AP PHOTOS: Young people in sumptuous kimonos and sober suits mark Coming of Age Day in Japan

Japan's Coming of Age Day is a distinct marker of winter, arriving after the New Year's festivities and before the early spring cherry blossom viewing parties. This national holiday is set on the second Monday of January each year. People go out to admire the young adults who are elaborately dressed to celebrate their transition from childhood to adulthood.

Although the legal age of adulthood has been lowered from 20 to 18, many participants are still 20 years old. Men typically wear simple black suits, while women don ornate kimonos, woven with lustrous patterns, often floral, and featuring vibrant colors. They also sport elaborate hairstyles and carry delicate handbags.

In photos taken by Tokyo-based chief photographer Eugene Hoshiko, large groups of young people can be seen gathering in the streets of Yokohama, part of the Tokyo metropolitan area, on Monday. To ward off the cold, the women wore fur hand warmers. One of them was chatting on her phone. The photos are filled with bright smiles, slightly shy poses, selfies, and hugs.