Japanese exchange students (from left) Miyako Nakagawa, Sayako Uchiyawa, Anela Kurosawa, Mai Terajima and Akane Nozawa celebrate their Coming of Age Day in Dunedin. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSHThere is roughly 10,000km of ocean separating Japan and Dunedin, but the distance did not stop University of Otago exchange students from marking their coming of age in traditional style. Japanese students gathered on Saturday to celebrate Coming of Age Day — a traditional ceremony, originating over 1300 years ago, to mark turning 20, the country’s age of maturity. Event organiser Shion Hashimoto said many of the 40 attendees were exchange students from Japanese universities at the University of Otago. The ceremony featured a speech from Dunedin Mayor Sophie Barker and a koto (traditional Japanese instrument) performance.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 11, 2026 15:34 UTC