Age and getting older are two unavoidable facts of life. Yet the evidence of people trying to run away from them is undoubtedly there: anti-aging creams, religious sunscreen application, cosmetic surgeries, the list goes on. Accordingly, many cultures in the west celebrate age-related milestones in one’s younger years, however those which occur later in life are usually either treated as any other year, or, in some cases, even ignored.
Japan does not celebrate a sweet sixteen, but it certainly does not skimp on celebrations of different phases in people’s lives. There is, of course, shichi go san ( ), a holiday during which parents pray for longevity and a healthy life for their child, or seijin no hi ( の ), a day in January where young Japanese celebrate their coming of age into adulthood. But celebrating age is not restricted to one’s youth.
While a number of milestones follow one’s twenties, none of them quite compare to the kanreki ( ), where a person’s 60th birthday is recognized by a variety of old traditions and customs. The concept of kanreki was first introduced to Japan during the Nara period (AD 710-794). As with all birthday celebrations at the time, kanreki were held during the new year, as opposed to the specific date on which the person was born.
Traditionally, the head of the household would pass on responsibility for the family to the eldest son and his wife during the kanreki. As the kanreki traditionally symbolizes retirement and the start of a .
