April 18, 2027.
Coming-of-age ceremonies are held across Japan each January, with participants typically wearing formal kimono or suits. The exhibition traces how Kitakyushu's unique bold style, from fashion to accessories to hairstyles, has grown increasingly extravagant.
Titled "Tradition/Rebellion: Coming-of-Age Style in Kitakyushu, Japan," the show also features banners bearing the participants' names and video interviews with them. Its Japanese subtitle, coined by Mayor Kazuhisa Takeuchi, roughly means "nonconforming 20-year-olds."
At a media preview Monday, Simon Wright, Japan House London's director of programming, praised the young participants for being very open and sincere.
As the exhibition aims to highlight Japan's diverse regional cultures, Wright also said he hopes visitors will discover a Japan beyond manga and wabi-sabi, the aesthetic of finding beauty in simplicity and imperfection.
Also at the preview was Miyabi Ikeda, owner of formal wear rental shop Miyabi, whose designs for the 2003 ceremony helped spark the city's flamboyant trend.
"They want to outdo those who came before them, so they keep pushing the limits of flamboyance," Ikeda said with a smile. "I want to support that spirit."
