Coming of age day

Tokyo's first snow storm of the season turned the capital into a winter wonderland on Monday, also a national holiday celebrating those who will turn 20 years old this year.

Rich portraits of teenagers in Ireland coming of age — as individuals, as groups, as part of a community and as the new generation of Irish. These photos capture intimate, compassionate, honest and confused moments — raw truth that is electrifying and inspiring.

Dive right into that summer feeling with the sun-drenched slow burners that will have you aching for hot weather

Holiday celebrates people reaching 20, the official age of adulthood in Japan

The giggling girls - who all turn 20 this year - chatted to friends and sent text messages as they attended the traditional celebration, now held at Disneyland Tokyo.

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Japan offers 16 major holidays to celebrate throughout the year. Popular holidays include Golden Week, Coming of Age Day and Health and Sports Day each with a unique way to celebrate. #Japan

“Japanese fashion student Fuka, wearing a kimono she handmade herself for today’s Coming of Age Day ceremony, on the street in Tokyo. Also w/ a large teddy bear in her hair, a teddy bear chain bag, an obi with tassels & Tokyo Bopper platform shoes #成人の日 https://t.co/lhpcDfbt9A”

“Youth is wasted on the young” is one of those clever-sounding, achingly wistful quips that have been attributed to various wags of assorted times and places, including the Irish writers Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw.