With the rapid spread of the new corona virus infection, the emergency declaration was reissued mainly in the Tokyo metropolitan area, but Suginami Ward is the only one in the 23 districts of Tokyo that will hold an adult ceremony on Day 11 at Suginami Public Hall as scheduled.

The head of Suginami Ward has positioned the new adult as the first step to trust as a member of society, and said that only the ceremony will take place under rigorous infection control. On the 10th, an adult ceremony was held in Mizuho City, Tokyo.

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The order to reissue the emergency declaration to 1 metropolitan area and 3 prefectures was less than a week before and just before the adult ceremony. As the government and the Tokyo metropolitan government postponed the adult ceremony and asked each local government to cooperate in holding the event online, Suginami Ward was quick to respond to the event.

According to the ward official, there were an average of around 100 inquiries from adults related to the ceremony in recent days, and around 80% of those surveyed requested the cancellation or postponement. After careful consideration by the neighborhood, we decided to run the event as planned.

According to the person in charge, “The reason for the postponement and request for collaboration in the online celebration is that we did not trust from the beginning because a large number of young people gather after the ceremony to eat, drink and make noise.” “The adult ceremony is also the first place to convey a message that we trust as a new member of society, and we promised to carry it out as well. Conditions for holding the event (= large-scale events are limited to 50 % of the capacity) 5000 people) are also satisfied. There is the option of not visiting “.

According to the district side, preparations have been underway since last summer. Every year, there are about 5,000 new adults in the ward and about 2,000 people attend the adult ceremony. The ceremony is also distributed 2 to 4 times a day. The place has a capacity of around 1000 people, and the visiting time is decided for each area, and 500 people are expected to visit, half of each time. Only the ceremony will take place for about an hour, after which the exchange location will be canceled.

The place is one-way so that attendees do not stay. Off-site, several staff members will be assigned to the nearest Ogikubo station. There will be no commemorative photo panel in the classroom. There were some magic and dance performances at the ceremony, but this time, classical performances will be held so as not to raise cheers.

The person in charge said: “We are taking all possible measures against infection. After the ceremony, immediately return home with the consciousness of a new adult and thank your parents.”[Yumiko Kondo]